MANU NATIONAL PARK: The Manu National Park is situated in Southeastern Peru where it covers 1.9 Million hectares. Around 6500 Quechua and 2000 Amazonian peoples are living inside the Reserve. The Manu National Park is concerned by 3 major biogeographically provinces (the Puna, the Yungas and the Amazonian provinces). It ranges from 200 to 4020 m a.s.1. Combined with topographic, soil and climate conditions; The Manu National Park is characterized by a very high level of diversity (Natural World Heritage Site). Some of the .wildlife species are endangered.
The Manu National Park is composed of 3 main areas: a core area ( Manu National Park) devoted to conservation, a buffer area including indigenous territories and private ecological reserves, a transition area with bio geographical boundaries and experimental, application and traditional use areas. The biological station of Cocha Cachu allows to carry out different researches on biological species. and ecosystems. An inventory of the biodiversity was undertaken in Manu National Park since 1987. Planning and monitoring research are also performed in the core and buffer areas. An applied research programed aims to set up sustained management of biological resources such as Cedrela odorate and Podocnemis unfilms. Since 1991 an agroforestry project has been initiated (soil fertility, fallow agriculture) and complemented by studies on animal husbandry systems, fodder for ruminants and fishery resources. Indigenous population’s ownership of the land is recognized by the State (traditional use area). Colonization around The Manu National Park took place during the forties with logging and farming activities. Resident populations have access to natural resources through mining subsistence farming and cattle rising. An integrated conservation and development project of the Manu National Park aims to manage the resource base, to improve social and economic development and to extend
- Length: 8 Days /7 Nights
- Type of service: Private or Group
- Location: Southern Peru, Madre de Dios Department, Manu National Park
- Activities: Manu National Park , Manu Biosphere Reserve, Flora & fauna, Otorongo Lake, Cocha Salvador, jungle trips
- Altitude: 400 – 3,600 m.a.s.l.
- Best time to visit: May – October
- Departure: Every day
- Minimum of participants: 4
- Maximum of participants: 10
- Price per person:
ITINERARY FOR AMAZON JUNGLE
Manu National Park 8 days / 7 nights
TOURS DAY 1: CUSCO, NINAMARCA, CULTURAL ZONE, PILCOPATA
We leave Cusco early in the morning to start our adventurous trip First, we are taken by private transport to the place called Ninamarca to observe pre-Incan “chullpas” (tombs) of the Lupaca’s culture. Then, we continue to Paucartambo, a colonial town with narrow streets and beautiful church, where people still keep their old customs. Then, we ascend to the viewpoint Tres Cruces (3,900 masl) to observe one of the best sunrises of the world! From there, we start descending to the Manu National Park, a place of presence of a cock of the rock (a Peruvian national bird), hummingbirds, strikingly coloured quetzals, trogons, spotted flycatcher and woolly monkey. From flora, we can view a variety of orchids, mosses, ferns, etc. Finally, we get to Pilcopata (700 masl) where we overnight in a jungle lodge after enjoying dinner and shower in Manu National Park
TOURS DAY 2: PILCOPATA TO ATALAYA PORT & RAINFOREST LODGE
After breakfast, we continue our journey by private car (one and half an hour) towards the port at Atalaya (500 m.a.s.l). There, we board a motorized boat to continue for about half an hour navigating on the Alto Madre de Dios River. Along the rocky riversides, we have a great opportunity to observe the river wildlife like herons, vultures, cormorants and some of 13 monkey species living in Manu! In the afternoon, we reach our next lodge – Rainforest Lodge. Then we go to explore nearby paths where we can see a big diversity of species, for example, tarantulas, ants, butterflies, some monkey species, huge trees, erotic plants, palms, etc. After that, we return to our lodge to overnight. Optional: A night walk in the Manu National Park
TOURS DAY 3: RAINFOREST LODGE,TO BOCA MANU
We start our today´s 7 hour navigation after breakfast. While navigating the Alto Madre de Dios River, we have an opportunity to observe diverse species such as herons, vultures, kingfishers, turtles or monkeys. Later, we reach the Manu Reserved Zone. Later that afternoon, we get to our next lodge in the area of Boca Manu. We can have a shower, and after dinner, we overnight. Optional: A night walk in the Manu National Park
TOURS DAY 4: BOCA MANU TO LAKE OTORONGO /MANU NATIONAL PARK
Today, we say good-bye to the Madre de Dios River to change for a navigation on the Manu River offering us other amazing views of a great variety of species living in and around it such as groups of turtles, white caimans, capybaras, jaguar (Panthera onca) resting on a log and watching its territory. In the afternoon, we reach a next jungle lodge called Otorongo that offers us basic rooms with bathrooms. Later on, our Tour Guide takes us to the Otorongo Lake where an observation tower is placed allowing us to watch giant otters living there. During that, the Guide teaches us functions and secrets of the jungle. After that, we return to the lodge to have dinner and spend the night. Optional: A night walk.
TOURS DAY 5: LAKES SALVADOR & OTORONGO/ MANU NATIONAL PARK
Today, we visit the Salvador Lake in our silent rowing boat that allows us observing a family of playful giant river otters, black caimans as well as many rare bird species including a prehistoric bird called shansho You can be sure that animals here in wild Amazon Manu have never suffered from hunting by people! In the afternoon, we return to our lodge near Otorongo Lake to have a rest and sleep. Optional: A night walk.
TOURS DAY 6: OTORONGO LAKE / PAKITZA /MANU NATIONAL PARK
In the morning, our group starts the travel by boat from Otorongo Lake towards Pakitza offering us to watch more wildlife. In Pakitza, we can observe different paths and other kinds of mammals. In the afternoon, we return to our lodge to have a rest and shower. After dinner, we overnight.
TOURS DAY 7: BOCA MANU &RAINFOREST LODGE / MANU NATIONAL PARK
Today surely starts with a howler monkey scream that wake us up. After breakfast, we navigate on the Manu River to Boca Manu. We change there for the Alto Madre de Dios River and continue navigating until reaching the Rainforest Lodge, a place of our next overnight.
TOURS DAY 8: RAINFOREST LODGE &ATALAYA PORT , CUSCO,
We wake up very early today to go by boat to see a 10 minute far away parrot clay lick After that, we get back to the lodge where we are served breakfast adding us energy for our last travel so that we are able to board a motorized boat and start navigating towards the Atalaya Port. Our private vehicle awaits us there to take us back to Cusco. We arrive there approximately between 6 and 6:30 pm.
IMPORTANT
You need to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever as well as to bring some anti-malaria tablets with you
Included in the Manu National Park 8 days:
- A professional naturalist Tour Guide;
- Motorboat transportation;
- Private vehicle land transportation;
- Entrance to the Reserved Zone of the Manu National Park;
- A professional Cook,
- Meals: 7x breakfast, 7x lunch, 7x dinner and drinking water (Please note: vegetarian option upon request for no extra cost);
- Accommodation: 7 nights in lodges;
- First aid kit, including a poison extractor, mosquito bite treatment and an antidote for a snake bite;
- Radio communications;
- Rubber boots.
Not included in the Manu National Park 8 days:
- Any flight nor airport departure taxes;
- Travel insurance;
- Vaccination;
Breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last day;
- Drinks;
- Tips to local staff.
- What to take with you to the Manu National Park 8 days:
- Mosquito repellent (DEET 35 recommended as a MINIMUM),
- Original passport,
- Small backpack,
- Long sleeved cotton shirts (preferably green coloured),
- Long cotton trousers,
- Cotton long socks (to be put into your trousers),
- Comfortable walking shoes,
- Sandals or light shoes,
- Rain gear (e.g. rain poncho),
- Sweater (for the beginning of the tour in Andes and the cloud forest only),
- Swimsuit;
- Binoculars (we also rent it),
- Camera and its charger,
- Plastic bags to be used for clothes and a camera,
- A hat as a protection against the Sun or rain,
- Toiletries,
- Small towel,
- Toilet paper,
- Sun cream,
- Sunglasses,
- Flashlight (with spare bulb and batteries),
- A bottled water (1 litre as a minimum),
- Pocket money (Soles) to buy some beverages and souvenirs as well as to tip.
For flora and fauna, the Manu is pretty
much unbeatable in South America, home to 20,000 vascular plant types (one
five-square- kilometer area was found to contain 1147 species of vascular
plants, almost as many as in the whole of Great Britain), with over 5000
flowering plants, 1200 species of butterfly, 1000 types of bird, 200 kinds of
mammal and an unknown quantity of reptiles and insects. Rich in macaw
salt-licks, otter lagoons and prowling jaguars, there are thirteen species of
monkey and seven species of macaw in Manu, and it still contains other species
in serious danger of extinction, such as the giant otter and the black caiman
(Melanosuchus niger).
