MANU NATIONAL PARK

DAY 1: CUSCO - BAMBOO LODGE.

On the first day of our adventure into the Jungle of Manu, we will pick you up around 5:00 AM from your Hotels in Cusco, using Amazon Tours private transport. The first part of our excursion will take us through the majestic Andean mountains. We will briefly visit the town of Huancarani on our way to Paucartambo. It contains the funeral towers of Ninamarca, a cemetery of the Lupacas Pre – Inca Culture.  Then we will continue on to Paucartambo, which is known for its folklore and is a Colonial town.  At mid-day we will arrive to the entrance of Manu National Park and access one of the most protected natural areas in South America.  We will continue on in our private transport down a dirt road and on through the thick fog, from which this section of the forest takes it name Cloud Forest. Eventually we will arrive at the home of the exotic Peruvian National Bird, the “Cock of the Rocks”, where it is known to gather with others of its kind, for some sort of social gathering that seems reminiscent of a large courtship.  You will find that this is quite an amazing spectacle complete with an impressive array of sounds and colours that can only be found in the jungle. For our first night, we will stay at Bamboo Lodge. L: D.

DAY 2: BAMBOO LODGE – BONANZA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE.

Very early at 06:30 a.m., we will leave in the direction of Port Atalaya; on the way we will make a few stops to visit the small Locals farmers who are known to be producers of many varieties of jungle fruits, even the famous Coca plant. Later, we will begin the boating portion of our journey a river excursion on the Madre de Dios, one of the tributaries of the mighty Amazon River. During our day we will have the chance to see many types of colourful birds such as parrots, oropendolas, vultures and others species. We will stop at the Natural Hot spring. Hopefully, we will see some jungle mammals such as monkeys or the famous capybaras (jungle rodents that are about 2.5 ft long. In the afternoon, we will arrive at our next sleeping destination Bonanza Lodge. We aim to arrive here at approximately 3:00 p.m.  Here, there will be showers and services available. We will go on a night walk which is the best time to see many anthropoids, tarantulas, scorpions and snakes. This is of course optional. B: L: D.

DAY 3: BONANZA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE – CASA MATSIGUENKA

Well fed and rested we leave Bonanza Lodge, leaving the relatively clean waters of the Madre de Dios River behind; we enter the clay laden waters of the Manu River. With a brief stop at the park ranger station at Limonal to present our permits we travel for about five hours up the Manu River. Beaches, especially in the dry season, are loaded with nesting birds and feeding Herons, Egrets, Orinoco Geese, Terns and Skimmers to name but a few. Some beaches will host sunning White and Black Caimans and breeding Side-necked Turtles. Hundreds of Sand-colored Nightjars roost during the day on logs and beaches and there is a chance of encountering a sunning Jaguar - the world’s third    largest cat.

On one trip we saw a Jaguar on three different occasions. We will also see some species of primates on this river trip, possibly Red Howler Monkeys or the smaller Squirrel Monkeys. After

having lunched by the river we arrive at Casa Matsiguenka. We'll have the afternoon to explore some of the trails through the pristine rainforest of this area.

Before or after dinner, an optional excursion into the forest at night is available with your guide in search of nocturnal creatures. We spend the night at the Casa Matsiguenka; a rustic native owned lodge run by the Matsiguenka’s themselves, with its own exclusive trail system. There are flush toilet and shower facilities and screened twin rooms, with comfortable beds and mosquito nets. B: L: D

DAY 4: CASA MATSIGUENKA – COCHA SALVADOR

After breakfast we'll spend the morning at the lake of Cocha Salvador. Some of the time will be spent canoeing on the lake using a catamaran to observe animal life from the water. We may encounter an Agami Heron or a Sungrebe and Brown Cappuchin Monkeys are usually feeding on fruits nearby. Specially constructed piers that jut out into the lake enable us to look for a family of Giant Otters that live here. These, the world’s largest freshwater carnivores, remain common only in Manu, having been hunted to extinction throughout most of their former range. Each animal consumes between 4 and 5 kilos of fish daily and often they can be seen eating large fish on logs at the lakeside. The rest of the day will be spent walking the trails in the area in search of some of the 13 species of Monkey found in the forest here. Your guide will explain some of the basics of rainforest ecosystems and point out some of the medicinal plants of the area used by local, indigenous groups. We may cross paths with a group of Peccaries - a species of wild boar found here. During the afternoon we enjoy the sun set. Night at the Casa Matsiguenka B: L: D 

DAY 5: CASA MATSIGUENKA – COCHA OTORONGO

Today we'll walk very slowly from camp for 4-5 hours through the forest to Cocha Otorongo. We may encounter troops of Monkeys. This is a particularly good trail for Woolly and Black Spider Monkeys. We'll pay special attention to the plant life on this walk and listen for the rustle of vegetation or the soft sound of fruits falling to the rainforest floor that may betray the presence of animals or large birds. A visit to Lake Cocha Otorongo is planned, where observation piers and a 20 meter observation tower in the rainforest canopy overlooking the lake are available for observing wildlife. We will also be on the lookout for a large family of Giant Otters that inhabit this lake. B: L: D

DAY 6: CASA MATSIGUENKA – BONANZA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

Leaving the lodge we'll head up the Madre de Dios River for three hours to the comfortable lodge facility Bonanza Lodge- Wildlife Center. This strategically located lodge facility is jointly owned and run by Amazon Tours Peru a local conservation group and is a base for scientific birdwatchers research in the area and a center for

visitors wanting to explore the rainforest. We should arrive in time for lunch and a shower and get to meet whichever researchers are onsite.

The afternoon is set aside to relax or, if you want, to explore a trail through the untouched forest to a lookout point on a cliff over the river to watch roosting flights of Parrots and Macaws as the sun sets.  Those who wish can participate in a night walk with your guide in search of nocturnal animals. Night at Bonanza Lodge. B: L: D

DAY 7: BONANZA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE – CUSCO

We will leave from Bonanza Lodge early in the morning to go to the Port Atalaya. From here we will take the van directly to Cusco passing through the Cloud Forest. B: L

THE SERTVICE INCLUDES:

Private boat and bus

Rubber boots, rain poncho

All accommodations and Lodges

Bilingual guide from the jungle

Mineral water all the time

First aid kit

3 meals per day including a vegetarian option

Professional cook

Entrance Fee to Manu National Park

Entrance to Salvador Lake

Entrance to Otorongo Lake

RECOMMENDATION THINGS TO BRING:

Repellent with a minimum of 40% deet

Good Binocular

Camera with extra batteries

Flashlight with extra batteries

Sun lotion

Pocket money

Daypack

Water bottle

Sun hat

Sandals

Swimming suit

Toilet Paper

Small Towel

Dark color clothes