Tour to Manu National Park for 6 days

Day 1: Cusco - Pona Lodge

The first day of our adventure into the Jungle of Manu, we will pick you up around 6:00 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, where we will take a quick opportunity to visit a really nice pleasant lake by the name of Huacarpay, a high Andean Lagoon that boasts heaps of flora and fauna typical of the 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. (L, D)

DAY 2: Pona Lodge – Hummingbird Garden – Tapir Clay Lick.

After eating our breakfast we continue the tour by bus going through the high forest arriving to Atalaya which is found next to Madre de Dios River (700 meters over the sea). Before reach Atalaya we will visit a Hummingbird Garden where over 14 species of humminbirds are observed, we will also see tanagers and monkeys.
From Atalaya Port we start to go down river in a motorized boat (55 HP). At the riverside we will have the opportunity to see a lot of bird species such as “Herons”, “Vultures”, “Cormorants” etc. After some hours we will arrive to Aguas Calientes (a hot spring), where we are going to have a comfortable bath. Passing three in the afternoon we will arrive to our lodge, where we accommodate and get new water resources to be able to take a one hour walk through the forest and head to a Tapir Clay Lick where we will spend the night (B, L, D).

DAY 3: Tapir Clay Lick – Casa Matsiguenka Lodge

In the morning we continue our trip down river along Madre de Dios River and then along Manu River in the boat as far as Our Casa Matshiguenka lodge, inside the Reserved Area, passing Limonal, the Park Ranger Station, where we will register before entering the Reserved Area. In the course of the trip we will see birds, toucans, macaws, parrots and some mammals such as capybaras, tapirs, peccaries and many varieties of turtles, caiman and, if we are lucky, an impressive, lone jaguar. We will arrive at our lodge in the mid-afternoon, near the Salvador oxbow-Lake, where we will spend two nights. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Casa Matsiguenka Lodge – Salvador Oxbow lake – Macaw Clay Lick

An early morning start will have us paddling in small canoes or on our floating platform in the tranquil oxbow lake, Cocha Salvador, as the morning mists rise. We may encounter an Agami Heron or Sungrebe and Brown Capuchin Monkeys feeding on fruit. We may also see a jaguar, giant river otters - called river wolves, and hoatzins (prehistoric birds). The otters can reach 6 feet in length and weigh up to 70 lbs. and consume between 9 to 11 lbs. of fish daily. They are one of the rarest animals on earth and only remain common in Manu. We will be on the lookout for some of the 15 species of monkeys found here. The sound of red howler monkeys through the mist may make our skin crawl while parrots will be seen flying high overhead. 
Right after visit Salvador Oxbow Lake we will head towards a Small Macaw Clay Lick that is found close to our lodge where we can observe two species of large macaws are found.
After lunch we walk trails which pass through terra firma forest as we look at the complex ecosystem that surrounds us. Our ecologist guide will explain how the 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 or saddleback tamarins. We may even cross paths with a group of Peccaries, a species of wild boar found here. In the late afternoon we may swim in the river as we watch the sun set. Overnight at Casa Matshiguenka Lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Casa Matsiguenka Lodge – Tapir Lodge

Today we will walk from camp through the forest to a different oxbow lake, Cocha Otorongo - "Jaguar Lake", to experience another setting and a chance to see further wildlife. We may encounter troops of monkeys especially the Common Woolly Monkey. We’ll pay special attention to the plant life and listen carefully for rustling vegetation and fruits falling to the rainforest floor indicating the presence of animals or large birds. After a leisurely lunch we take our boat for a 6-hour trip until we reach our next lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Tapir Lodge – Cusco

This day would be our last day in the jungle. The whole journey back to Cusco will last around 8 hours.