Manu 7 days

Program

Welcome to the biosphere of the world reserve for flora and fauna of Manu, located in the south-eastern part of the department of Cusco with an extension of 2 million hectares. This area is the natural habit of some animals that are threatened with extinction such as the tapir, the lynx, spectacled bear and a lot of other animals with who we'll have the opportunity to meet in their natural habitat during this trek. Manu is also known for its enormous quantity of medicinal plants that often lend a hand to modern medicine. Manu is considered a place with great importance where one can find most plants of any kind in the world.

1^st Day

We'll leave Cusco at about 06h00 in the morning in our comfortable bus. Our road will take us upwards to the highest part of Paucartambo. During this ride we will stop to visit the funeral towers or Chullpas of Ninamarca. Afterwards we'll go down through the mysterious Cloud-Forest, filled with beautiful orchids and primitive ferns. We'll stop on the road when we'll have the opportunity of seeing the Kokos rock (Rupicola Peruviana), used in the sex-ritual. We'll also have the possibility to see some trogones and a lot more. If we're lucky we might see the only bear in South-America, the spectacled bear (tremarctos ornatus). At night we'll arrive at the village of Pilco Pata where we'll spend the night in a typical lodge with toilets and showers. 

2^nd Day

After a delicious breakfast we'll head for the Puerta de Atalaya by bus, where we'll change transport and take a boat to navigate on the river Madre de Dios. During this journey we'll be able to see an enormous amount of different birds such as herons, kingfishers and always vultures of which the most spectacular is without any doubt the jungle-condor, king of all vultures (Scarcoramphus papa) and the jaguar (Panthera onca). Halfway through the day we'll have a stop in the small village called Boca Manu, "The Mouth of Manu", to have a rest. After this we'll continue with our journey on the impressive river Madre de Dios until we arrive at Blanquillo where we'll find the fantastic macaw clay lick which is the place where animals gather to eat salt and clay.
We'll spend the night in a campsite with toilets and showers. 

3^rd Day

After having breakfast we'll head for the macaw clay lick where we'll have to pick out a         hideout in front of the colpa. The guide will explain the reason for the presence of parrots and macaws here. Little by little dozens of parrots will start flying down to the macaw clay lick. After this spectacular colorful show we'll return to the village of Boca Manu. Later on we'll hike to explore the different small trails around the lodge where we will spend our night. The lodge is with toilets and showers.
An option is to fly to the lodge and start the trek from here. 

4^th Day

The journey by boat continues and one begins to realize just why Manu is so well-known for its wildlife. At the shore of the river you can see a lot of turtles, white caimans and maybe even some capybaras and much more.
In the afternoon we'll arrive at Lake Salvador from where we'll hike some small trails with our guide to learn more about the functioning and the secrets of the tropical forest.
We'll spend the night in the lodge of Matsiguenga with toilets and showers.
Optional nocturnal walks. 

5^th Day

The group will visit the Lake Salvador once more. Today we'll paddle gently in a catamaran which will give us the opportunity to see the river-wolfs and varieties of strange birds (Porphyrio martinica) or agamian herons (Agamia agami).
In the afternoon we'll visit the Lake Otorongo which is situated only half an hour from Lake Salvador in order to get access to the observation tower to see the river-wolfs. Afterwards we'll spend the rest of the day hiking on the main-trails to see some other animals like for example the Maquizapa monkey (Ateles Panicus) who always seem to be more curious about people than people about them. Here in Manu animals have never been persecuted by man.
Late in the afternoon we'll return to Matsiguenka Lodge. 

6^th Day

Today we'll wake up with the howling of awakening animals. Unfortunately we'll have to say goodbye and return to Boca Manu or an optional return by airplane.
The people who took the 8-day program will return by boat until our campsite in Yanayaco where they'll spend the night on platforms with roofs, toilet and shower. 

7^th Day

We'll return by boat to the Atalayu-bridge where the bus will wait to take us to Pilcopata. We'll arrive at our lodge with toilet and shower. The 8^th day we'll return by bus from Pilcopata to Cusco in a journey that will last for about six hours and will take us past the Cloud Forest once-more.
We'll arrive at Cusco at approximately 16h00.