MANU NATIONAL PARK TOURS
MANU NATIONAL PARK TOURS
Information
The Manu National Park Tours – 7 or 8 days – offer a complete tour of Manu, including the Reserved Zone of the Park. We visit the Salvador & Otorongo oxbow lakes to see giant river otters, but also travel to the big macaw clay lick and the tapir lick in Maquisapayoj. Meet the Machiguenga Indians at their lodge inside the Reserved Zone!
All fotos seen on our website and in our programs have been taken on our Manu tours.
7 DAY TOUR
7 DAY TOUR
The Manu National Park Explorer
7 days – in via the Manu road, out via Colorado
On fixed departures. Group size: 4 – 7 persons.
This tour gives you a complete rainforest experience, including the Reserved Zone of Manu. You travel through the cloud forest and over the famous Manu road and explore the lowland forest’s oxbow lakes and salt licks.
Contact us for availability and prices!
Program
Starting early from Cusco we begin our 8 hour journey by private minibus climbing up to the high mountain area at 3900 m (13,000 ft). After a short stop in Ninamarca, to see the pre-Inca cemetery, and the colonial village of Paucartambo, we descend the eastern slopes of the Andes through cloud forest with lush vegetation (ferns, orchids, bromeliads etc.). We enjoy spectacular views of the Andes and can see wildlife such as our national bird: the bright red Cock of the Rocks (Rupicola peruviana) showing his mating dance. Brilliantly colored Tanagers, Quetzals, Trogons and Hummingbirds can be seen and possibly the first monkeys, such as Woolly Monkeys. In the afternoon we arrive at Bamboo Lodge (900m), where we spend the night (double rooms & private bathroom). After dinner your guide will brief you about the activities of the following day.
Today we start early to continue our boat ride travelling into the Reserved Zone of Manu Park. We reach the mouth of the Manu River and after a stop at Limonal Park Station, where our permit is checked, we travel upriver into the heart of Manu. During this boat trip the scenery and wildlife viewing along the banks of the Manu River is fabulous. White Caimans (Caiman crocodylus) sunning on the beaches, turtles, capybara and plenty of colourful birds may bee seen. And there is always the possibility of seeing larger animals such as Tapir and Jaguar. In the afternoon we arrive at Albergue Casa Matsiguenka or at Aguaje Tented Camp, where we spend two nights in double rooms (shared bathrooms & showers). Optional night walk after dinner.
Today we start early for a day excursion to explore trails through virgin forest of the Reserved Zone of Manu Park. As a highlight we visit the beautiful oxbow-lake Cocha Salvador by catamaran looking for Giant River Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) and to observe caimans, monkeys, hoatzins and other birds. In the afternoon we go for a walk on the trails of the opposite side of the river. We climb the 18 m observation tower overlooking Cocha Otorongo – an ideal place to observe birds. After a final walk through this biodiverse forest we return to Aguaje Tented Camp or to Albergue Matsiguenka, where we have the chance to meet the Machiguenga Indians. We can go for a night walk after dinner.
After an early breakfast at the lodge we travel downriver by boat to Colorado (2.5 hours), a small gold mining town. Together with the guide we take a car to Puerto Carlos (1 hour). We cross Rio Inambari to the small town of Santa Rosa, where our bus is waiting for us to drive back to Cusco. We travel on the paved Transoceanica through cloud forest and up to the Andes, with a spectacular view of the Ausangate Mountain in the afternoon. We arrive in Cusco in the evening; transfer to your hotel.
Included
- Professional naturalist guide in English, with binoculars & spotting scope, who has done 3 months conservation work in Manu Park
- Transport by private bus and private boat & car to Puerto Carlos
- Entrance fees to Cock of the Rock observatory & Tapir lick
- Entrance fees to Manu National Park, Salvador & Otorongo lakes
- Cook & all meals (mainly nutritious vegetarian food*), drinks, drinking water
- Overnight in Lodges and on the tapir observation platform
- First Aid Kit, extractor (for venom)
- Radio communication
- Rubber boots
Not included
- Binoculars (for rent at our office)
- Optional: entrance fee to the Macaw clay lick (+ 90 US$ p.p.)
- Optional: room with private bathroom at Casa Matsiguenka (+ 25 US$ p.p. per night)
- Optional: daily meal with meat (+ 25 US$ p.p.)
- Alcoholic drinks, personal expenses etc.
* We support local farmers and buy regional products. Large areas of tropical rainforest are being destroyed for soya and oil palm plantations. Soya is used to produce animal food to industrial livestock farming – We want to help protect the rainforest. You can also help!
8 DAY TOUR
8 DAY TOUR
The complete Manu National Park Explorer
8 days – in via the Manu road, out via Colorado
On fixed departures. Group size: 4 – 7 persons.
This tour gives you a complete rainforest experience, with 3 nights inside the Reserved Zone of Manu! Special: 2 full days inside the Reserved Zone of Manu Park! You travel through the cloud forest over the famous Manu road and explore the lowland forest’s oxbow lakes and salt licks.
Contact us for availability and prices!
Program
Starting early from Cusco we begin our 8 hour journey by private minibus ascending to the high mountain area at 3900 m (13,000 ft). After a short stop in Ninamarca, to see the pre-Inca cemetery, and the colonial village of Paucartambo, we descend the eastern slopes of the Andes through cloud forest with lush vegetation (ferns, orchids, bromeliads etc.). We enjoy spectacular views of the Andes and can see wildlife such as our national bird: the bright red Cock of the Rocks (Rupicola peruviana) showing his mating dance. Brilliantly coloured Tanagers, Quetzals, Trogons and Hummingbirds can be seen and possibly the first monkeys, such as Woolly Monkeys. In the afternoon we arrive at Bamboo Lodge (900 m), where we spend the night (double rooms & private bathroom). After dinner your guide will brief you about the activities of the following day.
At first light we start to travel about 6 hours down the Manu River. Capybaras, caimans, birds and with luck one of the big cats may be seen. We make a short stop at Boca Manu village, or Fitzcarrald, and then continue on the wider Madre de Dios River. Further downriver we reach Maquisapayoj Reserve (Place of the “Black Spider Monkey”; double rooms with private bathroom), home to numerous monkey species, including the rare Tamarin Monkey and Monk Saki Monkey. After a short rest we go for a walk to the mammal salt lick, where we look for monkeys, deer and other animals who visit the lick. After returning to the lodge we have an evening night walk to see insects, frogs, snakes etc., optional night on the platform at the salt lick.
After an early breakfast at the lodge we travel downriver by boat (2.5 hours) to Colorado, a small gold mining town. Together with the guide we take a car to Puerto Carlos (1 hour). We cross Rio Inambari to the small town of Santa Rosa, where our minibus is waiting for us to drive back to Cusco. We travel on the paved Transoceanica through grassland and cloud forest and up to the Andes, with a spectacular view of the Ausangate Mountain. We arrive in Cusco in the evening; transfer to your hotel.
Included
- Professional, English speaking naturalist guide, with binoculars & spotting scope, who has done 3 months conservation work in Manu Park
- Transport by private minibus and private boat & car to Puerto Carlos
- Entrance fees to Cock of the Rock observatory & Tapir lick
- Entrance fees to Reserved Zone of Manu National Park, Salvador & Otorongo lakes
- Overnight in Lodges (3 nights inside Manu Park) and on the tapir observation platform
- Cook & all meals (mainly nutritious vegetarian food* ), drinks & drinking water
- First Aid Kit, extractor (for venom)
- Radio communication
- Rubber boots
Not included
- Binoculars (for rent at our office)
- Optional: entrance fee to the Macaw clay lick (+ 90 US$ p.p.)
- Optional: room with private bathroom at Casa Matsiguenka (+ 25 US$ per night)
- Optional: daily meal with meat (+ 25 US$ p.p.)
- Alcoholic drinks, personal expenses etc.
* We support local farmers and buy regional products. Large areas of tropical rainforest are being destroyed for soya and oil palm plantations. Soya is used to produce animal food to industrial livestock farming – We want to help protect the rainforest. You can also help!