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MANU NATIONAL PARK RESERVED ZONE PROGRAM
Manu National Park, located in southeastern Peru, is one of the
largest parks in South America. The area of the park encompasses
parts of the Andean department of Cusco and the jungle
department of Madre de Dios. Manu protects over 2 million
hectares (4.5 million acres) of territory rich in flora and
fauna species in a variety of habitats including high Andes,
cloud forests, and lowland tropical rain forests.
UNESCO officially recognizes this natural paradise as a world
heritage site. In 1977 they designated Manu as a World Biosphere
Reserve because it contains the best existing example of
biodiversity in protected areas of rain forest, as well as
endemic areas of cloud forest.
Humans have altered the majority of forests in the world.
Fortunately, Manu has remained intact and untouched by
civilization. Thus, we can observe a variety of animals in their
natural habitats, including: Giant Otters (Pteronura
brasiliensis), Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger), the majestic
Jaguar (Panthera onca), the strange Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos
ornatus), the Tapir (Tapirus terrestris), the Ocelot (Felis
pardalis), 13 species of primates, and an estimated one thousand
species of birds including seven species of Macaws (Ara sp.).
Manu also contains 10% of the world’s vascular plant species,
including several species of figs and palms, as well as
countless species of medicinal plants that scientists are
currently cataloguing. A single hectare of forest in Manu can
have up to 220 species of trees, while a hectare of temperate
forest in Europe or North America may only have 20 tree species.
THE MANU EXPLORER
ITINERARY
Price per person:
Prices per person in double accommodation. (Minimum two passengers) Reduced rates available for bookings of 5 or more people.
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Day by day schedule
Day 1: Cuzco/Manu Cloud forest (Saturday)
Depart Cusco in our private, custom-designed expedition
bus/van with reclining seats and extra legroom and drive
all day through all elevated in our private, 11000-acre
(4,400-hectare) cloud forest in Peru. The bus stops
frequently during the trip to permit visits to small
Andean towns and exploration of the incredible range of
cloud forest habitats. (L, D ). This varied and
fascinating world is home of the Cock of the Rock, the
Spectacled Bear, Orchids, Tree Ferns (one of the oldest
living plants), mosses and lichens. This cloud forest
exists between 2000 and 3500 meters above sea level, and
at least 50% of the plant species found here are endemic
to this region.
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Day 2: Manu Cloud forest/Boca Manu (sunday)
Observe Cocks-of-the-Rock displaying and calling at down,
and the enjoy breakfast back at the lodge. Explore the
cool, moist, mosquito-free cloud forest and search for
the confiding Brown Capuchin Monkeys. Travel by bus for
2-3 more hours to the riverside hamlet of Atalaya, where
we board our motor canoes to travel down the Alto Madre
de Dios River towards the mouth of the Manu River.
Depending on the road and river conditions on this day,
we either sleep in a simple tented camp (with small
tents) or in a rustic local lodge near the mouth of the
Manu River. (B,L,D). |
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Day 3: Boca Manu/Manu wildlife Tented camps at
park (Monday)
Dawn in the forest or on the riverbank, and the travel
by motor canoe up the Manu River for 5-6 hours to the
Wildlife Tented Camp near Cocha Salvador. (B,L,D).
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Days 4 Manu National Park (Tuesday)
Visit Cocha Salvador and take a canoe or catamaran
outing on the lake to observe birds and to search for
Giant Otters. Also walk trails through different forest
types, with excellent chances to observe monkeys. (B,L,D).
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Day 5 Manu National Park (Wednesday)
Short motorcanoe ride on the Manu River to the trail
head for Cocha Otorongo, walk the trails at Cocha
Otorongo to search for Woolly Monkeys (the best place to
see them in the Manu lowlands), climb a 50-foot (17m),
metal tower to the mid-canopy, and return to Wildlife
Tented Camp for the night. (B,L,D). |
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Day 6 Manu National park/Boca Manu/Cusco (Thursday)
Leave very early to motor down the Manu River and catch
the filght to Cusco. Transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
(B).
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RECOMMENDED TWO-NIGHT EXTENSION TO VISIT MACAW CLAY
LICK, TAPIR CLAY LICK, AND CANOPY PLATFORM
For those who wish to extend their stay to visit the macaw
clay lick, tapir clay lick, 120-foot-high (35m-high) canopy
platforms and nature oxbow lakes near Manu Wildlife Center,
we recommend that you boat down the Madre de Dios River and
spend two nights at Manu Wildlife Center with full board.
This two-night extension could be done just after our “Manu
Adventure” itinerary. Post-trip extensions start at the Manu
Landing Strip on Thursday and end on Saturday.
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