Program A: Trip Length—9 days
Program C: Trip Length—4 days

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 safari-style 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, 6 Days / 5 Nights
Program B:
3 nights lodge, 2 nights tented camp

(Days 1-5 Same as days 1-5 in Program A )

The first program of each month will stay at the Casa Machiguenga, with surcharge applying.

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.

Departure Dates

April through December: Weekly departures every Sunday
January, February and March: the first Sunday of each month

Prices

Land Cost:

2006: US $1,285 in twinshare cabin, minimum 4 passengers
         US $1,405 single

* On the first departure each month, day 3 and 4 are spent at the Machiguenga Lodge instead of our camp at Cocha Salvador. The lodge is across the river from our camp and gives the opportunity to experience an aspect of Manu otherwise neglected. The lodge is a basic lodge facility operated by a local indigenous community. 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

Misc.