Manu Expeditions – Biosphere Jungle Immersion – 6 Days

After a very early breakfast we leave to Atalaya port, on the way we stop to see birds such Hummingbirds, Aracari Toucans, Amazonian Umbrella Bird. Later we board the boat on the Madre de Dios River, a tributary of the famous Amazon River. We stop at the natural hot springs to have a bath and relax. Along the way we have chance to observe many types of colorful birds such as: macaws, parrots, Oropendolas, vultures and others species. Hopefully, we will make some sightings of some jungle mammals such as the famous capybaras (worl’s largest rodents).  We arrive to Bonanza Lodge where we stay. We have a short break before we start trekking through the jungle to hear the natural sounds of animals and see Monkeys like Dusky-titi Monkey, Brown Cappuchins.  We will spend the night at our Tapirs Clay Lick, a Camouflage House is strategically located near to the Mammal’s Clay Lick where we will have the opportunity to see the Brazilian Tapir, Red Brocket Deer, and Porcupines during the night time.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early departure living the relatively clean waters of the Madre de Dios River behind and enter the clay-laden waters of the Manu River with a brief stop at the park ranger station at Limonal to present permits. 5 hours travel by boat along Manu River which especially in dry season, are loaded with nesting birds and feeding Herons, Egrets, Orinoco Geese, etc. Some beaches will host sunning White and Black Caimans (Melanosuchus niger), and the breeding Yellow-spotted River Turtles (Podocnemis unifilis), hundreds of Sand-colored Nightjars roost during the day on logs and beaches and there is a chance of encountering a stunning Jaguar (Panthera onca), the world’s third largest cat. We will see some species of primates on this river trip, possibly Red Howler monkeys, Squirrel monkeys, Tamarins monkeys. We’ll have the afternoon to explore some of the trails through the rainforest in the area. Before or after dinner, you will have chance to go on an optional night walk with your guide in search of nocturnal creatures. We will spend the night at Casa Matsiguenka, a rustic native owned lodge, run by the Matsiguenkas themselves, with its own exclusive trail system. There will be basic facilities available there are toilets and reasonably showers, screened twin rooms, with comfortable beds and mosquito nets.

Casa Matsiguenka: It was designed using the indigenous people’s building techniques and counts on 12 fully screened twin rooms, beds are furnished with mosquito nets. There is a private trail system, Macaw Clay Lick hide. Also available an interactive interpretation center and locally made souvenirs are for sale.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We spend the morning at the lake Cocha Salvador. Our plan is to paddle across the lake on a floating platform (catamaran) observing the animal life on the lake. We might encounter the Agami Heron (Agamia agami), Hoatzin, Osprey, Sungrebe, and there are also Spider monkey, Brown Capuchin monkeys, White-fronted Capuchin monkeys, who are usually feeding on fruits nearby and therefore are relatively easy to sight. A specially constructed platform that looks out to the lake, enable us to look for a family of Giant Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis the world’s largest freshwater carnivores) that lives here. This Otters are found in large families eating large fish on logs at the lakeside. then we continue exploring the forest. This is a particular good trail to observe Woolly and Black Spider monkeys or large birds. Later we visit Otorongo Lake and there is 20 m high observation tower overlooking the lake to spot wildlife, there is also a large family of Giant Otters that inhabit in this lake. We stay overnight at Casa Matsiguenka.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A very early depart trying to spot the elusive Jaguar, one of the jewels of the Amazon wildlife.  Manu River offers great animal sights in the mornings including Tapir, Anteater, Anaconda and Three-toed Sloth. After 4 hours downstream we stop at checkpoint where we have short walk in the area to search species of monkeys in the forest and your guide will explain some of the basics of rainforest ecosystems and point out some of the medicinal plants of the area that are used by indigenous people. Then we return upstream through Alto Madre de Dios River arriving at Bonanza Lodge in the afternoon, during the afternoon we visit our 20 meters high bird watching tower and have a unique view of the forest and we observe Macaws and many other colorful birds. At night we go to see some caimans. An optional night walk.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early departure to explore the forest, on our way we will experience the amazing sounds of birds like Tucans, Macaws, Motmots and different kind of Monkeys. Bonanza Ecological Reserve is located at 320 m / 1,050 ft which contains different habitats from the flooded forest to terra firme forest. This is a special place with a great animals and plants diversity. Later we travel by boat upstream through the Alto Madre de Dios river around 4 hours to Atalaya port afterwards we drive to Rainforest Lodge where we will spend our last night. There is an optional night walk around the Lodge.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We leave from Rainforest Lodge early in the morning in a private tourist van and head to Cusco, we drive along the Manu Road abserving different ecosystems and ecological levels such as the Cloud Forest, where we can do wildlife spotting. After a long drive we arrive to Cusco approximately 3:30 pm

Breakfast, Lunch

Expert naturalist guides. – (It is an urban legend and not true that only someone who just grow up in the jungle is the best interpreter guiding in this complex ecosystem and pristine Manu jungle paradise. there are few very highly well-educated Manu Park guides who has obtained degrees in Biology, Botanic, Anthropology and History… charismatic, knowledgeable, passionate and sensitive with a good level of English.

Small groups. – Get closer to real life situations with more personalized interactions, more lectures and interpretation from your naturalist guide, better option for spotting wildlife, monkeys, birds and hundreds of creatures around.