Manu reserved zone – 8D/7N

Day Highlight: Guided night excursion through the rainforest canopy trails to spot rare nocturnal wildlife.

Very early at 06:30 a.m., we will depart in the direction of Puerto Atalaya; on the way we will make a few stops to witness local small farmers who are known to be producers of many varieties of jungle fruits, including the famous Coca plant. Later, we will begin the navigation part of our trip on a river excursion in Madre de Dios, one of the tributaries of the mighty Amazon River.

During our day we will have the opportunity to witness many types of colorful birds such as parrots, oropendolas, vultures and other species. We will make a stop at the wild hot springs. With luck, we will make some sightings of some jungle mammals, such as monkeys or the famous capybaras (jungle rodents that measure up to 2.5 feet long). Towards the end of the afternoon, we will arrive at our next sleeping destination, Dorado Lodge, arriving at approximately 3:00 pm Here, showers and toilets will be available. We will have a night walk in the dark, the best time to see many anthropoids, tarantulas, scorpions and snakes, of course optional.

Day Technical Data:

• Timing: Early morning start with well-spaced afternoon transitions.
• Terrain: Variable mountain stone paving, compacted soil paths, and loose gravel slopes.
• Physical Effort: Moderate to demanding exertion adapted to traveler acclimatization.
• Transport Profile: Private van pickup from Cusco hotel and dedicated linking transfers.

Day Highlight: Guided rainforest trail walk and river navigation toward Matsiguenca Lodge with native naturalist commentary.

After breakfast we leave Dorado Lodge, leaving behind the relatively clean waters of the Madre de Dios River; entering the clay waters of the Manu River, with a brief stop at the ranger station in Limonal to present our permits, we travel for about five hours down the Manu. Some beaches will harbor black and white caimans to sunbathe and breed turtles and hundreds of sand-colored caprimulgids roost during the day on logs and beach, there is a chance of encountering a sunbathing Jaguar, the third largest cat in the world.

We will see some primate species on this river trip, possibly red howler monkeys or smaller squirrel monkeys. After lunch by the river we arrive at Casa Matsiguenca. We will have the afternoon to traverse some of the trails through the rainforest in the area. Casa Matsiguenca is designed using indigenous construction techniques and has 12 fully screened double rooms. The beds are equipped with mosquito nets. There is a private trail system and local Matsiguenca guides will accompany you on the trails. There is an interactive interpretive center and locally made souvenirs are for sale.

Day Technical Data:

• Timing: Early morning start with well-spaced afternoon transitions.
• Terrain: Variable mountain stone paving, compacted soil paths, and loose gravel slopes.
• Physical Effort: Moderate to demanding exertion adapted to traveler acclimatization.
• Transport Profile: Private van pickup from Cusco hotel and dedicated linking transfers.

Day Highlight: Quiet catamaran navigation across secluded oxbow lakes in search of resident families of giant river otters.

After breakfast, we will spend the morning at Cocha Salvador Lake. Part of the time will be spent canoeing on the lake on a floating platform observing the animal life of the ox-bow lake from the water. We may encounter an Agami heron or a Sungrebe and brown capuchin monkeys usually feeding on nearby fruits. Specially constructed docks leading into the lake allow us to look for a family of giant otters that live here these largest freshwater carnivores in the world, remain common only in Manu as they have been hunted to extinction in most of their former range.

Each animal consumes 4 to 5 kilos of fish per day and can often be seen eating large fish on logs at the edge of the lake. The rest of the day will be spent walking the trails in the area in search of some of the 13 species of monkeys found in the forest here. Your guide will explain some of the basics of rainforest ecosystems and point out some of the medicinal plants in the area used by local indigenous groups. We may cross paths with a group of peccaries, a species of wild boar found here. An afternoon savoring the sunset.

Day Technical Data:

• Timing: Early morning start with well-spaced afternoon transitions.
• Terrain: Variable mountain stone paving, compacted soil paths, and loose gravel slopes.
• Physical Effort: Moderate to demanding exertion adapted to traveler acclimatization.
• Transport Profile: Private van pickup from Cusco hotel and dedicated linking transfers.

Day Highlight: Quiet catamaran navigation across secluded oxbow lakes in search of resident families of giant river otters.

Today we will walk very slowly from the camp for 4-5 hours through the forest to Cocha Otorongo. We may encounter troops of monkeys. This is a particularly good trail for Woolly and Black Spider Monkeys. We will pay special attention to the plant life on this hike and take it slowly listening to the rustling of the vegetation or the soft sound of fruit falling to the jungle floor which may betray the presence of large animals or birds.

A witness is planned to Cocha Otorongo Lake, where observation piers and a 20-meter observation tower in the rainforest canopy overlooking the lake are available for wildlife viewing. We will also look for a large family of giant otters that inhabit this lake.

Day Technical Data:

• Timing: Early morning start with well-spaced afternoon transitions.
• Terrain: Variable mountain stone paving, compacted soil paths, and loose gravel slopes.
• Physical Effort: Moderate to demanding exertion adapted to traveler acclimatization.
• Transport Profile: Private van pickup from Cusco hotel and dedicated linking transfers.

Day Highlight: Guided rainforest trail walk and river navigation toward Dorado Lodge with native naturalist commentary.

Today, very early in the morning, we will head to witness another small lake to see Aguila Arpia, which means “expression of Matsiguenca”, it is a still unknown and unvisited palace that one day will be a very sought after tourist site. After that, our group starts the boat trip from Otorongo Lake to Boca Manu offering us to observe more wildlife. On the way, we can observe different trails and other types of mammals in our motorized shelter for the 4-hour trip downstream to Boca Manu at night. The river trip may hold surprises and we will be on the lookout for any wildlife on the beaches. Overnight at Dorado Lodge.

Day Technical Data:

• Timing: Early morning start with well-spaced afternoon transitions.
• Terrain: Variable mountain stone paving, compacted soil paths, and loose gravel slopes.
• Physical Effort: Moderate to demanding exertion adapted to traveler acclimatization.
• Transport Profile: Private van pickup from Cusco hotel and dedicated linking transfers.

Day Highlight: Dawn river boat observation of colorful parrots and macaws gathering along the mineral clay cliffs.

Upon leaving the lodge, we will travel up the Madre de Dios River for three hours to the comfortable Soga De Oro Lodge facility. This strategically located lodge facility is jointly owned and run by a local conservation group and is a base for scientific research for birders in the area and a center for visitors wishing to traverse the rainforest. We should arrive in time for lunch and a shower and meet the researchers on site.

The afternoon is reserved for rest or, if you wish, to traverse a trail through virgin forest to a lookout point on a cliff above the river to watch the flights of parrots and macaws as the sun sets. Those who wish can participate in a night walk with their guide in search of nocturnal animals. Overnight at Soga de Oro Lodge or Bambu Lodge.

Day Technical Data:

• Timing: Early morning start with well-spaced afternoon transitions.
• Terrain: Variable mountain stone paving, compacted soil paths, and loose gravel slopes.
• Physical Effort: Moderate to demanding exertion adapted to traveler acclimatization.
• Transport Profile: Private van pickup from Cusco hotel and dedicated linking transfers.

Day Highlight: Guided rainforest trail walk and river navigation toward Cusco with native naturalist commentary.

We will leave Soga de Oro Lodge early in the morning to see small parrots lick clay and then to Puerto Atalaya from here; we will take the van directly to Cusco passing through the Cloud Forest. In the event that you return by plane, you will arrive at the airstrip, board our plane for the 35 minute flight over the endless rainforest and then over the Andes, passing glaciers and snow arriving at the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, where our staff will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

Day Technical Data:

• Timing: Early morning start with well-spaced afternoon transitions.
• Terrain: Variable mountain stone paving, compacted soil paths, and loose gravel slopes.
• Physical Effort: Moderate to demanding exertion adapted to traveler acclimatization.
• Transport Profile: Private van pickup from Cusco hotel and dedicated linking transfers.