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800-232-5658
PeruAmazon
/ Cusco
/ Trekking / Water
Sports / Packages / Arequipa
(Colca Canyon)
Manu Cloud & Rainforest with Parrots Clay LickDay 01: It is necessary to leave Cusco
early in order to reach the cloud forest - traveling through Andean
landscapes of great beauty, with deep valleys, highlands, rural
communities and picturesque colonial towns such as Paucartambo,
which has been the gateway to the Manu forests since pre-Hispanic
times. Acjanaco pass (3,850 m.a.s.l) marks the official entrance
to Manu National Park. From here the road descends to the cloud
forest, passing the important ecosystem comprised of Andean grassland,
where vegetation is sparse. From here we descend into the cloud
forest. This is a very rich area in terms of flora and fauna, the
habitat of the Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicula peruviana), Quetzal, Blue-crowned
motmots, Toucans, the Spectacled Bear (South America's only bear),
White-tailed deer, butterflies, ferns and orchids. We will spend
the first night in our cloud forest Paradise Lodge. Day 02: After our first night in the
cloud forest, and before breakfast, we will take a walk in the forest
to see the Cock-of-the-Rock in a daily mating ritual in which eight
to ten males perform in order to attract the attention of a female.
We will then return to the lodge for a healthy and fortifying breakfast
and continue our trip to the port of Atalaya, from where we will
board our boat downstream to our camp on the Upper Madre de Dios
River, close to a macaw clay lick. Day 03: Before breakfast at about 5:30
am, we will hike to a position some 30m (90ft) from the lick, a
rich deposit of natural minerals and clay in the river sidewall.
From here, we can observe several species of parrots and parakeets
arriving, followed by macaws in a colorful and impressive show.
If there is good weather we may have the opportunity to see around
300 individuals. After this unforgettable spectacle and a good breakfast
we will continue downstream to the village of Boca Manu, where we
will be joined by others passengers arriving by light aircraft from
Cusco. As we travel downriver we will be able to see a variety of
birds among the trees, as well as caimans along the river’s
edge. More or less at noon we will enter the Reserved Zone of the
Park for a 4 hour hike in this primary forest. At nightfall we will
stay in a comfortable lodge in Boca Manu, at the entrance to the
park. This is an opportunity for a nocturnal walk, during which
we will hopefully see nocturnal birds such as the sand-colored nighthawk
as we listen to the spectacular sounds made by Night monkeys (Musmuqui),
the world's only nocturnal primate, the Amazon bamboo rat, numerous
species of toads and insects and other inhabitants of the forest
which only emerge at night. Day 04: Today we will continue our
journey along the Manu River as far as the CAIMAN CAMP, inside the
Reserved Area, passing Limonal, the Park Ranger Station, where we
will register before entering the Reserved Area. In the course of
the trip we will see birds, toucans, macaws, parrots and some mammals
such as capybara, tapirs, peccaries and many varieties of turtles,
caiman and, if we are lucky, an impressive, lone jaguar. We will
arrive at our camp in the mid-afternoon, near the Salvador oxbow
lake, where we will spend two nights camping on comfortable platforms. Day 05: Today we will make an early
start for a long walk of some three or four hours, from the banks
of the Manu River to Otorongo lake, where we will climb a 15m high
observation tower, from where birds such as the exuberantly feathered
and primitive Shansho (Hoatzin) can be seen, as well as monkeys
feeding on fruits and several species of flowers and brightly-colored
butterflies. We will then return to our camp by canoe to enjoy a
delicious lunch. The afternoon will be dedicated to exploring Salvador
oxbow lake and the surrounding area aboard our catamaran, from which
we will be able to observe the megadiversity attracted by this oxbow
lake, including Black Caiman, White Caiman, a family of Giant Otters
and waterfowl. Return to the camp in the evening. Day 06: Early in the morning we will
have another chance to go for a nature walk or one more visit to
the oxbow lake to hear choirs of birds defining their territory
in song. As the sun rises, the eastern sky changes to a pale yellow
and we will be able to see falcons or other predatory birds patiently
searching for prey from the treetops. After lunch we will board
our boat again and head downstream towards Boca Manu, this time
just floating without the engine in order to have the opportunity
to observe with plenty of time the fauna and flora of this extraordinary
environment. Arriving at Boca Manu we will visit the native community
of the Matshiguenka and Yine ethnic groups, and we will visit their
botanical gardens of medicinal plants and share in their activities. Day 7: In the morning we will transfer to the airfield at Boca Manu, where we will board our plane to Cusco. Staff from our office will be waiting for you at the Cusco airport to take you to your hotel. End of our services. Wednesday departures for US$1116
per person Our Service Includes Equipment checklist: |