Manu Reserved Zone (6 Days)

Leaving at 4:00 AM in our private minivan we’ll travel southeastwards to Manu, a natural Paradise. Crossing spellbinding mountains and valleys, we’ll arrive at the colonial town of Paucartambo (the folkloric capital of Cusco), and stop for a coffee. From here we drive upwards to the highest point, Acjanaco pass at 4,000m (13,123 ft.) entering the Biosphere of Manu. After taking in the panorama, we descend through the cloud forest a sea of shrubs, trees and flowering plants fed by the vapor that rises up from the valley. Primordial ferns, epiphytes, lichen, and orchids adorn the mountainside. Birds in the area include hummingbirds, quetzal, trogon, toucan, parrots, and tangaras, all of which we are likely to see. The country’s national bird, the beautiful cock of the rock (Rupícola peruviana) is also resident. We’ll likely also see the wooly monkey, unique to the cloud forest, among the many rolling cascades and tumbling waterfalls.

Overnight Posada Manu Rainforest.

We’ll leave at dawn, enjoying our breakfast on the boat so we can spend more time on the river with the wildlife. These early morning hours are ideal for wildlife encounters. Sunrise over the Alto Madre De Dios River is a sight you won’t forget. From here we change waterways to the Manu River, where we’ll pass the next four hours in the most biodiversity area in the world. The vistas are stunning. Keep your eyes open for the elusive jaguar (Panthera onca), sinister black caiman (up to 7m long!) or white caiman, rows of turtles balancing on trunks, and, perched on the branches or soaring in the air, the multitude of exceptional birdlife. At night we’ll venture in the jungle in search of frogs, spiders and serpents and other night active creatures.

Overnight at Casa Machiguenga; this lodge belongs to the indigenous people of the zone and is constructed with local materials. It has capacity for 16 guests. It’s situated at the center of the reserved zone of Rio Manu

Today we wait our turn to enter the park at the Guard’s station. Our first objective will be to navigate the Cocha Salvador in catamaran. Giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis), are our goal today, as well as troupes of howler monkeys (Alouatta sara), spider monkeys, and the agami egret. As well, we’ll explore the forest for big trees like the ficus and ceiba (these trees are quickly disappearing for lumber in other parts of the world). After a delicious lunch follows, we’ll view Cocha Otorongo (one of the largest oxbow lakes in Manu), from a 20m (60 ft.) tower lending us panoramic views of the water habitat and unprecedented views of visiting wildlife (bring your zoom lens!) It’s spectacular to watch the giant otters at play and fishing. Your guide will also point out the enormous black caimans, white caimans, bird life, and medicinal plants and trees around.

Overnight at Casa Machiguenga.

We will be serving you a typical Amazonian breakfast, then we will be spending the rest of the morning at Lake Cocha Salvador. We will be canoeing on the lake and from the floating platform you will be able to spot wildlife of the Oxbow lake.

Here, we will also see Agami Heron or Sungrebe, brown capuchin monkeys and more. There are specially constructed stones that jot out into the lake. 

From here you will get to see families of giant otters that inhabit here. These are the world’s largest freshwater carnivores remaining in Manu. Each of these animals consume between 4-5 kilos of fish a day. You will often spot them eating fishes on the lakeside. 

We will be spending the rest of the day hiking on the trails and looking for the thirteen iconic species of monkeys. The region is also home to many medicinal plants. Our guide will be explaining its uses in detail. 

On this trail, we will also spot groups of Peccaries. They are a species of new world pigs. We will then see the sunset and return to Casa Matsiguenka lodge for dinner.

After breakfast, we will be checking out from Casa Matsiguenka Lodge and sail for four hours down the Boca Manu river. Often you will be able to spot many distinct animals on the shores. We will then continue on Madre de dios river for five hours till we reach our own Palotoa Amazon Lodge. 

The lodge nestles in the heart of the rainforest. The location makes it ideal for local conservation groups and bird watchers to set base and explore the rainforest. After dinner, we will be doing a night tour to spot some nocturnal creatures here.

After breakfast, we will take the boat to Atalaya port. Here we will meet our private transportation and will drive back to Cusco. We will be reaching Cusco at around 07:30 PM.