Discovery Manu Park
With its blend of adventure, culture and ecotourism, Discovery Manu Park offers something for everyone. The cloud forest and Amazon basin hold countless bird, plant and animal species. River expeditions, visits to tropical lakes and day and night jungle hikes are great opportunities to observe tapirs, deer, peccaries, capybara, monkeys, turtles and other animals. Birdlife includes parrots, toucans, macaws, cock-of-the-rock and harpy eagles. See a family of rare giant river otters at Salvador Lake. Traversing Amazonian waterways brings you into contact with native people. And a symphony performed by a vast insect orchestra accompanies all of your activities.
Itinerary
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Day 1. Cusco – Cloud Forest (bus & hikes)
Starting early from Cusco, you will travel through Andean landscapes of unmatched beauty: deep valleys, highlands and rura communities where you will enjoy highland birds such as the mountain caracara, Puna ibis and Andean flicker before arriving at the picturesque colonial town of Paucartambo, which has been the gateway to the Manu forests since pre-Hispanic times. Once you pass through Acjanaco Pass (3,850 meters/12,630 feet), the official entrance to Manu National Park, the road descends through the important, sparsely-vegetated Andean grassland ecosystem, before reaching the cloud forest in the afternoon. This area is a wealth of flora and fauna; it is the habitat of cock-of-the-rock, crested and golden quetzal, blue-crowned motmot, gray breasted mountain toucan, butterflies, ferns and orchids. To name just a few! After this big day you will spend your first night enjoying the comforts of Paradise Lodge (1,470 meters/4,821 feet).
Driving distance: 181.6 km/113 miles
Included: lunch & dinner
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Day 2. Paradise Lodge – Pantiacolla or similar (bus, boat & hikes)
Your day begins with an early morning walk to see Peru’s national bird, the cock-of-the-rock, perform its daily ritual in which 8 to 10 males put on a show to attract female attention. Afterward you will return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast before boarding our bus for a two-hour trip to the port of Atalaya. From here you will embark on the 5-hour boat trip, during which you are likely to see shore birds such as egrets, herons, vultures, terns and skimmers, as well as caiman and monkeys, and villages. As nightfalls you will have the opportunity to take a forest walk in search of nocturnal birds like sand-colored nighthawk, spectacled owl and great tinamou as you listen to the spectacular sounds of night monkeys (musmuqui), the world’s only nocturnal primate. Joining the symphony are the Amazon bamboo rat, and numerous species of frogs, toads and insects that only emerge at night. Spend the night in a typical jungle lodge.
Driving distance: 70 km/43 miles (Paradise to Atalaya)
Boat ride distance:
Included: breakfast, lunch & dinner
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Day 3. Salvador Lake & Otorongo Lake
On the morning of day 3 you will head up the Manu River on a 6-hour voyage into the heart of Manu’s Reserve Zone. Enjoy great views of riverside birds, sunbathing caiman and the enormous aquatic guinea pig, the capybara. In the afternoon you will reach the camping huts that will serve as your base for the next 2 days. Hike through virgin forest and explore one of Manu’s most beautiful lakes, Lake Salvador, by catamaran. Here you will have the chance to see a wide variety of colorful birds, numerous species of monkey and with luck, a family of giant otters. Another hike in this habitat-rich forest ends at Lake Otorongo and a 20-meter high observation platform overlooking the lake. At night you can explore the forest by torchlight or go moonlight caiman spotting on the lake.
Included: breakfast, lunch & dinner
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Day 4. Salvador Lake and Otorongo
We still exploring the different areas of Salvador or Otorongo Lakes, we use the catamaran boat to have a close views of the Gian River Otters, climb the observatory platforms as well.
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Day 5. Salvador Lake – Boca Manu – Pantiacolla Lodge or similar
Early in the morning enjoy another short nature walk or visit Oxbow Lake, which is home to giant otters and black caiman. Then you will board the boat, ride down to Limonal Park Station and then visit the small village of Boca Manu. Continue on the Alto Madre de Dios River all the way to one of the area’s comfortable lodges, where you will enjoy a comfortable overnight stay as well as opportunities to bird watch, explore the jungle and relax.
Included: breakfast, lunch & dinner
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Day 6. Pantiacolla – Atalaya - Cloud Forest (boat & bus)
Day 6 begins with a casual morning before embarking on your final boat journey. Continue by motor boat up river, stopping at natural hot springs on the way to familiar Atalaya, where you will meet your transport to take you back to the comforts of Paradise Lodge.
Included: breakfast, lunch & dinner
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Day 7. Paradise Lodge – Cusco (bus)
This is our last day in the forest. After breakfast you will have time to continue relaxing or explore the area one more time before boarding the private bus for the return trip to Cusco. Follow the now-familiar route as far as Paucartambo, from where you’ll follow the course of the Quencomayo River to Colquepata, and on to the high pass at Apacheta (4,100 meters/13,448 feet). From here you will descend into the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas, stopping along the way to enjoy the countryside dotted with traditional Andean villages inhabited by weavers, shepherds and farmers. You will be met by spectacular views of the Pisac archaeological ruins before arriving at the local village them continue to Cusco.
Driving distance: 192 km/120 miles (6 hours)
Included: breakfast & lunch
Included
- • Specialized bilingual guide
- • 6 nights of lodge accommodation
- • Private bus transportation
- • Motorized boat with cushioned seats, roof and life jackets
- • All meals indicated on the itinerary:
- B=breakfast, L= lunch, D=dinner (soup, main dish and dessert),
- BL=box lunch
- No additional charge for vegetarian diets
- • Drinking water from Cusco
- • Basic first-aid kit
- • Specialized books are available during the trip
Not Included
- • Personal items and medicines (e.g., gear, clothing, laundry service, telephone calls)
- • Tips to local staff (we suggest $8-10 USD per day of service per guide or driver)
Bring
- • 1 photocopy of passport
- • Daypack
- • Hiking boots
- • Sweater
- • Light warm jacket
- • Rain gear (poncho)
- • Long-sleeved cotton shirts
- • Hiking shorts
- • Hat or bandana
- • Swimsuit
- • Sport sandals
- • Sunscreen/sunglasses
- • Insect repellant
- • Flashlight
- • Pocket knife
- • Camera and film (ASA 200/400) or memory card
- • Binoculars for wildlife viewing (8 or 10X magnification)
- • Zipper lock bags and garbage bags for keeping clothes and other personal items dry