Manu National Park 4d/3n Tour

(In & Out by Bus)

ON THIS TOUR YOU GET VISIT THE FOLLOWING PLACES:

NINAMARCA PRE- INCA BURIAL TOWERS (cullpas):

Ninamarca is a pre-inca burial cemetery located along the road of Manu National Park at 3700 masl. As a silent reminder the tombs, called "Chullpas", mark the pre-Inca civilization of the Lupaca people that inhabited the Andes a long time ago.

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PAUCARTAMBO

This village is located in a valley at 2,906 masl.  Paucartambo overwhelms you by its beauty and simplicity. This colonial style town is home to recognized folk traditions, such as its famous festival to the “Virgen del Carmen”, the sunrise in “Tres Cruces” (three crosses), and the ancient traditional culture of the cultivation of the Peruvian potatoes.

Boundaries:
North: Madre de Dios Region
East: Quispicanchi Province
South: Quispicanchi Province
West: Calca Province

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CLOUD FOREST:

Manu covers many types of ecosystems that increase the biological diversity which is enhanced by its different ecological levels. The most southern point of the park, called Acjanaco is 3550masl., its landscape is described as PAJONAL ALTO ANDINO or high Andean grassland. The vegetation in this zone is short and not very abundant; the climate is frequently cold and wet.

Descending by these PARAJES we arrive at the elfin forest with its stunted trees, cold and humid air and a diversity of flora and fauna typical to the zone. Further down, between 3000 – 1550masl it becomes the cloud forest, an ecosystem which receives a lot of rain. Here we find a great number of endemic species such as the Spectacled Bear and the Cock of the Rock bird (Rupicola peruviana)– the Peruvian National bird.

There also you can see species of birds like:
•    Crimson –Mantled Woodpecker
•    Sickle-winged Guan
•    Black-streaked Puffbird
•    Brown-backed chat-tyrant
•    Golden-headed quetzal
•    Higland motmot 
•    Many-spotted Humingbird.
•    Masked trogon
•    Speckle - faced Parrot
•    Violet-fronted brilliant
•    White-rumped hawk
•    Aplomado Falcon
•    Blue - banded Toucanet
•    Brad - winged Hawk
•    Tanagers, barbets, and flower creepers.

In addition to the birds you also get see mammals like:
•    Woolly monkeys
•    South American Coati
•    Brown capuchin monkey
•    Taira
•    Andean fox
•    Brown agouti

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BAMBOO LODGE:

Our lodge is found at 550 masl. in a quiet place 30 minutes before Pilcopata. The lodge was built in 2004, it has private bungalows with two rooms and two beds in each room, and each bungalow has a private bathroom with both cold and hot water in the showers.  The lodge has kitchen and dining room. The walls of lodge are built with bamboo tree, the roof is constructed of giant grass which grows in the area, and the floor is made of wood. Near to the lodge there is a small coca plantation.

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ALTO MADRE DE DIOS RIVER:

Madre de Dios River starts in the highlands of Cusco; the beginning of the river is called Pilcopata River, near to Atalaya (the place where we start our trip by boat).  Pilcopata River joins Piñipi River and it is here that the river changes its name to Alto Madre de Dios River.
The Madre de Dios River is the namesake to the Peruvian region (Madre de Dios Department). It runs through this region then becomes the Beni River in Bolivia and later turns northward into Brazil, where it is called the Madeira River. The Madeira is a tributary to the Amazon River.

BONANZA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE:

Bonanza Ecological Reserve encompasses approximately 1200 hectares of pristine jungle; the area is composed of a bamboo forest and primary forest.  In the bamboo area you can see various species of anteater birds and also many groups of squirrel monkeys. The primary forest is composed of large trees (Ceibas, fig trees and iron trees). In the primary forest there is a mammal clay lick where we often see several wild pigs (white lipped peccary).  In addition to wild pigs, you can also see deer and tapirs. At the lodge we provide bungalows either single or double rooms, a dining room, a kitchen, bathrooms and showers.

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TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1:  CUSCO – BAMBOO LODGE.

We leave from Cusco by private bus, first stopping to visit the pre Inca burial towers of Ninamarca. We then 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 Acjanacu, the highest point and entrance to Manu National Park.  From here we will continue into the Cloud Forest and at San Pedro we will walk for around 2 hour to observe the  National bird of Peru called Andean  Cock of the Rock, and many different kinds of monkeys, plants and flowers. We will arrive to our lodge late in the Afternoon.

DAY 2:  BAMBOO LODGE – BONANZA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

After breakfast we will continue by private bus to Atalaya port. 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 Alto Madre de Dios River. From Atalaya we leave by motorized boat to Aguas Calientes, where you can bath in the nature hot springs. And them we will continue by boat to Bonanza Ecological Reserve.  In the afternoon we will walk in the jungle for several hours in order to appreciate the many different kind of animals, birds, plants and flowers. The night walk is optional, this night we will go to search Caimans.  In the evening we will come back to the Lodge for dinner and sleep.

DAY 3:  BONANZA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE 

We will leave early to walk in the jungle for several hours and see different animals, birds such as Monkeys, peccaries, eagles, flycatchers, kingfisher, toucans etc. and many different kinds of plants and flowers. You will appreciate different types of forest. We will watch the beautiful sunset and after dark we will look for Caimans.  In the evening we will build a bonfire, relax and have some drinks and a BBQ. 

DAY 4:  BONANZA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE – CUSCO

Early in the morning we will return to Atalaya by boat where our private bus will be waiting to take us back to Cusco.  We return to Cusco via the cloud forest and Paucartambo.  We will arrive back in Cusco in the late evening.

Tour includes:

• Private bus and boat
• Rubber boots and rain poncho
• All camping equipment
• Bilingual native guide
• Mineral water
• First aid kit
• 3 meals per day
• Cook
• Entrance to the Natural hot springs
• Entrance to Bonanza Ecological Reserve.

You will need to bring:

• Sleeping bag
• Repellent with a minimum of 15 % deet
• Binocular
• Camera with extra batteries
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Sun lotion
• Pocket Money
• Daypack
• Water bottle
• Sun hat
• Sandals