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Head Office Cusco - Perú : |
MANU ANDES & PARROT CLAY LICK 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS
Season: All year round (fixed departures on Wednesdays)
Transportation: Bus, boat and airplane
Accommodation: Camping and lodge
Highlights: Tropical Rainforest flora and fauna, jungle exploration and the Parrot clay lick.
Day 1. Early departure from Cusco to reach the cloud forest - traveling through Andean landscapes, with deep valleys, highlands, rural communities and picturesque colonial towns such as Paucartambo, which has been the gateway to the Manu forests since pre-Hispanic times. The Acjanaco pass ( 3,850 m) marks the official entrance to Manu National Park. From here the road descends to the cloud forest, passing the Andean grassland ecosystem where vegetation is sparse, before reaching the cloud forest in the afternoon. The Cloud Forest is a quite rich area in terms of flora and fauna, the habitat of the Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicula peruviana), Quetzal, Blue-crowned motmot, Toucans, Spectacled Bear (South America's only bear), White-tailed deer, butterflies, ferns and orchids. We will spend the first night in our cloud forest Paradise Lodge (L,D).
Day 2. Before breakfast, walk in the forest to see the Cock-of-the-Rock in a daily ritual which eight to ten males perform in order to attract the of the females. Return to the Lodge for breakfast. Our trip continues to Atalaya, river port from where we board our boat downstream to our camp in the hot springs in the Upper Madre de Dios River, near to a Macaw clay lick. (B,L,D).
Day 3. At about 5:30 am, we hike to a position some 30m (90ft) from the collpa, a rich deposit of natural minerals and clay in the river sidewall. From here, we can observe several species of parrots and parakeets arriving, followed by macaws in a colorful and impressive show. If there is a good weather you can have the opportunity to see around 300 individuals. Return to camp. After breakfast we continue downstream to the village of Boca Manu. As we travel downriver we will see caimans and a variety of birds. Around noon we will enter the Park Reserved Zone for a 4 hour hike in this primary forest. At nightfall we will stay in a comfortable lodge in Boca Manu, at the entrance to the Park. There is the opportunity for a nocturnal walk to hopefully see nocturnal birds such as the sand-colored nighthawk the Amazon bamboo rat, numerous species of toads and insects and other inhabitants of the forest which only emerge at night and to listen the Night Monkey (Musmuqui) sounds, the world's only nocturnal primate (B,L,D).
Day 4. We continue our journey along the Manu River as far as the CAIMAN CAMP, inside the Reserved Area, passing Limonal, the Park Ranger Station, where we will register before entering the Reserved Area. Along the river we will see birds, toucans, macaws, parrots and some mammals such as capybara, tapirs, peccaries and many varieties of turtles, caiman and, if we are lucky, a jaguar. We will arrive at our camp in the mid-afternoon, near the Salvador oxbow-Lake, where we will spend two nights camping on comfortable platforms. (B,L,D).
Day 5. Early start for a long walk of some three or four hours, from the banks of Manu River to Otorongo lake, where we will climb a 15m high observation tower, from where birds such as the exuberantly feathered and primitive Shansho (Hoatzin) can be seen, as well as monkeys feeding on fruits and several species of flowers and brightly-colored butterflies. We will then return to our camp by canoe for lunch. The afternoon will be dedicated to exploring Salvador Oxbow lake and the surrounding area aboard our catamaran, from which will be able to observe the local mega diversity, including Black Caiman, White Caiman, a family of Giant Otters and waterfowl. Return to the camp in the evening. (B,L,D).
Day 6. Early in the morning we have another chance to go for a nature walk or one more visit to the oxbow lake and hear choirs of birds defining their territory in song. As the sun rises, the eastern sky changes to a pale yellow and we will be able to see falcons or other predatory birds patiently searching for prey from the treetops. After lunch we will board our boat again and head downstream towards Boca Manu but this time just foating without the engine to observe with plenty of time this mighty and diverse environment. Arriving at Boca Manu we will visit the native community of the Matshiguenka and Yine ethnic group, We will also visit their medicinal plants botanical garden and share their knowledge and activities. (B,L,D).
Day 7. In the morning we go to the airfield at Boca Manu, where we board our plane to Cusco. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel. (B)
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