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Manu Lodge Tours |
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Operator:
Manu Nature Tours |
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Manu Cloud Forest Lodge + Manu Lodge
7 days
/ 6 nights |
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Price: US$ per person
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Fixed Departure Dates 2008 |
Tour Includes |
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Tour Itinerary |
ITINERARY DESCRIPTION
Day 1, 6:00 a.m. Rendez-vous and departure of our private vehicle from
our Cusco office. Our destination today is Manu Nature Tour's 1,300 Ha.
Private Reserve in the cloud forest near the southeastern boundary of
Manu Park, nested between the grasslands and the lowlands of the Upper
Madre de Dios River. We travel southeast through small Andean villages
while we observe cameloid shepherds and native peasants in their
colorful attires. We travel at leisure making several stops along the
way, including many photo opportunities, and the colorful colonial town
of Paucartambo. As we reach the Acjanaco pass, near the southern-most
tip of the Manu Park, a delicious lunch is the perfect complement to the
magnificent views of the elfin forest, cloud forest, and the lowland
Amazon Basin below.
Mountain Biking: For those with the energy and a sense of adventure we
will offer the choice to use a sturdy mountain bike with front
suspension to descend effortlessly on the most scenic and beautiful part
of the single-lane dirt road into the heart of the cloud forests. For
your security, and since this is not a competition but a chance to enjoy
nature, you will have to ride behind our transport. We provide bike
helmets and gloves.
We reach our Manu Cloud Forest Lodge to have a relaxing evening by the
lodge's veranda. The sound of the Union Creek by the lodge and a visit
to the lodge sauna will put us into a pleasant sleep.
The above is an optional activity and must be reserved and paid in
advance.
Day 02. The lush and misty cloud forest is perhaps the most fragile and
threatened type of rainforest. This forest starts at 11,000 feet, and
continues down to about 5,000 feet of elevation, covering the eastern
slopes of the Andes, before yielding to the vast lowland forest of the
Amazon. This is a kingdom of moss, lichens, ferns, and orchids. Early
excursion to a nearby platform and blind strategically located to see a
"lek" where the brightly red-colored Cock-of-the Rock displays daily for
the females. We return to our lodge for a hearty breakfast. Afterwards,
a hiking excursion to the Waterfall Trail, walking through dense and
exuberant cloud forest and crossing rushing streams, which originate in
the peaks high above the forest. At noon, weather allowing, a delicious
barbecue awaits beside a natural pond. Surrounded by massive rocks,
hanging vines and bromeliads, we will enjoy a refreshing dip in these
crystal-clear waters.
Optional: White-water rafting on the Qosñipata River; visitors of all
ages can enjoy three hours of exciting class II and III rapids in the
beautiful setting of the tropical rainforest. Lunch is served along the
river course. We return to the Manu Cloud Forest Lodge early in the
afternoon. A minimum of four clients is required.
Day 03. After breakfast, we head towards Atalaya, the first navigable
port on the Upper Madre de Dios River. The ride will take us through
small villages of Andean colonists and indigenous people whose main
economic activities are rudimentary farming and low-scale logging. Once
at Atalaya we board our motorized dugout canoes, equipped with
individual cushioned seats, and long tarps to provide shelter from the
baking sun, or the sudden tropical downpour. River journeys are long in
Manu and visitors have rated our boats as the most comfortable in the
entire region. We will boat down the fast-flowing, braided, clear water,
upper Madre de Dios River for about five hours to the confluence with
the meandering, Manu River. As soon as we enter the great Manu
wilderness, every river bend will bring us a vista of unspoiled beauty.
We may see Black Caiman, White Caiman, toucans, parrots, scores of wild
macaws, several species of raptors, and maybe even a magnificent Jaguar.
The best proof of the presence of Jaguars and the possibility of many of
our tour groups to see these great cats, are the many wonderful amateur
photographs that our customers have sent back to our company. After
about four hours, we arrive at the Juarez Lake sandbar, then we hike 600
meters along a flat trail to the Juarez oxbow lake, where guides paddle
us in a catamaran to the secluded Manu Lodge, the only full Lodge in the
entire protected wilderness of Manu. If during the dry season the
catamaran cannot be used due to the low water level in the lake, we will
walk a one kilometer trail (about twenty minutes) only taking our
hand-bags with us while the main luggage is carried by the Lodge
personnel. Overnight: Manu Lodge.
Day 04. We rise to the loud call of Howler Monkeys, and to the option of
a dawn paddle on the lake. During breakfast from the dining room, you
may be able to see entire troops of Squirrel Monkeys, Brown Capuchins,
and White-Fronted Capuchins that may be visiting the lodge clearing in
search of palm fruits. Without any doubt, one of the highlights of Manu
Lodge is the family of four Giant Otters who usually breed there. Manu
Lodge visitors have been able to see these playful and gregarious
carnivores from a 15-meter distance without causing any disturbance of
their daily activities. This group of Giant Otters visits the Manu Lodge
every now and then, and when at Juarez, they can be seen at different
times of the day. Surprisingly, a few dead logs in front of our dining
room are their favorite spot to eat fish, preen, and play.
Manu Lodge offers the largest and most complete trail system available
in Manu (over 20 km of marked trails), and the result of standardized
trail walks completed by groups of researchers over the course of
several years, show that "it is actually those sections closest to the
lodge and most heavily visited, which were the most productive in terms
of mammal sighting. This suggests that the presence of tourists and
researchers is not having a disturbing effect on the local mammal
population." (1995, Durham University Expedition Report.)
Two miradors are located within a close distance from the Manu Lodge;
when clear they allow visitors with a vista of the canopy that stretches
to the snow-capped peaks near Cusco. A dawn visit to the miradors is the
most rewarding and while we look at the seemingly endless horizon,
several primate and bird species may reward our patience. Mirador
visitors regularly see: White-throated Jacamar, Paradise Tanagers, Opal-rumped
Tanager, and Swallow Tanager. Eye-level sights of Red and Green Macaws,
Scarlet Macaws, and Blue and Yellow Macaws as they fly by the mirador,
and turn their heads to look at us is an unforgettable memory. On some
occasions visitors have been rewarded with sights of Ornate-Hawk Eagle,
and the monkey-eating Harpy Eagle. At over a meter-high, its yellow legs
and talons seem larger than human arms and hands.
Macaw Roosting & Nesting Site: In the afternoon we will visit old oxbow
lake, within a 15-minute boat ride from Manu Lodge presents large stands
of Mauritia Palms, which make wonderful roosting and nesting sites for
dozens of Blue and Yellow Macaws and Red-bellied Macaws. An elevated
platform will provide visitors with "next to stage seats" to watch these
colorful birds, as they play, preen and display while their bright
plumage reflect the golden light of the setting tropical sun.
Optional: Canopy climbing. During your stay in Manu Lodge you have the
chance to explore the rainforest canopy at a closer range. Our staff can
take you for a spectacular and safe climb to a platform located 76 feet
above the ground. Overnight: Manu Lodge.
The above is an optional activity and must be reserved and paid in
advance.
Manu Lodge Research Program: Manu Lodge offers annual research grants
for Tropical Research organizations around the world. During your stay
at the lodge you may have the chance to attend a different scientific
talk every evening, and in the morning outings, you will be able to
attend on-the field discussions of different tropical research topics.
Day 05. Today we will have an opportunity to explore the Manu River, and
two of the most beautiful oxbow lakes in Manu, Otorongo and Salvador.
This river is another good chance to try our luck and see a Jaguar
sunning in the sandbars of the Manu River, as well as side-neck turtles
sunning in logs. The five-kilometer long Salvador Lake is the largest
and most beautiful lake in the lower Manu River. Manu Nature Tours
manages a private camp close to tall, mature never-flooded rainforest
close to the lake. Four lake piers, several trail circuits and a small
catamaran will offer us a chance to look for fauna and to observe the
serene beauty of this marvelous place. On the boat trip back to Manu
Lodge we will make a stop at Lake Otorongo in hopes to see a troop of
Woolly Monkeys and to climb a 100ft. observation tower near the lake
shore. If we are lucky while on this tower, we might see a group of
Giant Otters playing and fishing on the waters below. We boat back to
Manu Lodge in the late afternoon, to a refreshing shower, snacks and
iced drinks. Overnight: Manu Lodge.
Day 06. At 06:00 o’clock we start our three-hour river journey back to
the confluence of the Manu and the Madre de Dios. This journey is our
last chance to spot a Capybara, the world's largest rodent, or a Tapir,
a relative of horses and the rainforest's largest mammal. After about
three hours we will reach Boca Manu for a brief stop and to refuel our
boats. From Boca Manu we will explore the lower portion of the Madre de
Dios River where we may have a chance to see large Red-and-Green Macaws
perched on the trees or making short and long flights to the rain forest
canopy. Although the lower Madre de Dios River, in the vicinity of the
Macaw Lick is not within the protected Manu National Park, the riverine
wildlife viewing is surprisingly diverse. On a recent scientific survey
on this area our biologist guides have spotted: Black caiman, white
caiman, capybara, river turtles, over 200 wood storks, roseate
spoonbills, horned-screamers, turkey vultures, snowy egrets, great
egrets, cattle egrets, several species of oropendolas, swallow-winged
puffbirds, white-banded swallows, white-winged swallows, black-collared
hawk, large-billed terns, yellow-billed terns, neo-tropical cormorants,
scarlet macaws, blue and yellow macaws, tui parakeets, shiny cowbird,
great-black hawk, giant cowbird, bat falcon, black cara-cara, cocoi
herons, road-side hawks, Orinoco geese, bare-necked fruit-crows, black
skimmers, pied lapwings and tropical kingbirds.
We will also see several lowland native settlements and gold miners
digging and panning gold along the banks of the Madre de Dios River. The
river ride is perhaps the best option to spot the diversity of wildlife
that each bend of the river may offer to all visitors. About three hours
from Boca Manu, we will stop in the far-west type gold-mining town of
Colorado to start our overland journey to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival
in Colorado you will have the chance to see a true frontier, gold-mining
town where everything, from food supplies to outboard motors is praised
in “grams” (grams of gold, that is!) From Colorado a private vehicle
will take you to the jungle city of Puerto Maldonado in approximately
three hours along the inter-oceanic highway that will link Brazil with
the Pacific Ocean.
END OF OUR SERVICES
Important Notice: During the high-water season from January through
March, due to bad road conditions, we may change our itineraries in
order to boat from the Manu to the port of Laberinto, from where we will
continue by ground transport to Puerto Maldonado. Please see our website
maps for more details: www.manuperu.com
Day 07: Today, from Puerto Maldonado you may take a safe, 30-minute,
jet-flight back to Cusco. (Arriving between 12:30 and 13:00) After a
brief stop the plane continues for another hour to Lima. If you have a
nighttime flight you may connect to your home the same day. Please
reserve and pre-pay these flights back to Cusco or Lima well in advance.
Inclusions: Ground, and boat transport from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado,
naturalist English-speaking guide, all meals, accommodations at Manu
Cloud Forest Lodge and Manu Lodge. Not included: Commercial jet-plane to
Cusco or Lima, Manu National Park entrance fee (about $50 per person,
which may change without prior notice), transfer to the airport in
Puerto Maldonado, airport departure tax, post-tour hotel transfers in
Cusco or Lima, laundry, alcoholic beverages, items of a personal nature
and tips.
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