The Manu Explorer 8D/7N

DAY 1: CUSCO – MANU CLOUD FOREST

Begin your day with an early breakfast at your hotel in Cusco before embarking on an exceptional journey that will transport you from the grandeur of the Andes. Our well-curated itinerary is packed with enjoyable activities. It starts with a visit to the Oropesa Baker, where you can relish the traditional Oropesa bread known as “Pan Chuta.” Moving forward, get ready to witness the enchanting presence of endemic hummingbirds and waterbirds around Huacarpay Lagoon. During our leisurely stops, you’ll have the chance to explore mountain villages and even a hilltop necropolis called chullpas, which were pre-Inca burial chambers. As your journey unfolds, be prepared for breathtaking views of the sacred valley as you descend into the captivating cloud forest. Upon arriving in Paucartambo, a historic crossroads of Inca trading routes, pause to enjoy a light refreshment and fully immerse yourself in the local culture at the museum, where traditional dressed dances celebrate the festivities and provide valuable insights into the use of forest biodiversity by Andean communities. Continuing onwards, reach one of the day’s highest points at Acjanaco (3,500 m), a park rangers’ station and the entrance to Manu National Park. If weather permits, you might be lucky enough to catch stunning vistas of Peru’s largest National Park amidst the clouds. Travel onward towards the heart of the cloud forest for picnic lunch at Pachayoc ( a big waterfall), soaking in the landscape’s dramatic changes until you reach the lodge around 3 pm for your overnight stay.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Cock of the Rock Lodge, Paradise Lodge or Wayquecha Biological Station

DAY 2: MANU CLOUD FOREST – MANU LEARNING CENTRE

An early morning start takes you out into the cloud forest to see one of its main attractions, the Cock of The Rock bird, the national bird of Peru. Watch their dance spectacle right in front of you, an incredible sight! After a hearty breakfast at the lodge begin the journey down by road further into the cloud forest. The journey will be full of the sights and sounds of the forest, monkeys and some of the richest varieties of birds on earth as well as the spectacled bear. You will visit a coca plantation where you will learn about the uses of the coca leaves and their medicinal properties. After a short stop at Pillcopata you will head on to La Capilla – Aguanos, a walk of 30 minutes and board a motorised canoe. Ten minutes’ ride to the Manu Learning Centre gives you your first impression of the meandering Amazonian river, the Alto Madre de Dios, one of the most southern tributaries of the legendary Amazonas River. On arrival you will be shown round the lodge before lunch. In the afternoon, explore the local trail system with your naturalist guides, before relaxing at the lodge to the sounds of forest. During your stay at this beautiful lodge guests can learn about the human history of Manu and the challenges conserving this beautiful and fragile environment talking to the guides and researchers on site. Or perhaps you want to just relax and let the world go by sipping a cool drink and watching the sunset on the Amazon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Accommodation: Manu Learning Centre

DAY 3: MANU LEARNING CENTRE – MANU NATIONAL PARK – ROMERO

Spend the day with your guide exploring the reserve, take a guided tour around the medicinal plant garden at the lodge and learn all the about the healing properties of the Amazon plants or perhaps head out early after breatkast and follow one of the teams of researchers as they head out into the forest to check their camera traps or pitfall traps and see what incidentals they have found – maybe a even a new species to science. In the afternoon head out to the wetland viewing platform for some wildlife view or perhaps venture a little further from the lodge if you are feeling more adventurous and head out onto the nearby Oxbow lake Machuhuasi where you will get the chance to sit on a wooden raft paddling quietly through the water so as not to disturb any present wildlife. Head back to the lodge in the early evening and relax with a drink looking out of the beautiful Madre de Dios river. After dinner you could perhaps trek up to the mammal hide and spend a few hours watching and listening for any of the larger species we have surrounding the lodge and hopefully spot some.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodation: Manu Learning Centre.

DAY 4: MANU LEARNING CENTRE – ROMERO

After breakfast, continue your journey down the Madre de Dios River spending much of the day navigating the river wildlife spotting along the way. After breakfast, continue your journey down the Madre de Dios River spending much of the day navigating the river wildlife spotting along the way. Finish your journey within the Manu National Park at our lodge Romero.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Accommodation: Romero Rainforest Lodge.

DAY 5: ROMERO RAINFOREST LODGE – OXBOW LAKES: SALVADOR AND OTORONGO

After a great breakfast, head on a journey right into the Manu National Park. You will reach as deep into the park as allowed, to Cocha Salvador. On the way, the beaches, especially in the dry season, are teeming with nesting birds and feeding herons, egrets, orinoco geese, terns and skimmers to name but a few. Some beaches will host sunning white and black caimans and breeding side- necked turtles. Hundreds of sand-coloured 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.

At Salvador lake board small catamarans and head out onto the lake observing animal life from the water. Encounter agami heron, sungrebe or brown capuchin monkeys who are usually feeding on fruits nearby. Look out for a family of giant otters, the world’s largest freshwater carnivores, which remain common only in Manu, having been hunted to extinction throughout most of their former range. Each animal consumes between 4 and 5 kilos of fish daily and often they can be seen eating large fish on logs at the lakeside. Walk through the primary forest, shaded by a 60 meter emergent canopy of Kapoc trees, where black spider monkeys rest whilst foraging through the strangler figs. Head back downstream stopping at Cocha Otorongo and climb a 20-metre observation tower in the rainforest canopy overlooking the lake and observe the wildlife below.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodation: Romero Rainforest Lodge.

DAY 6: ROMERO RAINFOREST LODGE

After an energetic breakfast, we continue with our activities exploring our trail system and observe the multiple types of life that are normally visited by the emperor tamarin and other species of monkeys and birds, butterflies and insects, an incredible experience, we will arrive at one of the small wetlands that is in the process of recovery and repopulation, where we will observe frogs, birds and other interesting animals, around noon we return to the lodge for lunch, then a well- deserved rest, then we will go exploring again to learn more about the flora and fauna of Manu during the afternoon, we will return to enjoy dinner and share together the experiences of what we have lived. After dinner there is also always the possibility of going on a night walk to observe nocturnal species.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Accommodation: Romero Rainforest Lodge.

DAY 7: ROMERO RAINFOREST LODGE – MANU WILDLIFE CENTRE

Head down the Madre de Dios River to the comfortable lodge, the Manu Wildlife Centre which is located near to the Macaw Clay Lick. This strategically located lodge is also a base for scientific research in the area and a centre for visitors wanting to explore the rainforest. Arrive in time for lunch and a shower (hot water) and meet whichever researchers are onsite. The afternoon is set aside to relax or to explore a trail through the untouched forest to a lookout point on a cliff over the river to watch roosting flights of parrots and macaws as the sun sets. Manu Wildlife Centre has a canopy platform and an observation tower. The canopy platform is accessible via a spiral staircase so everyone can get to enjoy the rainforest canopy. Possibly head out on a night walk with your guide in search of nocturnal animals.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Accommodation: Manu Wildlife Centre.

DAY 8: MANU WILDLIFE CENTRE – CUSCO OR LIMA

An early start takes you on a journey downstream (approx 3 hours) to Colorado Village, breakfast will be served on the boat taking advantage of valuable early morning wildlife activity along the river. The journey takes us past several lowland native settlements and gold miners digging and panning gold along the banks of the Madre de Dios River. From Colorado start the overland journey to Puerto Carlos (approx. 45 mins) and then cross the Inambari River (approx. 15 mins) by boat to Santa Rosa, before finally a van or bus will drive you on to Puerto Maldonado for your flight to Cusco or Lima.

Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Not Included.

*Flights are not included.