Manu Selva

Manu National Park - Cultural Zone in 4 days

Day 1: Cusco – Bosque nublado (L, A, C)

You wake up early to leave Cusco and begin a winding ascent into the Andes. The road eventually winds down to the town of Paucartambo Colonial Town, where you will stop briefly to stretch your legs. Leaving Paucartambo you begin your ascent through eucalyptus groves, cultivated fields, and remnant patches of native vegetation. Forty minutes from Paucartambo you reach Acjanaco at 3,500 meter atop the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. At this point you have entered the Manu Biosphere Reserve where you are above the clouds gazing below into the lush jungle of the Amazon. As you ascent down from Acjanaco, the baron Paramo starts to change to an elfin forest.
Here you will stop for lunch to admire the view. As you descend further into the cloud forest where the tree canopy covered by mist gives life to numerous epiphytes, moss, luscious green ferns and the Kur-Kur (high land bamboo). This area is a natural playground for a vast number of birds. You make your way to an observation post where, with a little luck, you will be able to watch the fascinating dance of Peru’s National bird, the Cock-of-the-Rock and hopefully spot the Woolly monkey.
You arrive at our lodge at 6 p.m. where you will spend the night. After a delicious meal you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings before turning in for the evening.
 

Day 2: Bosque nublado – Amaru Mayu (D, A, C)

After breakfast, we set off to the fluvial port of Atalaya, where we shall ride a boat upriver towards the Amaru Mayu camp. During the boat ride, our guide will tell us about the different confluences of rivers in this area. Once installed in the camp, we'll walk along jungle trails, returning to the camp for dinner. Night in Amaru Mayu camp.

Day 3: Amaru Mayu – Chontachaca (D, A, C)

Very early in the morning, we'll take the boat to go to a parrot’s clay lick. That morning we will spend most of the time by boat. We will also visit a small ox-bow lake. Depending on the time we will penetrate to the jungle doing some tracings, we'll observe the difference between two types of forest: primary and secondary. We'll take this opportunity to learn more details about different aspects of the amazon jungle and visit the mirador, a high place with spectacular views. After a refreshing swim in the Cascades, we'll start our return to the camp. Lunch an free afternoon in the camp (with the most active members of the group we can continue our walks looking for different mammals or taking short boat rides in nearby places). At dusk, we'll take a night walk trying to surprise some species of nocturnal animals (monkeys, bats, bamboo rats, insects...).

Day 4: Chontachaca – Cusco (D, L, A)

After breakfast, we shall take our last walk through the jungle. Leaving behind the cloudy forest, we'll go for the last part of our trip which takes us back to Cusco, the Inca capital.
You will arrive at 5.00 p.m.

 

B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, BL: Box Lunch
 

Important:

Manu National Park is not endemic area about Malaria neither Yellow fever you can bring a good insect repellent but if you decide to put the yellow fever vaccination for prevention you can do it 10 days before start your trip to the jungle.

It includes:

All land and river transportation, specialized and bilingual guide, 03 nights in Lodge, meals (vegetarian option is available) and first aid kit.

Not included:

Some kind of drinks such as beers or sodas, tips and the last dinner.

We recommended taking:

• Binoculars
• Towel for the all tour
• Camera and films
• Warm clothing (in case of a cold front), long sleeve shirts and long pants (cotton) wide brim hat and sun glasses for sunny days
• 100% waterproof rain gear (long poncho or rain wear)
• Insect repellent (at least 50% DEET)
• Sunscreen lotion
• Hiking shoes and sandals
• Flashlight, enough batteries (alkaline) and bulbs
• Towel for all the tour
• Swimming suit
• Personal medicines and/or supplies (liquid for contact lenses for example)
• One day pack and one back pack or duffel bag of luggage