Day 1: Cusco - Bamboo Lodge

The first day of our adventure into the Jungle of Manu, we will pick you up around 5:00 AM from your hotels in Cusco, using the service of our private transport. The first part of our excursion will take us through the marvelous Andean mountains. Afterwards, we will visit the town of Huancarani which contains the funeral towers of Ninamarca, a cemetery of the Lupaca Pre –Inca Culture, which we will visit briefly on our way to Paucartambo, which is known as the folkloric capital of the district of Cusco. In the face of modern times, this small colonial pueblo has managed to hold on to its rich tradition for centuries upon centuries. At mid-day we will arrive at the entrance of Manu National Park and access to one of the most protected natural areas in South America. We will continue on in our private transport down a dirt road and on through the thick fog from which this section of the forest takes it name. Eventually we will arrive at the home of the exotic Peruvian National Bird, the “Cock of the Rock”, where it is known to gather with others of its kind for some sort of social gathering that seems reminiscent of a large courtship. You will find that this is quite an amazing spectacle complete with an impressive array of sounds and colours that can only be found in the jungle. For our first night, we will stay in the beautiful Bamboo Lodge, where we will arrive at approx. 5:00 p.m.

DAY 2: Bamboo Lodge – Manu Learning Centre

An early start to the town of Atalaya, for 40 minutes ride Boat along the Alto Madre de Dios to the Manu Learning Centre.

Surrounded by many kinds of Herons, Egrets, Cormorants, Kingfishers, Fly-catchers, many Birds of Prey flying overhead and more! If you’re lucky, potentially even a Lowland Tapir sighting, both semi-aquatic animals that frequent the area!

You will be introduced to the lodge and your accommodation area with an opportunity to rest after your journey to help settle in. Meanwhile you can enjoy the vast variety of garden birds going about their business such as the Tanager and Barbet families, can be found.

A highlight within the garden being the great variety of Hummingbirds our snake vines attract, including the Rufous Crested Coquette (Lophornis Delattrei), Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone), White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga Mellivora) and many more…

After lunch, you can explore the rainforest trail system with our naturalist guides or enjoy the landscape at our viewpoint before spending the evening learning more about the jungle through our introductory presentation or simply relaxing, watching the beautiful sunset and ending your day with an overnight stay at Manu Learning Centre lodge.

At Dinner time we will have a formal introduction to all the inhabitants within the MLC including staff, volunteers and interns. Where you will also be present to listen to the schedule/itinerary for the following day!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

DAY 3: Manu Learning Centre

Our first survey of the day is usually the Colpa (Clay Lick) Monitoring, we perform this first thing in the morning before sunrise. Travelling five minutes upriver to land on a beach, positioning ourselves in the best position to watch the numerous members of the Psittacidae Parrots and Parakeets fly across the river to engage in gathering nutrients and social activities. Returning afterwards for breakfast.

Spend the rest of the day exploring the big system of trails into de Amazon Rain Forest where our Jungle Specialist will explain how the Jungle Works, later in the night walk inside the forest, if you’re feeling brave enough! Pass through the wetlands to see many different kinds of insects, amphibians and reptiles and opportunity to see more of the nocturnal mammal species. After a discovery day, you can enjoy another overnight stay within our comfortable Manu Learning Centre lodge.

DAY 4: Manu Learning Centre – Machuwasi lagoon - ceiba tree.

Early in the morning we board our boat and sail for 20 minutes approximately in the upper Madre de Dios River, In Machuwasi lagoon, we walk for 40 minutes through the jungle, trying to find birds monkeys and caimans, once we reach the lagoon, we will take a rustic Canoe and enjoy the view of this beautiful lagoon, and its avifauna, In the afternoon we visit the imposing tree of the CEIBA genus, considered the king of the Amazonian trees, with more than 400 years old approximately. After the tour we return to our lodge.

DAY 5: Manu Learning Centre – Cusco

The following day, we will take the boat back to Atalaya after breakfast and enjoy the last sights and sounds of the rainforest before reaching Cusco. You will be dropped off at your hotel by around 7:00pm after a direct transit including any necessary breaks, bringing the tour to an end but leaving with memories of Manu that will last for a lifetime.