Manu Reserved Zone 8 Days

Your adventure begins early in the morning with a departure from Cusco in one of our comfortable vehicles. We’ll journey through captivating valleys and picturesque communities, making a stop to visit ancient pre-Incan tombs. Our next cultural highlight is Paucartambo, a charming colonial town where we’ll explore an interesting museum. A packed lunch will be provided en route. As we continue, we’ll enter the breathtaking Cloud Forest (1,700 m.a.s.l.), a region teeming with endemic species. Keep an eye out for the majestic Spectacled Bear, the vibrant Cock of the Rock, and a stunning variety of orchids, bromeliads, and ferns. We’ll conclude our day at the San Pedro de Orquideas Lodge, where you’ll enjoy a comfortable overnight stay.

We start the day very early, eager to spot the Cock of the Rock, Peru’s National Bird, renowned for its unique courtship dance. After breakfast, our journey continues towards the small town of Pilcopata. From there, we proceed to the Port of Atalaya, nestled on the banks of the mighty Madre de Dios River (700 m.a.s.l.). Here, we’ll board a boat to our Erika Private Reserve (460 m.a.s.l.). Along the river, anticipate seeing a diverse array of bird species, including herons, vultures, and cormorants. Upon arrival, we’ll walk intriguing trails within the transition zone between high and low jungle, with your guide pointing out the fascinating wildlife. The day concludes with an optional night walk to observe insects and amphibians. We’ll spend the night comfortably at our Erika Lodge.

You’ll also have the choice of two complimentary optional activities:

• Rafting: In Pilcopata, enjoy 90 minutes of rafting (grade I & II) on the Koñeq and/or Madre de Dios Rivers, complete with stunning landscapes and opportunities for a refreshing swim.
• Canopy Zip Line: At Erika, glide from tree to tree and platform to platform on a horizontal cable rail system, experiencing the incredible Amazon jungle from above, followed by a 15-meter rappel back to the jungle floor.

Another early start sees us boarding our boat to reach Collpa, a natural clay wall by the river. Here, a vibrant array of parrots, including the Blue-headed Parrot and White-eyed Parakeet, and possibly the Maracana Macaw, gather each morning to supplement their diet with essential minerals and salts. Following this spectacular display, we return to Erika for breakfast, pack up, and re-board our boat. We’ll journey down the Alto Madre de Dios River to the natural hot springs of Aguas Calientes, nestled within the magnificent jungle. After a relaxing soak and a refreshing cold lunch, we’ll continue our journey to the town of Boca Manu (365 m.a.s.l.). Along the way, keep an eye out for birds such as skimmers, herons, various kingfishers, swallows, and flycatchers.

At dawn, we’ll make a brief stop at the Limonal Ranger Station where we’ll register our entry into the protected reserve. Our journey continues for approximately four hours along the Manu River towards the heart of the reserve, reaching Lake Salvador (395 m.a.s.l.) and leaving all traces of civilization behind. For the next two nights, we’ll reside in our comfortable safari camp. This part of the trip often yields incredible wildlife sightings: macaws, herons, pink spoonbills, and with a bit of luck, capybaras, caimans, river turtles, various monkey species, and even felines sunning themselves on the beaches or feeding in the trees. In the afternoon, we’ll embark on a walk through this pristine forest, searching for more wildlife.

Today, you’ll likely be woken by the powerful calls of howler monkeys declaring their territory. Before breakfast, we’ll take a morning walk, when the cooler temperatures make it easier to spot animals foraging for food. We’ll then explore Lake Salvador by catamaran, specifically looking for the elusive Giant Otter, an endangered species, as they fish, play, or swim. We’ll also search for the Black Caiman, the unique Hoatzin bird, and appreciate the diverse surrounding flora. Our exploration continues with a visit to Lake Otorongo and its impressive 15-meter-high observation tower, offering panoramic views of the surrounding primary forest and an excellent chance to see the resident family of otters. There might be a possibility for a short night walk to look for American bullfrogs, horned frogs, tree frogs, and a host of colorful insects.

We’ll rise early once more to enjoy a final walk around our campsite and Lake Salvador. Marvel at the gigantic Ceiba trees, colorful butterflies, and curious squirrel, capuchin, and woolly monkeys. After breakfast, we’ll pack up, board our boat, and begin our journey back down the Manu River. We’ll keep a keen eye out for peccaries (wild hogs), caimans, turtles, and various bird species along the riverbanks. We anticipate arriving at Boca Manu (365 m.a.s.l.) at dusk, where we’ll spend the night at a local lodge.

Today, we’ll navigate up the Alto Madre de Dios River against the current, once again soaking in the beautiful scenery of the Amazon jungle and its immense diversity of bird species. In the late afternoon, we will arrive back at our comfortable Erika Private Reserve (460 m.a.s.l.). Here, you can relax and spend your last night surrounded by the enchanting magic of the Amazon rainforest.

We rise very early for our final leg of the journey. We’ll travel upriver to the Atalaya Port, where our waiting bus will take us back to the vibrant city of Cusco (3,300 m.a.s.l.), concluding our incredible Manu Reserved Zone adventure. End of our services.