5day Manu Park Tour by bus

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco - Pona Lodge

The first day of our adventure into the Jungle of Manu, we will pick you up around 5:00 AM from your hotels in Cusco, using the service of our private transport. The first part of our excursion will take us through the majestic Andean mountains. Afterwards, we will visit the town of Huancarani which contains the funeral towers of Ninamarca, a cemetery of the Lupaca Pre –Inca Culture, which we will visit briefly on our way to Paucartambo, which is known as the folkloric capital of the district of Cusco. In the face of modern times, this small colonial pueblo has managed to hold on to its rich tradition for centuries upon centuries. At mid-day we will arrive at the entrance of Manu National Park and access to one of the most protected natural areas in South America. We will continue on in our private transport down a dirt road and on through the thick fog from which this section of the forest takes it name. Eventually we will arrive at the home of the exotic Peruvian National Bird, the “Cock of the Rock”, where it is known to gather with others of its kind for some sort of social gathering that seems reminiscent of a large courtship. You will find that this is quite an amazing spectacle complete with an impressive array of sounds and colours that can only be found in the jungle. For our first night, we will stay in the beautiful Pona Lodge, where we will arrive at approx. 5:00 p.m.

Highlights of the Day:

1. Walk along the Cloud Forest of Manu Park
2. Visit the Peruvian National Bird LEK
3. Bird Watching along the Cloud Forest, at the cloud forest we will be able to see several species of colorful birds including Tanagers, toucans, barbets, hummingbirds, two species of quetzals, trogons, motmots, woodpeckers and hawks.
4. Tanager garden optional Visit, this visit is not included but its an excellent spot to photograph colorful birds.

Day 2: Pona Lodge – Reserved Zone – Casa Matsiguenka Lodge

This morning from clear waters of Alto Madre de Dios River we will enter the clay laden waters of the Manu River, after leave our lodge at 3:30am we will head towards Atalaya Port and from there we will continue our journey by boat and from there sail directly to the Reserved Zone of Manu Park. With a brief stop at the park ranger station at Limonal to present our permits we travel for about five hours up the Manu. Beaches, especially in the dry season, are loaded with nesting birds and feeding Herons, Egrets, Orinoco Geese, Terns and Skimmers to name a few. Some beaches will host sunning White and Black Caimans (South American relatives of the Alligators) and breeding Side-necked Turtles. Hundreds of Sand-colored Nightjars roost during the day on logs and beaches and there is a chance of encountering a sunning Jaguar - the world’s third largest cat. In 1999 one in three of our trips saw Jaguar in Manu. We will see some species of primate on this river trip, possibly Red Howler Monkeys or the smaller Squirrel Monkeys. After having lunch by the river we arrive at our Safari Camp near the lake of Cocha Salvador. We'll have the afternoon to explore some of the trails through the pristine rainforest in the area. A visit to the lake of Cocha Otorongo is planned, where observation piers and a 20 meter observation tower in the rainforest canopy overlooking the lake are available for observing wildlife. We will also be on the lookout for a large family of Giant Otters that inhabit this lake. Before or after dinner an optional excursion into the forest at night is available with your guide in search of nocturnal creatures. The lakes are full of eye-shine of the large Black Caiman and if we are lucky we may encounter an Olingo Kinkajou or even an Ocelot on the trails. Certainly the night-time noise of tree frogs and insects in the forest is an experience not to be forgotten. Night at Casa Matsiguenka lodge, there are flush toilets and shower facilities.

Highlights of the Day:

1. Sail along Manu River, along the river we will have chances to see several species of animals including black caimans, white caimans, Turtles, monkeys, capybaras and deers
2. Jaguar Searching: At Manu River we will have our best chances to see Jaguars in the way up as well as in the way down.
3. Cocha Otorongo Visit, Cocha otorongo is a Oxbow lake, at this oxbow lake we will have our first chance to see giant otters and large black caimans.

Day 3: Casa Matsiguenka Lodge - Salvador Oxbow lake - Macaw Clay Lick - Casa Matsiguenka Lodge

We will start our activity very early in the morning in the Salvador oxbow lake using a floating platform called a catamaran. This morning we will be able to see an infinity of species of birds and mammals, herons, cormorants, eagles, hawks, squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys, giant river otters. The Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) can reach up to 6 feet or 1.82 cm in length and weigh up to 70 pounds or 31 kilograms. They consume between 9 to 11 lbs (4-5kilos). of fish per day. This is one of the rare animals on earth which are common in Manu. We will also look for some of the 15 species of monkeys which inhabit this place. The sound of the red howler monkeys through the mist can make our skin crawl.

Right after see the Giant otters at Salvador oxbow lake we will head back to the Lodge and from there walk for about 30min to a Macaw Clay Lick. (Scarlet macaws as well as red and green macaws are seen at this clay lick). Around 10:00 a.m. the macaws begin to descend. This colorful and noisy scene continues for 20 to 40 minutes while the birds eat their ration of clay or until danger arrives in the form of a hawk, eagle or ocelot. This is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in the world.

In the afternoon we will go back to Casa Matsiguenka Lodge for lunch.

After lunch at our lodge we will explore one of the trails through the jungle and look at the complex ecosystem that surrounds us. Our ecologist guide will explain how plants and insects interact with the forest. We will be on the lookout for some of the smaller inhabitants of the jungle, such as the emperor Tamarin or the Saddle-Backed Tamarin. On the way it is also possible to come across a group of peccaries, a species of wild boar found here. Overnight at Casa Matsiguenka Lodge (B+L+D).

Highlights of the Day:

1. Cocha Salvador Visit, Cocha Salvador is the largest Oxbow lake in Manu National Park at this oxbow lake we have a chance to see giant otters, Black Caimans, several species of birds and monkeys.
2. Macaw Clay Lick Visit, near our lodge we have a small macaw clay lick were two species of large macaws are observed, there we will see scarlet as well as red and green macaws.
3. Night Walk, during our night walks we can see several species of nocturnal creatures including insects, amphibians, reptiles, night monkeys and owls.

Day 4: Casa Matsiguenka Lodge (Reserved Zone of Manu National Park) – Tapir Clay Lick

Early in the morning we will have another chance to go for a nature walk or one more visit to the oxbow lake and 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 and from there we will start our journey up river towards our lodge .
In the afternoon we will arrive to our lodge and from there we will head towards the Tapir Clay lick where we will spend the night in the middle of the jungle.

Highlights of the Day:

1. Sail Along Manu River, in the way our we will have our second chance to search for caimans, monkeys, turtles, capybaras, deers and green anacondas
2. Jaguar Search, this mooring we will search for jaguars along Manu river, the best chance to see jaguars is between July to October.
3. Tapir Clay Lick: In the evening we will visit a mammal clay lick where tapirs are seeing.
4. Spend a Night in the middle of the Jungle, In order to see the tapirs we will have to spend a night in a camuflaje house.

Day 5: Tapir Clay Lick – Cusco

Today we will start our journey back to Cusco, the first part of the journey will be by boat and after reach Atalaya we will continue our journey by car. We will arrive to Cusco between 4 to 7pm.