BIRDING MANU PARK TO MALDONADO 7D/6N

TOUR ATTRACTIONS: Two Oxbow Lakes inside the Reserved Zone, Cloud Forest of Manu Park, Cultural Zone of Manu National Park, Biosphere Reserve of Manu National Park, and Macaw Clay Lick, see video HERE
TOUR ACTIVITIES: Bird watching, night walk, jungle exploration, boat sailing, Giant Otter searching and catamaran sailing in Salvador Oxbow Lake, caiman searching, turtle searching, and Jaguar searching along Manu River, visit a Macaw Clay Lick, and Giant Otter searching.
TYPE OF TOUR: Ecological and Adventure
TOUR AREAS: Biosphere Reserve of Manu Park and the Cultural Zone
PLACES VISITED ALONG THE TOUR: Huancarani town, Ninamarka pre-Inca cemetery, Paucartambo, Acjanacu (border of Manu Park) Cloud forest, Pilcopata, Atalaya Port, Alto Madre de Dios River, Manu River, Cultural Zone of Manu Park, Reserved Zone of Manu Park, Blanquillo private reserve.
DEPARTURE DATES: Daily departures are available between March to January.
ACCOMMODATIONS: All nights in Lodge
TRANSPORTATION USED: Bus, and boat
DIFFICULTY DEGREE: Easy.
SHORT TOUR INFORMATION:This 7day tour visits the Reserved Zone as well as the Cultural Zone with its largest Macaw Clay Lick. The journey of this tour starts in Cusco and ends in Puerto Maldonado and from there you can flight to Cusco or Lima (plane tickets are not included). Book this tour and spend more time enjoying the flora and fauna of Manu National Par.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Bamboo Lodge

Leaving Cusco after breakfast we travel through traditional Quechua communities and through the spectacular eastern ranges of the Andes to the village of Paucartambo, passing snow-peaks and small Andean farmsteads. We will have time here to look around this picturesque village and visit local craftsmen famous for their production of masks used in local festivals. We then ascend to the last pass overlooking the Amazon Basin and begin the breath taking descent from 3500 meters to 1600 meters above sea-level to our comfortable lodge in the orchid laden Cloud Forest. This is a spectacular journey passing cascading waterfalls and multicolored birds along the way. late in afternoon, we’ll arrive to our lodge.

Day 2: Bamboo Lodge – Hot spring – Boca Manu

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 nature hot springs. And then we will continue by boat to Boca Manu Lodge. In the afternoon we will walk in the jungle for several hours in order to appreciate the many different kind of animals, birds, plants and flowers. The night walk is optional, this night we will go to search Caimans. In the evening we will come back to the Lodge for dinner and sleep.

Day 3: Boca Manu – Reserved Zone Of Manu National Park

Today we will continue our journey along the Manu River as far as the Matshiguenka lodge, inside the Reserved Area, passing Limonal 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.

Day 4: Reserved Zone Of Manu National Park

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 13 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. 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 Cocha Salvador Camp or Casa Matshiguenka Lodge.

Day 5: Reserved Zone Of Manu National Park – Blanquillo Ecological Reserve Lodge

Today we travel downstream (6 hours) from Manu River to Madre de Dios, late in the afternoon we will reach Blanquillo Macaw clay lick, strategically located on a recently formed oxbow lake. We will arrive in time for lunch. The afternoon is set aside for a refreshing shower and to relax. Those who desire can walk through the magnificent rainforest surrounding the lodge.

The lodge is near one of the few known “collpas” (macaw-licks) where the colorful birds gather in the morning to “lick” clay found in the banks of the river here. It is thought that birds eat the clay as a dietary supplement, perhaps as a source of minerals or to neutralize the poisons in seeds and leaves. Fifteen of the eighteen species of floodplain parrots have been sighted at the licks. This is truly one of the world’s premier wildlife spectacles. The lodge has a small camouflaged floating platform that allows us to observe the birds from several meters away. Overnight at Blanquillo Ecological Reserve.

Day 6: Blanquillo Lodge – Macaw Clay Lick – Boca Colorado River Bank

Activity at the clay lick begins about 5:30 am as medium sized parrots arrive with the dawn, pair by noisy pair, and land in the treetops above the lick. Hundreds of screeching birds clamber about in the branches in preparation for their descent to the riverbank. Eventually, cascades of green, blue, and red parrots circle down to the clay wall. About 7:00 or 7:30 am large macaws start to arrive. After about 40 to 100 have gathered and deemed the lick safe, they begin to descend. This colorful and noisy scene continues for 20 to 40 minutes while the birds eat their fill of clay or until danger arrives in the form of a hawk, eagle, or ocelot. There are normally between 80 to 100 macaws and 600 or more other parrots. This is truly one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles. After this we will sail down river to Boca Colorado where we are going to spend our last night in tents along the river.

Day 7: Boca Colorado River Bank – Cusco/Lima

Today we will start our journey back from the Jungle to Cusco or Lima. After we sail for a couple of hours we will reach Colorado mining town, from here we will continue our trip to Puerto Maldonado by the new Interoceanic road that joins Brazil with Peru. We will arrive to Puerto Maldonado City around 1:00pm; and from there you can flight back to Cusco or Lima (flight tickets are not included on the price)

SHORT TOUR INFORMATION:This 7day tour visits the Reserved Zone as well as the Cultural Zone with its largest Macaw Clay Lick. The journey of this tour starts in Cusco and ends in Puerto Maldonado and from there you can flight to Cusco or Lima (plane tickets are not included). Book this tour and spend more time enjoying the flora and fauna of Manu National Par.
Included:- All lodging with private bathroom & Hot and cold shower.
– All Meals, snacks, drinking water (vegetarian on request). B:L:D.
– Private transportation ( bus/van & boat)
– Professional expert bilingual Natural History Guide with a spotting scope.
– Hotel transfer and entrance fees.
– First Aid Kit with a poison extractor.
– Flora and fauna check list.

Not Included:- Does not include air Cusco-Puerto Maldonado-Cusco, but we will purchase these on request
– Airport tax & Personal expenses

TRIPS CONSIDERATIONS

CLIMATE:

Hot and humid in the lowlands. This is a dry season tour, but there is the possibilty of a “Friaje”, a strong cold front moving up from the south that can bring periods of unusually cool weather and rain.

DIFFICULTY:

Easy there are some long journeys and early starts, but the walking is usually fairly easy.

ACCOMMODATION:

The jungle lodges are comfortable but simple; some do not have full-time electricity, but provide a generator for a few hours a day to charge batteries. Matsiguenka Camping Lodge in the Reserved Zone of Manu National Park has shared bathroom facilities and cold shower. Manu Birding Lodge consists in double rooms with a private toilet and shower facilities. Hot and cold water is always available and all toilets facilities are flush.

Wildlife Photography: Opportunities are worthwhile.

What to Bring

We advise you to bring:

Besides from Binoculars and photo-equipmen(the important Wildlife Enthusiast stuff) we advise:
Flashlight for night walk
Light day pack
A bottle or canteen to carry water on outings
Sunscreen and insect repellent
T-shirts and a long-sleeved shirt
Jeans or other cotton pants are comfortable, as well as quick-drying nylon ones.
Cotton socks
Light jacket, water resistant, or poncho
Hiking boots or sturdy shoes
Sandals for after hours
Hat that will not come off in windy boat rides and sunglasses
Plastic bags for camera, clothes, etc
Personal toiletries (shampoo, towel, etc)

NOTE: In rainy season we provide umbrella and rubber boots in many popular sizes for rainy days.

Manu Birding Lodge look forward to welcoming and guiding you soon!
Last minute bookings will be accepted but you must be aware that there is the possibility that we will not get space at the lodge or tour that you need.

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Flavio Huamani, Photo Tours Peru

Photo Tours Peru is for the experienced photographer and beginners alike in that we offer real, authentic experiences that allow you to discover the beautiful environment and the local people.

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