DAY 1: Cusco-Cloud Forest

Leaving Cusco we head over the Andes, stopping for a coffee at the beautiful colonial village of Paucartambo. Continuing, we climb to a highpoint of almost 4,000 m before descending to the cloud forest. In these mysterious surroundings we take a short hike and make our first camp (approximately 1,500 m).

DAY 2: Cloud Forest-Atalaya-Manu River

At daybreak we walk to the lek of the incredible cock-of-the-rock, to see the ‘performance’ of the males right under our eyes. Afterwards we continue by bus to tropical lowland rainforest. Here at 650 m, we change into a motorized canoe to navigate down the turbulent Alto Madre de Dios River to Boca Manu. As night falls, we camp on one of the beaches.

DAY 3 & 4: Lake Salvador and Lake Otorongo

On the morning of the third day we turn up the Manu River. From this advantage point we will have great views of riverside birds, sunbathing caiman, and the enormous aquatic guinea pig, the capybara. We reach our campsite deep inside Manu in the afternoon. This will be our base for the next two days. During this time, we will hike through virgin forest and explore one of the most beautiful lakes of the Manu basin, Lake Salvador, by catamaran. There is a chance to see a huge variety of colorful birds, numerous species of monkey and with luck, a family of giant otters. A five-hour hike through the forest takes us to Lake Otorongo and a 20 meter-high observation platform that overlooks the lake. At night we can explore the forest by torchlight or go moonlight caiman spotting on the lake.

DAY 5: Lake Salvador-Macaw Lick

After a final walk through the forest surrounding Lake Salvador, we return back down the Manu River. Joining the Madre de Dios River we arrive at Tambo Blanquillo where we spend the night.

DAY 6: Macaw Lick

At first light we head to the macaw lick to watch the dazzling spectacle of hundreds of parakeets, parrots and macaws eating clay. In the afternoon we turn back up the Madre de Dios River, camping close to the airstrip.

DAY 7: Boca Manu-Cusco

A short boat ride takes us to Boca Manu airport and our return flight over the rainforest and the Andes to Cusco by light aircraft.

TOUR FEE INCLUDES:

- Naturalist guide in English and Spanish

- Transportation Cusco-Atalaya by private bus (and back in 9 day program)

- Transportation Atalaya-Lake Salvador-Macaw Lick-Boca Manu by private boat (not on 5 day program)

- Flight Boca Manu-Cusco (5 and 7-day program)

- Tents and mattresses. (sleeping bags can be rented)

- Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

- Park entrance fees and permits for the reserved zone

- Guide book for rainforest of Manu

Things you should know

Other programs

In addition to the programs described here, we can arrange other programs for private groups with special interests or different time schedules.

Group Size

To ensure that you get the best out of your rainforest adventure, we keep the groups small. Trips are operated with a minimum group size of 6 and a maximum of 10 per guide. In case more people wish to participate we add an extra guide, and of a group of 15 people we make two independent groups.

Reserved Zone

The Reserved Zone is closed for camping by the Ministry of Agriculture between the 1st January and 30^th April every year. During this time we can either make use of one of the two lodges in the Reserved Zone or take you on a tour into the Cultural Zone.

Flight

Two types of aircraft are used for the flights between Cusco and the airstrip at Boca Manu. One, a Beechcraft King Air B-90 seats ten people and the other a Twin Otter seats eighteen. The flight lasts about 50 minutes. With heavy rain or low clouds, flights may be delayed to and from Boca Manu.

EQUIPMENT AND HEALTH

Rainforest expeditions are not comfortable tours, but with the following

EQUIPMENT you will get the best out of the forest and yourself:

- Binoculars (imperative)

- Flashlight with spare bulbs and batteries

- Sleeping bag (can be rented)

- Day pack

- Long pants and long-sleeved shirts (thick and baggy fabric against mosquitoes)

- T-shirts

- Shorts/Bathing suit

- Sweater or light jacket

- 2 pairs of light shoes/Long cotton socks

- Rain gear/Rubber boots (only in the rainy season)

- Sunhat, sunglasses, sunblock

- Insect repellent with at least 25% deet

- Toilet-paper

- Plastic bags (to keep everything dry)

- Water bottle (with water for the bus ride into Manu)

- Copy of a valid passport/Copy of yellow fever and tetanus vaccinations

HEALTH ADVICE: There is an extremely low malaria risk in the Manu area and the occasional cases of malaria in the Alto Madre de Dios zone have proved to be completely curable. Use insect repellent and effective clothing to avoid being bitten.