Manu Reserved Zone (6 Days)

Arrival and initial orientation in Cusco, followed by a journey to the cloud forest.

Departing at 4:00 AM in our private minivan, we will journey southeastward towards Manu, a natural paradise.

Crossing captivating mountains and valleys, we’ll reach the colonial town of Paucartambo, known as the folkloric capital of Cusco, where we’ll make a coffee stop. Continuing our drive, we ascend to the highest point, Acjanaco pass at 4,000m (13,123 ft.), entering the Biosphere of Manu.

After marveling at the panoramic view, we descend through the cloud forest, a lush expanse of shrubs, trees, and flowering plants nourished by the rising vapor from the valley. The mountainside is adorned with primordial ferns, epiphytes, lichen, and orchids.

The area is teeming with birdlife, including hummingbirds, quetzal, trogon, toucan, parrots, and tangaras, all of which are likely to be observed. The country’s national bird, the magnificent cock of the rock (Rupícola peruviana), resides here. Amidst the rolling cascades and tumbling waterfalls, we may also encounter the wooly monkey, a unique inhabitant of the cloud forest.

Overnight stay at a local lodge.

Exploration of the cloud forest, spotting rare birds and flora. We will depart at dawn, relishing our breakfast on the boat to maximize our time on the river, enhancing opportunities for wildlife sightings during the ideal early morning hours. The sunrise over the Alto Madre De Dios River promises an unforgettable spectacle. Transitioning to the Manu River, we will spend the next four hours in the world’s most biodiverse area, offering stunning vistas.

Be vigilant for encounters with the elusive jaguar (Panthera onca), formidable black caiman (up to 7m long!), or white caiman. Witness rows of turtles balancing on trunks and marvel at the exceptional birdlife perched on branches or soaring in the air. In the evening, we will venture into the jungle to search for frogs, spiders, serpents, and other nocturnal creatures.

Our overnight stay will be at Casa Machiguenga; this lodge is owned by the indigenous people of the zone and is constructed with local materials. With a capacity for 16 guests, it is centrally located in the reserved zone of Rio Manu.

Descent into the rainforest, with opportunities for wildlife sightings. Today, we anticipate our entry into the park at the Guard’s station, patiently waiting our turn. Our initial objective is to navigate the Cocha Salvador in a catamaran. Our focus for the day includes seeking out the elusive giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis), observing troupes of howler monkeys (Alouatta sara), spider monkeys, and the agami egret. Additionally, we will explore the forest in search of significant trees like the ficus and ceiba, which are unfortunately rapidly disappearing due to logging in other parts of the world.

Following a delightful lunch, our exploration continues with a visit to Cocha Otorongo, one of the largest oxbow lakes in Manu. We will ascend a 20m (60 ft.) tower, providing panoramic views of the water habitat and unprecedented perspectives of visiting wildlife (don’t forget your zoom lens!). It’s a spectacular experience to observe giant otters at play and fishing.

Your guide will also point out the massive black caimans, white caimans, birdlife, and medicinal plants and trees in the vicinity.

Our overnight stay will be at Casa Machiguenga.

Navigating the Manu River, visiting indigenous communities, and learning about their sustainable practices. We will be serving you a typical Amazonian breakfast, and 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. Specially constructed stones jut 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 consumes 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 the lodge for dinner.

Deep jungle excursions, observing nocturnal wildlife. Following breakfast, we will complete the check-out process at our Lodge and embark on a four-hour journey downstream along the Boca Manu River. Along the riverbanks, you may frequently spot various distinct animals.

We will then proceed on the Madre de Dios River for an additional five hours until we reach our Lodge.

Situated in the heart of the rainforest, the lodge provides an ideal base for local conservation groups and bird watchers to explore the rich biodiversity of the rainforest. After dinner, we will embark on a night tour to observe nocturnal creatures in the area.

Following breakfast, we will board a boat to reach the Atalaya port. Upon arrival, our private transportation will be waiting for us, and we will commence the journey back to Cusco. We anticipate reaching Cusco at approximately 07:30 PM.