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Itinerary Departure Dates
Prices Included/Not
included Add-ons
Misc.
Program B:
Trip Length—6 days
Program C:
Trip Length—4
days
About the Manu
Wildlife
Center
Description: On these naturalist-led Amazon expeditions you can choose a 3-, 4- or 9-day program. Each day as you’re ensconced in the beauty of this magnificent forest, you view spectacular wildlife via motorized dugout canoes and by hiking on forest trails. At night you stay in comfortable lodges and
permanent safari-style tented camps.
Manu Biosphere Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon is one of the largest conservation areas on the planet with over 1,800,000 hectares of cloud forest and rain forest. It contains the highest diversity of life forms than any other reserve – over 850 species of birds, giant otters, jaguars, ocelots and 13 species of primates. There are also several indigenous groups living in the more remote areas. The reserve ranges in altitude from 650 to 13,450 feet elevation.
The heart of the lowland portion lies along the Manu River. The quality of the forest itself changes fundamentally as you leave behind the sparsely settled banks of the Madre de Dios River and proceed upriver past forest which has never been logged. It is possible to see species that have been all but eliminated elsewhere. Common sightings include giant otter, black caiman, and many species of Macaw; from time to time our passengers see jaguars. A trip to Manu is much more than an opportunity to see “marquee” wildlife; it is a personal communion with a rare haven of natural grace and beauty.
While visiting Manu costs more than a lodge out of Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado or other conventional rain forest gateways, the abundance of wildlife and the quality of the surroundings justify the additional expense.
On fly in/fly out programs, you fly via chartered aircraft from Cuzco to the airstrip at the mouth of the Manu River. On bus-boat in/fly out programs you travel overland from Cuzco through the upper parts of the Reserve to experience the full scope of the vast territory.
Manu Wildlife Center
Program A: The Complete Manu Experience — 9
Days/8 Nights
6 nights lodge, 2 nights tented
camp
This trip is the complete Manu
experience as you visit all points of interest from
the Manu Macaw Lick to the oxbow lakes of the
reserved zone of the Manu Biosphere Reserve. This is
a great combination of lodges and comfortable safari
camps.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Cuzco overland to
Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge
Early start from Cuzco in overland bus. There is
much to see today as we travel through traditional
communities of Quechua Indians, with views of
glaciers and the magnificent eastern ranges of the
Andes. We stop to explore the picturesque village of Paucartambo
with time to visit local
craftsmen famous for their production of masks used
in local festivals. We then ascend to the last pass
overlooking the Amazon Basin and begin the
breathtaking descent from 3500 meters to 1600 meters
above sea level to our comfortable lodge in the
orchid-laden cloud forest. This is a spectacular
journey passing cascading waterfalls and
multicolored birds. In the late afternoon we'll walk
into the lodge to the sounds of Quetzals, Trogons
and Gray-breasted Wood-wrens. Overnight at
Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge. L,D.
Day 2
Motorized canoes on upper Madre de Dios River / Boca Manu village
Pre-breakfast walk to a nearby spot in the cloud
forest where the strange and beautiful
Cocks-of-the-Rock display at dawn. This is a
wonderful sight as up to 25 bright red-orange
males dance and sing, attempting to attract the
favors of the duller, burgundy-colored females.
Return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast we
board the all-terrain bus to the Madre de Dios
River. Here we board motorized dugout canoes and
begin our journey down the upper river, past
settlements and native communities. Just before
reaching the village of Boca Manu we pass the native
community of Diamante. Their culture is Piro and
this is the largest settlement in the area. There is
a small handicraft shop here which offers hand
painted fabrics, necklaces made of seeds native to
the region, and a small selection of weavings and
ceramics. A stop here must be pre-arranged through
your guide. Then we arrive at tonight’s destination -a small, locally built and managed lodge. The lodge is across the river from the tiny airstrip of Boca Manu. The two species of Tamarin monkeys are here
--the Saddleback and Emperor. The latter with their long, white moustaches are a rare and precious sight.
There is a trail system we can explore if time
permits. Overnight at lodge near Boca Manu. B,L,D.
Day 3
Manu River excursion / Cocha Otorongo Lake / Cocha Salvador
Tented Camp
Well fed and rested we depart Boca Manu. We leave the relatively clean waters of the Madre de Dios behind as 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. Beaches, especially in the dry season, are loaded with nesting birds and feeding herons, egrets, Orinoco geese, terns and skimmers to name a few. Some beaches will host sunning white and black caimans (South American relatives of the alligator) 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. In 1999 one in three of our trips saw jaguar in Manu. We will see some species of primate on this river trip, possibly red howler monkeys or the smaller squirrel monkeys. After lunch by the river we arrive at our
tented camp near the lake of Cocha Salvador. In the afternoon
we explore some of the trails through the pristine rainforest.
We visit Lake Cocha Otorongo and its observation piers and 70-foot observation tower
which afford excellent viewing in the canopy overlooking the lake. We will also be on the lookout for a large family of giant otters that inhabit this lake. Before or after dinner
you can take an optional night excursion with your
guide into the forest in search of nocturnal creatures. The lakes are full of eye-shine of the large black caiman and if we are lucky we may encounter an olingo kinkajou or even an ocelot on the trails. Certainly the nighttime noise of tree frogs and insects in the forest is an experience not to be forgotten. Overnight at Cocha Salvador
Tented Camp*, a comfortable permanent camp with flush toilets and shower facilities.
You sleep comfortably in large walk-in tents on raised wooden platforms with cots and a roof overhead. B,L,D
*Note:The first fixed departure of each month will stay at the Casa Machiguenga Lodge.
Day 4
Cocha Salvador Lake / Cocha Salvador Tented Camp
After breakfast we'll spend the morning at the lake of Cocha Salvador.
Spend some of the time canoeing the lake on a floating platform observing ox-bow lake animal life from the water. We may encounter an Agami
Heron or a Sungrebe, and Brown Cappuchin Monkeys are usually feeding on fruits nearby.
We hope to view a family of Giant Otters that live
here on specially constructed piers that jut out into the lake. These
Giant Otters are the world’s largest freshwater carnivores,
found 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
can often be seen eating large fish on logs at the lakeside.
Spend the rest of the day walking the trails in the area in search of some of the 13 species of monkey found in the forest. Your guide will explain some of the basics of rainforest ecosystems and point out some of the medicinal plants used by local, indigenous groups. We may cross paths with a group of
Peccaries - a species of wild boar. Enjoy a late afternoon swim in the river near the camp as the sun sets. Overnight at Cocha Salvador
Tented Camp. B,L,D.
Day 5
Forest
walk to Cocha Otorongo / River trip / Boca Manu
Lodge
Today we'll walk from camp very slowly for 4-5 hours through the forest to Cocha Otorongo. We may encounter troops of monkeys, particularly the common
Woolly
or Spider monkeys. We'll pay special attention to the plant life
and take it slowly listening for the rustle of vegetation or the soft sound of fruits falling to the rain forest floor that may betray the presence of animals or large birds. Our cook will meet us
at the river with a picnic lunch. Then we board our motorized dugout canoes for the 4 hour trip down river to a white sand beach near Boca Manu for the night. The river trip may hold surprises and we'll be attentive for any wildlife on the beaches. Overnight in
the lodge at Boca Manu. B,L,D.
Day 6
Fly
from Boca Manu to Cuzco
There's time to explore the small trail system at
the lodge before heading across the river to the
timy airstrip at Boca Manu. On arrival at the strip we board our chartered
aircraft for the 35-minute flight to Cuzco. We fly over seemingly endless rain forest, then past snow peaks and glaciers to Cuzco, where our staff will be waiting to take you to your hotel.
B.
Important Note: if
you are taking the 9-day trip, and continuing on to
Manu Wildlife Center, a delay may occur at the Boca
Manu airstrip en route as some of your traveling
companions may be taking the 6-day option and flying
to Cuzco.
Day 7 Macaw Clay Lick / Cocha Blanco lake / Manu Wildlife Center
Early start for the Macaw Clay Lick. This is truly one of the world's great wildlife spectacles as hundreds of parrots and their larger relatives, the macaws, congregate at this traditional spot to eat
the mineral-rich clay that is essential to their digestion . We'll use
a blind (hide) to get close to the birds. The noise alone is incredible and the sight of these brightly colored birds at the lick is a sight not to be forgotten. As the lick slows down in midmorning, we'll head for Cocha Blanco, an old oxbow lake in search of a
Giant Otter family that lives here, and canoe around the lake on our floating platform looking for other wildlife. After a leisurely lunch
at the lodge, we'll explore other trails in search of
Emperor and Saddleback Tamarins. The rare Goeldi's
Monkey has been seen repeatedly in this area. Overnight at Manu Wildlife Center.
B,L,D.
Day 8 Full day hiking lodge trails / Optional night observation / Manu Wildlife Center
Full day to explore the forest and trails around the lodge. We'll be on the lookout for Monk Saki - an uncommon monkey that has been seen on occasion here. We'll explore trails where groups of
Manakins, perhaps the most enigmatic of neo-tropical birds, perform their strange mating dances. We walk to one of our blinds at a large mammal lick where
Guans and forest Parakeets and Parrotlets come for clay. Here too, groups of
Black Spider Monkeys visit on occasion for clay to help their digestion. Those who wish will return with the guide to the lodge in the late afternoon. Others may opt to stay at the lick until midnight with one of our Machiguenga Indian trackers to see what nocturnal creatures visit the lick. The tapir, the largest South American land mammal, is a frequent visitor with up to 12 animals visiting in one night.
We watch from the comfort of mosquito nets and
mattresses from our specially constructed blind. Other nocturnal creatures are always possible. Overnight Manu Wildlife Center.B,L,D.
Day 9 Upriver to airstrip / Cuzco
After breakfast we head upriver (about
2 hours) to the small airstrip at Boca Manu. Early morning flocks of birds pass over us, and we may see a
Capybara, the world’s largest rodent. Arriving at
the airstrip we board our aircraft for the 35-minute flight over seemingly endless rain forest, and then the
over the Andes Mountains, passing glaciers and snow peaks. We arrive at the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, where our staff will be waiting to take you to your hotel.
B.
Departure Dates
April through December:
Weekly departures every Sunday
January, February and March: the first
Sunday of each month
Prices
Land Cost:
2006:
US $1,659,
in twinshare
US $1,959,
single
minimum 4 passengers
* On the first departure each
month, we spend two nights in Casa Machiguenga, a basic lodge facility operated
by a local indigenous community, rather than in the fixed camp; the surcharge
for this is $155 (twinshare) $167 (single).
Included / Not
included
Pre-departure
information:
once your deposit is received, we send you
up-to-date and very complete pre-departure
information which tells you what you need to know to
prepare for your adventure, including packing list &
tips, health issues, reading list, tipping guide,
information on weather, climate, cities, museums,
etc.
Included in the Land Cost:
transfers & transport via land, plane, canoe; all
meals at camps and lodges; internal flights from/to
Cuzco; services of English-speaking naturalist
guides on all excursions; accommodation in double
rooms/tents.
Not Included:
meals in Cuzco and en route to Manu; tips to guides
and staff; alcoholic and bottled beverages, laundry,
phone calls, etc.
Add-ons
You can add any of our Peru trips to this program.
Misc.
About the
Manu Wildlife Center
The Manu Wildlife Center is a 30-bed
lodge located on the Madre de Dios River, only 90
minutes by motorized dugout canoe from the Boca Manu
airstrip at the confluence of the Manu and Alto
Madre de Dios rivers. It is jointly run by a private
company and the Selva Sur Conservation Group, a
non-profit non-governmental organization involved in
rain forest conservation projects.
Location— Manu Wildlife Center is located on a
privately owned rain forest reserve that backs onto
the Manu Biosphere Reserve. It is positioned
between the reserve and a large native community
reserve set aside for indigenous Amazonian peoples.
The lodge is on the banks of the Madre de Dios
River, 90 minutes from Boca Manu, in pristine rain
forest.
Access— Eight
and eighteen seater Beechcraft, Cessna or Twin Otter
planes fly from the Cuzco International Airport to Boca
Manu. The flight takes about 40 minutes. From here
motorized dugouts are used for the 90-minute river
trip to the Manu Wildlife Center. Alternatively,
a longer and more adventurous journey can be made
overland (and by river) from Cuzco, and you can
visit other important areas of Manu on your way to
Manu Wildlife Center. See our 9-day program.
Facilities— Manu Wildlife Center consists of 15
double bungalows built in the style of, and using
the same materials as, the local Machiguenga
indigenous communities: local wood, bamboo and palm
fronds for roofing. All materials used have been
sustainably harvested or brought in from distant
areas. All bungalows are raised and connected to
each other and the other lodge facilities by gravel
walkways. Each room has excellent imported spring
mattresses and all beds have cotton sheets and
quilts (best for hot tropical conditions). Although
all the rooms are screened with imported insect
netting, beds are furnished with individual mosquito
nets. Furniture includes bedside tables and writing
tables. The bungalows are arranged around a pleasant
and well-planned Amazonian garden with plants and
shrubs that attract birds, butterflies and mammals.
All bungalows are private and separated form
neighboring bungalows for privacy; all have large
windows on all sides facing the forest. Of the 15
bungalows, 7 are outfitted with private toilets and
showers. The other 8 are connected to the shower and
toilet facilities by the gravel walkways. Hot and
cold water is always available and all toilets are
flush.
The dining area is
separate from the other facilities but close to all
bungalows and the kitchen area. Food is tasty and
wholesome and we use a variety of fresh vegetables,
fruits, grains and meats in our menu. Our chefs can
easily provide for vegetarian diets.
There is a separate
bar and lounge located a short distance from the
dining area. A variety of cold non-alcoholic and
alcoholic beverages are always available. The bar
overlooks a small forest stream.
Research and Local
Communities— Manu Wildlife Center always has
onsite researchers and scientists. As a lodge we
actively promote and give a helping hand to students
and post-graduates who are doing scientific research
in the area. These scientists are always happy to
share their knowledge and expertise with visiting
guests. The lodge relies heavily on workers from the
local Machiguenga communities and provides jobs that
help improve the standard of living in the local
villages.
Wildlife and Rain Forest— The
lodge is strategically located in an area of forest
that counts on the highest diversity of
microhabitats in the Manu area. This means that
there are more species of animals, birds, reptiles
and insects than elsewhere in Manu. Tierra-firme,
varzea and bamboo forest is found close to the lodge
plus successive willow and cane stands on beaches
and river islands, resulting in the highest
bio-diversity in Manu. An astounding 515+ species of
birds have been recorded in one year alone.
The Blanquillo Macaw
and Parrot lick is only 15 minutes away by river. On
floating blinds you are close to this amazing
wildlife spectacle, where up to 200 Macaws and
hundreds of their smaller relatives come to eat clay
essential to their digestion.
There are four ox-bow
lakes in the area. Floating platforms are used to
maximize observation of the lakeside fauna. There
are three families of the endangered giant otter on
these lakes and small streams.
About an hour’s walk
through the forest is a large mammal lick where
tapirs, the largest South American land mammal, come
regularly for minerals. Also at night, Brocket deer
and other animals attend. There is a large blind
here, outfitted with inflatable pads and mosquito
nets for those who want to spend the night in
comfort observing these nocturnal creatures. During
the day, several species of small forest parakeets
and parrotlets as well as guans, currasows and black
spider monkeys regularly visit the lick.
Canopy access is easy at Manu Wildlife Center. We
have mobile canopy towers that are always in place
at flowering canopy trees or vines that attract
monkeys, hummingbirds, toucans, parrots and a host
of other creatures. Access to these mobile towers is
by a harness and rope-assisted climb, but there is
also a fixed canopy platform accessible by a wooden
stairway.
Weather—The
Amazon Basin rain forest is hot and humid all year
round with little variation from midsummer
(December) to midwinter (June,) due to its location
at 12 degrees south of the Equator. Daytime
temperatures reach 95°F regularly in midwinter (June
to mid -September) however, cold wind movements from
the Patagonian plains move far enough north to
affect the southern edge of the Amazon. These
infrequent weather movements, known locally as "friajes",
last from one to three days and temperatures at
night can drop as low as 50°F. We recommend you pack
a sweater or light jacket "just in case". Manu is a
rain forest, (although it is considered to be a dry
rain forest,) and as such it can rain any time of
year. However, during the "dry season," from May to
October, there is a lot less rain than in the "wet
season" (late November to April.) Basically, a trip
to Manu is feasible any month of the year.
What the trip is like—Anyone
in good general health can participate on a Manu
trip. Biting insects are present in Manu, but less
bothersome than mosquitoes in North America. Our
overland vehicles are specially designed for the
tough terrain and river transport is by motorized
dugout canoes. Life jackets are provided and spare
outboards are always taken as backup. Manu is
isolated (there are isolated Amerindian groups just
a few hours away), and we do our best to make your
trip as comfortable and interesting as possible. As
in any remote area, a positive attitude and a
willingness to accept the unexpected as part of the
experience are essential.
Medical considerations—We recommend yellow fever shots and malaria prophylactics for
Manu, even though no one on our trips has contacted
either. Each participant should take his or her own
personal medications. Our leaders on these trips
have first aid skills and we carry a large
sophisticated medical kit on all trips. In the event
of a real medical emergency, we can call in air
ambulance backup and evacuate quickly. (Andean Treks
offers a travel insurance plan, which is highly
recommended for all travelers.)
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