Manu Reserved Zone / Macaw Clay Lick & Tapir Clay 7D/6N

Early in the morning, we start our 8-hour trip on a road that partly goes up to 4000 meters above sea level. On the way, we have a few stops, e.g. to see the pre-inka cemetery Ninamarca and the famous folkloric village of Paucartambo (2900 m above sea level). Then we continue to “Acjanaco “, the park’s entrance. From here we go downhill through the cloud forest, where we can see a spectacular vegetation (orchids, ferns, bromeliads, begonias etc.). Maybe we have the chance to see the first mammals, like e.g. woolly monkeys or capuchin monkeys. Furthermore, we will visit the “Cock of the rock “(rupícola peruviana), Peru’s national bird, to see it dancing its famous mating dance. On our further way we will see quetzals, tanagers, trogons, hummingbirds and other beautiful, colourful birds. We will take our breakfast, snacks and lunch on the road (included in the price). In the afternoon, we arrive at our Bamboo Lodge (700m above sea level), where we will have dinner and then spend the night in double rooms with private bath.

Early in the morning, after a delicious breakfast we drive to Atalaya (500m above sea level). On the way we stop for some walks to observe birds and to visit the spectacular hummingbird sanctuary, where we can observe and photograph more than 15 species of hummingbirds and others colorful bird species.

From Atalaya we take our motorized boat for about 6-7 hours along the “Madre de Dios “river to our next stop: The Maquisapayoc Lodge, where we arrive in the afternoon. We visit our platform at the mammal/tapir clay lick. Here we wait for these impressive animals to watch them eating the minerals and salts provided at this place. Optional overnight stay at the platform to watch the tapirs at night (alternative: overnight stay at the lodge).

After breakfast we take our boat and drive towards the Manu National Park. We enter the Reserved Zone and continue our way for about 6-7 hours on the Manu river until arriving at the Casa Machiguenga Lodge. During our boat trip we can see the impressive wildlife of this nature paradise with its primary forest. This area is home to a lot of biodiversity like e.g. birds, capybaras, monkeys, caimans and tapirs. With a little luck we can also see the biggest cat in South America: the jaguar. We spend our night at the Casa Machiguenga Lodge, which is situated in the heart of the Manu National Park.

This day is special because we will experience primary forest and visit the famous “Cocha Salvador “lake, home of the giant otters. These animals are an endangered species but can reproduce here because of the strict protection of their habitat. Other animals like monkeys, beautiful birds, black caimans etc. also live here and can benefit from this protection.

We discover the waters of “Cocha Salvador“by catamaran. Our guide explains the wildlife of this place to us. Then he leads us on small paths through primary forest, looking for animals and plants that are only found in this area. Afterwards we go back to Casa Machiguenga Lodge, where we spend our second night. Before sleeping, we go on a night walk.

We start early to continue our boat ride to travel 6 hours down the Manu River. Dawn and dusk are ideal to see wildlife on the river banks. Caimans, Monkeys, Capybaras and with luck a jaguar may be seen. We make a short stop in Boca Manu village, the main settlement in Manu named after the confluence of the sediment rich Manu River with the wider Madre de Dios River. Further downriver we reach Manu birding loge at Maquisapayoj Reserve, home to numerous bird’s species, in this lodge we can see the rare emperor Tamarin Monkey and Monk Saki Monkey. In the afternoon we go for a walk to the mammal salt lick, where we look for monkeys, deer and other animals who visit the lick. After returning to the lodge we explore the forest on a night walk to see insects, frogs and snakes. Night at Maquisapayoj Lodge (double rooms with private bathroom), optional night on the platform at the salt lick.

Very early we take the boat to visit the big Macaw Clay Lick in Blanquillo. From a platform we have an excellent view to observe flocks of colorful macaws (Ara chloroptera, Ara macao), parrots and parakeets congregating to eat the clay, which is essential for their digestion. Looking through the spotting scope we can see all the details of the birds. Breakfast at the blind. After the spectacle we travel upstream to return to Manu birding lodge Maquisapayoj. In the afternoon we take a walk into primary rainforest for about 3 hours and visit the Mammal Salt Lick, where we spend the night on an elevated platform (with mats and mosquito nets) to observe tapirs or other mammals during the night. Your guide will help spotting the tapir with a light. If you prefer you can spend the night in double rooms at the lodge close to the river.

We start at first light to travel downriver by boat to Colorado (3 hours), a small gold mining town. Together with the guide we take a 4 x 4 van to Puerto Carlos (1 hour). We cross Rio Inambari to the small town of Santa Rosa, where our bus is waiting for us to drive back to Cusco. We travel on the paved interoceanica road through cloud forest and up to the Andes, with a spectacular view of the Ausangate Mountain (6384 msnm). We arrive in Cusco in the evening; transfer to your hotel.