Jungle Trips

OVERVIEW:

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.

The 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 7 species of Macaws.

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.

Manu National Park may be the most biologically diverse and protected park on the planet.

DAY 1: CUSCO – MIRADOR AMAZON LODGE.

We will leave from Cusco by private bus, first stopping to visit the pre Inca burial towers of Ninamarca. Then, we´ll drive through the mountains, to get to the typical and folkloric town of Paucartambo. Here, we will take a short walk around the town before carrying On to Tres Cruces, the highest point and entrance to Manu National Park. From here, we will continue into the Cloud Forest and at Fog forest we will explore for around 3 hours to observe the National bird of Peru (the cock of the rock), the biggest monkey in Peru (woolly monkeys) and to observe the different types of bromeliads and beautiful orchids, then we arrive to our lodge in the evening where we will sleep in a beautiful and rustic lodge.

Accommodation: Mirador Amazon Lodge.
Meals: Lunch, Box Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 2: MIRADOR AMAZON LODGE – TEPARO ECOLOGICAL RESERVE.

After our breakfast, we will continue by private bus to Atalaya. On the way, we will stop to observe a coca plantation, we will also stop at a view point where you can get a good overview of the jungle and river.

From Atalaya, we leave by motorized boat to Machuwasi Lake. Where we will go into the lake on a wooden balsa raft and after that our lunch. Then, we continue down river to our Lodge, a long the boat trip we will see many different kind of animals, birds, plants and flowers.
We will walk in the afternoon until evening in our Ecological Reserve (include night expeditions) to see tarantulas, different types of spiders, poisonous frogs, tree frogs, snakes, alligators, night monkeys, armadillos and boas.

Accommodation: Teparo Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 3: TEPARO LODGE – CAMOUFLAGED TREE HOUSE.

This day after our breakfast, we will walk in the jungle for several hours, on the way we will appreciate many different kinds of animals; such as tapir, collared peccaries, monkeys, Coati; birds such as eagles, parrots, macaws, woodpeckers, toucans, medicinal plants, flowers and the giant trees of the jungle.

After this, we will swim in the river and fish. We camp in camouflaged tree house watching nocturnal animals and to enjoy the mixed sounds of the jungle (protected by mosquitos net).

Accommodation: Camouflaged Tree House.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 4: CAMOUFLAGED TREE HOUSE – BACK TO CUSCO.

We will leave early from our camp to visit the parrots, parakeets and mini macaws, clay lick and after our breakfast, we will return to Atalaya by boat where our private bus will be waiting to take us back to Cusco.
We will return to Cusco via the cloud forest and Paucartambo.

We will arrive back in Cusco in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

ENDING OF OUR SERVICES.

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

• Private transport van and boat.
• Rubber boots.
• All camping equipment.
• Qualified bilingual native guide with own equipment.
•  Mineral water.
• First aid kit.
• 3 meals per day (vegetarian option is available).
• Cook.
• Captain and river´s equipment.
•  Safety box for values and storage for luggage at Cusco’s main office.
• Entrance to the accommodation.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

• Airfares (available upon request).

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING:

• Sleeping bag.
• Rain coat or rain poncho.
• Repellent with a minimum of 15 % deet.
• Binocular.
• Camera with extra batteries.
• Flash Light with extra batteries.
• Sunscreen lotion.
• Pocket Money.
• Water bottle.
• Sun hat.
• Sandals.
• Toilet paper.
• Dark clothes.
• Swimming suit
• Personal things and towel.
• Personal medicines and/or supplies (liquid for contact lenses for example).
• One day pack and one back pack or duffel bag of luggage.

PAYMENT DETAILS:

For this program, we require a Prepayment (50%) of the total. The deposit can be send by a WESTERN UNION or to our BANK ACCOUNT money transfer. This is the fastest and most secure form of payment in Peru. Once you arrive in Cusco you must pay the remaining balance in cash prior to beginning your tour. We accept both US Dollars and Peruvian Soles (local currency).

IMPORTANT NOTE:

•  If we didn´t see the Andean cook of the rock the first day in the afternoon, we can visit the last day in the morning.
• The sequence of the itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions.
• Feel free to ask for extra services, this tour is customizable.
• Your passport details are required (Full Name and Passport Number). Please provide your passport details in the additional request box when booking. In the event you do not provide your passport details we reserve the right to not confirm your arrangements.
• At 7:00pm the day before you will have a Predeparture briefing with a guide about this tour in the lobby of your hotel (please provide hotel details).