Manu Wildlife Center

Cusco - Manu Biosphere Reserve

Peru

THIS PROGRAMME IS DESIGNED FOR VISITORS TO THE MANU AREA WITH LIMITED TIME AVAILABLE AND WHO WANT TO MAXIMISE THEIR RAINFOREST EXPERIENCE IN PERU. THIS AREA OF FOREST AND LAKES HAS A HIGHER DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE THAN THE MANU RIVER ITSELF.

To learn more about Manu Biosphere and see more photos, just click on Manu Biosphere Reserve Adventure.
We recommend this journey after a 2 or 4 day stay in the Manu Cloudforest and Amazonia Lodge, which offers high quality services in an environment, which really differs from the Andes and the jungle.

Sample Itinerary

DAY ONE:
A thirty-five minute flight in a radar-equipped twin engine plane takes us to Boca Manu. Here we take a motorized canoe for the 90 minute journey down the Madre de Dios River to Manu Wildlife Center to arrive for lunch. We spent the afternoon exploring some of the 30 miles of clean forest trails that surround the lodge. On these trails we have an excellent chance to encounter some of the 12 species of monkeys, which include the Monk Saki and Emperor Tamarin, which inhabit the surrounding forest. After dinner, we hike for 60-75 minutes through the night to the Amazon's largest known Tapir clay lick. We climb up a 17 foot observation platform perched 17 feet above the lick itself where we wait for the lumbering Tapirs to arrive, then using powerful flashlights we observe and photograph them in action (L D).

DAY TWO:
Rising before dawn, we take a 25 minute boat journey downstream to the only large parrot and macaw clay lick in the Manu area. From a floating catamaran blind we are afforded excellent views and photo opportunities as first hundreds of medium-sized and large parrots, and then the large Red-and-Green Macaws arrive to eat the clay. Please note that the clay lick is not as active in May, June and July. Returning for lunch, we spent the afternoon visiting one of the two oxbow lakes in the area. These lakes have populations of a variety of water birds, including the prehistoric-looking Hoatzin, and also house Giant Otters. After dinner at the Center, we have another opportunity to visit the Tapir clay lick (B L D).

DAY THREE:
Rising at dawn, we explore the forest trails with the emphasis on visiting the fruiting trees which our researchers and native guides have been monitoring. Here we hope to encounter more monkey species as well as numerous species of birds. Or, we could visit to one or both of the lakes before exploring the forest trails. After lunch at the Center, we have another opportunity to explore more of the forest types found in the vicinity of the lodge. Alternatively, some visitors may wish to spend time in special blinds to observe and perhaps to photograph the brilliantly coloured dancing birds called manakins. After dinner, those particularly determined visitors can once again visit the tapir clay lick (B L D).

DAY FOUR:
Rising early, we board the motorized canoe for a 25 minute journey to the mouth of the Blanco River. Here we transfer to dugout canoes in which our native guides will paddle us up this beautiful small tributary of the River Madre de Dios. As we paddle up the river, we look for monkeys feeding in the liana-festooned trees, which loom overhead, and encounter numerous waterbirds including probable sightings of the cumbersome Horned Screamers. Those lucky explores might also meet giant otters, or the smaller southern river otter, swimming upstream on a fishing expedition. After lunch, we have the opportunity to observe life in the forest canopy from one of our 35-metre tree platforms, or to independently explore one of the numerous forest trails. After supper, those with still enough energy have a chance for a final visit to the Tapir clay lick (B L D).

DAY FIVE:
After a dawn breakfast, we board the motor canoe for the two hour return trip to the Manu landing strip, from where we fly to Cusco, where our jungle adventure ends (B).

General Information

All rainforest leaders are naturalists and biologists who spend much time researching in the Manu Biosphere Reserve area.

Excursions subjected to local conditions.

Rated: Easy

Departure dates
Monday, Wednesday and Friday (4 days) and Thursday and Saturday (5 days)

Manu Wildlife Centre
	4 days/3 nights		5 days/4 nights
N° of participants	2/4	5+	2	3+	SGL Supp.
USD	$ 907	$ 805	$ 1315	$ 1096	$ 50
EUR	€ 753	€ 668	€ 1092	€ 910	€ 42
GBP	£ 508	£ 451	£ 736	£ 614	£ 28

(*) Price last updated on 06 June 2004. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a quotation request .
(**) Single supplement is per night

Included:
Meals and accommodation as mentioned, all transport, all excursions, National Park Entrance fees, transfers to/from lodge, drinking water, naturalist English speaking guides (French, German and Italian speaking guides upon request).

Not included:
Airport tax (at present $4USD), bottled drinks except water, tip

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