Manu Wildlife Center located east of the Manu River on the north bank of the Madre de Dios
River, and reached by a 35-minute light plane flight from Cusco, offers the Amazon’s
finest short, in-depth wildlife safari. The Lodge contains 22 double-occupancy fully
screened bungalows with private bath (with hot shower), a large fully screened dining
room, and a bar with hammocks for relaxing.
Three fixed departure programs per week, departing from and returning to Cuzco : Monday,
Wednesday & Friday.
Day one
Early morning our representative will pick you
up from your hotel to transfer to Cusco airport.
A thirty-five minute flight in a radar-equipped twin engine plane takes you to Boca Manu.
Here you take a motorized canoe for the 90 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios River to
Manu Wildlife Center to arrive for lunch. The afternoon will be spent exploring some of
the 30 miles of clean forest trails that surround the lodge. On these trails you have an
excellent chance to encounter some of the 12 species of monkeys, which include the Monk
Saki and Emperor Tamarin, which inhabit the surrounding forest.
After dinner you will have a short night excursion to explore nocturnal life in the
rainforest.
Day two
Rising before dawn, we take a 25 minutes boat
journey downstream to the only large parrot and macaw clay lick in the Manu area. From a
floating catamaran blind we are afforded excellent views and photo opportunities of
hundreds of medium-sized and large parrots arriving first at the lick, followed by the
large Red-and-Green Macaws arriving to eat the clay. Please note that the clay lick is not
as active in May, June and July.
After lunch at the Center we continue to explore the miles of forest trails surrounding
the lodge, and spend the late afternoon up a 34 meter canopy platform. Here we watch the
last frantic activity in the rainforest canopy before night settles.
We return for dinner back at the center and then leisurely hike for 60-75 minutes through
the night forest to the Amazon’s largest known Tapir clay lick. We climb up a 17 foot
by 17 foot observation platform perched 17 feet above the lick itself where we wait for
the lumbering Tapirs to arrive, then using powerful flashlights we observe and photograph
them in action. (L/B/D).
Day three
Rising at dawn you will board the motor-canoe
to visit the Camungo Oxbow Lake. In addition to touring the lake by catamaran to look for
the resident family of giant otters and other lakeside fauna, we will explore the forest
trail and visit the 40 meter high canopy platform. This canopy platform provides a
beautiful view of the camungo lake as well as the forest canopy. And on very clear days it
is possible to look over the rainforest to the andes.
After lunch at the Center the guide is available to further explore the forest trails for
more wildlife encounters. Alternatively time is available to independently explore the
forest trails.
After supper, those explorers still with enough energy will have a chance for a final
visit to the Tapir clay lick. (B,L,D,)
Day four
Rising at dawn you board the motor-canoe for
the two hours return trip to the Manu landing strip, from which you fly to Cusco, where
your jungle adventure ends. Arrival, reception and transfer to the your hotel. (B).
Please note that the program may vary slightly so as to maximize your wildlife sightings,
depending on the reports of our researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the
lodge.
