Program 6 Days and 5 Nights, Manu Biosphere Reserve

The program can change according to the road, weather and river conditions and wishes of the group.

DAY 1: CUSCO – RAINFOREST LODGE

We leave from Cusco by private bus, first stopping to visit the pre-Inca burial towers of Ninamarca. We then drive through the mountains, to get to the typical folkloric town of Paucartambo. Here we will take a short walk around the town before carrying on to Tres Cruces, the highest point of and entrance to Manu National Park. From here we will continue into the Cloud Forest and at San Pedro we will walk for around 1 hour to observe the national bird of Peru, the Cock of the Rock, and many different kinds of monkeys, plants and flowers. We arrive at our private Rainforest Lodge in the evening where we will stay for the night.

DAY 2: RAINFOREST LODGE – RESERVE ECOLOGICAL BONANZA

After breakfast we will continue by private bus to Atalaya. On the way we will stop to observe a coca plantation, we will also stop at a view point where you can get a good overview of the jungle and river. From Atalaya we leave by motorized boat to Aguas Calientes, where you can bath in the natural hot springs. During the boat trip we will see many different kinds of animals, especially birds, and a beautiful landscape. Then we will continue downriver to R.E.Bonanza where we will have a walk later in the afternoon and fish in the river. Then we will visit the mammals’ clay lick for some hours, where we might see a tapir and other nocturnal mammals. On the way back to Bonanza Lodge for dinner we will look for spiders and snakes. We will spend the night in our beautiful, comfortable lodge.

DAY 3: RESERVE ECOLOGICAL BONANZA - CASA MATCHIGUENGA LODGE

After breakfast we continue our journey downriver (Alto Madre de Dios River) to the native community of Diamante and learn about their life and customs. Next we go to Boca Manu Village to have some cold drinks and relax before we go into the Manu Biosphere Reserve on the Manu River. Our first stop there is a control point (Puesto de Vigilancia Limonal) and them we continue our trip by boat to Casa Matchiguenca Lodge. On the way we will observe many different kinds of animals such as capybara, peccaries, monkeys, lots birds and adult black and white caimans, or even a jaguar. Late in the afternoon we arrive at Casa Machiguenga Lodge, which offers all amenities while still being rustic and well integrated into its surroundings of the Jungle of Manu. This lodge is exclusively managed by indigenous Matchiguenka people, original caretakers of the Manu wilderness. (Optional night walk there.)

Casa Machiguenga Lodge: This lodge owned and managed by the indigenous Matchiguenka people has a rustic design with 12 double rooms with mosquito nets. Surrounding the lodge are private trails, where Matchiguenka act as local guides. They also have an interpretation house where they produce and sell artisanry.

DAY 4: CASA MACHIGUENCA LODGE

In the morning we will explore the Reserve Zone Staring with Cocha Salvador. From a catamaran we will watch animals such as gamin herons, howler monkeys also enjoy watching the giant otters fishing. These animals are almost extinct and eat 4-5 kilos of fish a day. After lunch we will start our excursion thought the virgin jungle to Cocha Otorongo Lake, where there is a 20m high observation tower. From this tower we will have another chance to see giant otters and black caimans. For the rest of the day we will explore the jungle, looking for more species of monkeys. The guide will explain about many different types of ecosystems, the relationship between insects and plants, and how medicinal are used by the native people. We might also find a group of peccaries. In the evening we will enjoy the beautiful sunset and return to Casa Matchiguenca Lodge, where we spend the night.

DAY 5: CASA MATCHIGUENGA LODGE -- RESERVE ECOLOGICAL BONANZA

We leave the Casa Machigenga Lodge after breakfast to continue our adventure, traveling downriver to P.V. Limonal and Boca Manu. If we are very lucky we might see the famous jaguar, a tapir turtle on the river banks. We will stop at the Native Community of Isla de los Valles to learn about their culture and life style. If you are interested in handicrafts and meeting the local people, handicrafts can be purchased from this local community. In the afternoon we visit a lake where we will fish Piranhas. After this activity we go upriver (Alto Madre de Dios River) by boat to Reserve Ecological Bonanza. In the evening we will build a bonfire, relax and have some drinks and a BBQ. We will spend the night there.

DAY 6: RESERVE ECOLOGICAL BONANZA -- CUSCO

We will get up early and return to Atalaya by boat, where our private bus will be waiting for us to take us back to Cusco via the cloud forest and Paucartambo. We will arrive in Cusco in the late afternoon.

Tour includes:

• Private transportation (bus and boat)
• All camping equipment (chair, tens, tables, mattress, rubber boots, rain poncho)
• Professional bilingual local guide
• Mineral water
• First aid kit
• 3 meals per day
• Cook
• Snacks (biscuits, candy, fresh fruit, juice)
• Entrance to the natural hot springs
• Duffel bags
• Entrance to Reserve Ecological Bonanza
• Entrance to Rainforest Lodge
• Entrance to the Manu National Park
• Entrance to Isla de los Valles Lake
• Entrance to the Native community of Diamante
• And much more...

You will need to bring:

• Light Sleeping bag
• Repellent with a minimum of 25 % deet
• Binoculars
• Camera with extra batteries
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Sun lotion
• Pocket Money
• Daypack
• Water bottle
• Sun hat
• Hiking sandals
• Toilet paper
• Dark clothes