Overview

Open to everyone and all ages! Singles travelers to Peru and group travelers are welcome!

We have multiple departure dates in the summer and fall of 2012 for this program in addition to our October 6-13 trip which is set to coincide with our Peru trekking trip

Manu National Park and World Heritage Biosphere is considered by many experts as the most important rainforest park in the world offering the fabled city of Cusco and the mythical Inca citadel of Machu Picchu as its gateway. About half the size of Switzerland, Manu protects an entire virgin watershed from Andean grasslands at 12,000 ft. down to cloud forests, to the vast lowlands below 1,000 ft. above sea level.

Manu’s virgin primary rainforests boast world-record diversities of birds (more than 1,000 species) mammals (more than 200 species), reptiles, amphibians, fresh-water fishes, insects and plants (over 15,000 species). No other area in North or South America offers such superb viewing of rare or difficult to observe animals, such as the two-meter long and gregarious Giant Otters, 13 species of monkeys, white and black caiman (crocodiles), seven species of macaws (the world’s largest parrots), ten species of toucans, guans, curassows, and trumpeters (all rare game birds), and the largest land animal in Central and South America, the Tapir. No other park on earth can compare with Manu in terms of sheer variety of life forms. A patch of lowland rainforest in Manu harbors 40% more species of birds than a comparable patch of forest in Central Amazonian Brazil.  Our Expert Guides and Staff will make sure this is The Rainforest adventure of a lifetime!

*Please note: If doing this Peru rainforest trip prior to our Peru singles trekking trip  which includes RT air between Lima and Cusco then we will adjust your flight to or from Lima to coordinate with the beginning or end of this trip at no charge.

Itinerary

PERU RAINFOREST TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1: PERU TOUR STARTS- ARRIVE IN CUSCO: 

1. If you are continuing on from a previous Peru trekking tour you will arrive in Cusco this evening. - Breakfast at Hotel. Free day in Cusco. Rest up from the Hike and time at Machu Picchu.

2. If you are arriving today-   Please schedule a flight (we can help you book one) to arrive at the Cusco airport. We will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the host hotel based on your flight arrival time. Check in. Rest of day at leisure.

Meet and Greet with the trip host and guides this evening at the hotel. Quick briefing while we taste a Coca Tea.  Overnight in Residencia del Sol Hotel

DAY 2: CUSCO TO RIO DE ORO LODGE (B,L,D)

Our rainforest guided tour starts! Early morning pickup at hotel around 5:30 am. We take an private bus trip (with plenty of sightseeing stops) from the city of Cusco ascending to the high mountain area at 4000 m (13,000 feet). After a short stop in Ninamarca, to see the pre-Inca cemetery, and Paucartambo village, we descend the eastern slopes of the Andes through cloud forest with lush vegetation (ferns, orchids, bromeliads etc.) to the lowland rainforest on the Madre de Dios River. You will enjoy spectacular views of the Andes and may see wildlife such as our national bird, the Cock of the Rocks (Rupicola peruviana) inside a hiding place next to the lek, brilliantly coloured Tanagers, Quetzals and Hummingbirds and with some luck the first monkeys, e.g. the Woolly Monkey. In the afternoon we arrive to Atalaya (500m), from here it is only 15 minutes by boat to our Rio de Oro Lodge. Optional night walk.

DAY 3: RIO DE ORO TO MAQUISAPAYOJ LODGE (B,L,D)

Early start to visit the small parrot clay lick 10 minutes downriver.  After observing parrots, parakeets and small macaws (Chestnut fronted Macaw and the rarest Blue headed Macaw)  we continue for an 8 hour journey in a 15-meter motorized canoe down the Alto Madre de Dios River. Today we have the opportunity to see wildlife along the rocky banks of the river, such as Fasciated Tiger Herons, Purplish Jays, Skimmers, Vultures, caimans and some of the 13 species of monkeys that live in Manu. In the afternoon we arrive to Maquisapayoj (‘place of the Black Spider Monkey’), where we spend the night in a lodge. Optional night walk before dinner and a shower!

DAY 4: BIG MACAW CLAY LICK & MAQUISAPAYOJ TAPIR LICK (B,L,D)

Early in the morning we travel downriver to the big Macaw Clay Lick in Blanquillo. From a blind we watch flocks of Parakeets, Parrots and Macaws (Ara chloroptera, - macao) congregating to eat the clay of the lick, which is essential for their digestion. Breakfast at the blind. After the spectacle we travel upstream to return to Maquisapayoj. From the river we walk into primary rainforest for about 1 1/2 hours to the Mammal Salt Lick, where we spend the night on an elevated platform (with mats and mosquito nets) to observe tapirs or other mammals during the night. Optional night at the lodge, close to the river.

DAY 5: MAQUISAPAYOJ TO ALBERGUE CASA MATSIGUENKA (B,L,D)

Today we travel about 8 to 9 hours upriver into the Reserved Zone of Manu National Park. We stop at Limonal Guard Station where our permit is checked. During this boat trip wildlife viewing along the banks of the Manu River is fabulous. White Caimans (Caiman crocodylus) sunning on the beaches, fish in the shallows, turtles and plenty of colourful birds as e.g. Black Skimmers and Terns may bee seen. And there is always the possibility of seeing larger animals such as Capybara, Tapir and Jaguar. In the afternoon we arrive at Albergue Casa Matsiguenka, where we spend two nights in double rooms. The lodge is built in tipical machiguenga style. Optional nightwalk ( to see insects, frogs, snakes etc.).

DAY 6: EXPLORING COCHA SALVADOR AND OTORONGO (B,L,D)

We leave early for a day trip to explore Cocha (oxbow-lake) Salvador by catamaran looking for Giant River Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis), Caimans, Hoatzins and monkeys. In the afternoon we go for a walk on some of the trails through the forest. You can climb the 18 m observation tower at Cocha (lake) Otorongo – a good place to observe birds - and enjoy the scenery. The night is spent at Albergue Matsiguenka, where we can meet the Machiguenga indians. Optional night walk.

DAY 7:  ALBERGUE MATSIGUENKA TO CUSCO (B,L,D)

Today we start early to travel 6 hours down the Manu River, with ideal conditions to see wildlife. After a stop in Boca Manu village we make our way back upriver on the Alto Madre de Dios River for another 3 hours. Today we will fly back from Boca Manu Airstrip to Cusco in 45 min. This flight (included in tour price)  is in a twin otter turbo prop plane for up to 18 people. Absolutely Amazing views are seen from the flight over the rainforest and then the mountains. It is an adventure in itself! Transfer to the Cusco hotel. Evening at leisure.

Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 8:  CUSCO-LIMA (B,L,D)

Breakfast at hotel.
1. If on this Peru rainforest tour from the previous Peru trek tour your flight Cusco- Lima (included in the package as it will just be deferred from the Machu Picchu tour) I can fly you back to Lima in morning to connect with your Intl flight home.

2. If on this Peru tour only, you may wish to stay and spend some extra time in Cusco or go up to Machu Picchu. Please book your return flight from Cusco back to Lima accordingly. We can advise on options and help you book them should you decide to stay and explore Cusco.

"End of Peru Guided Amazon Rainforest Tour"

Stay an extra week and take our Singles Hiking Vacation to Machu Picchu

What's included

 Price: $1959 sharing a room (we can match you with a roommate)
 Single room- singles travelers who want their own room- add $399
 

PERU AMAZON RAINFOREST TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

• Professional English-speaking naturalist rainforest tour guide for entire Peru Amazon trip
• Spotting telescope for wildlife viewing by the group
• Private bus and boat transport
• Entrance fees to Macaw clay lick and Tapir lick
• Entrance fees to Manu National Park and Salvador & Otorongo lakes
• Cook to prepare homemade meals throughout Peru Amazon trip
• All food (vegetarian on request) + drinking wateras indicated in itinerary
• Lodge accommodations each night and camping equipment
• First Aid Kit, extractor
• Radio communication
• Flight back to Lima from Cusco after Peru Amazon trip on 11/4 (if doing trek/non-trek trip first)
• Special charter flight from Boca Manu to Cusco on 11/3
• Lodging in Cusco on 10/28 and 11/3
• Airport and hotel transfers in Cusco
• Rafting in Balsa rafts on Madre de Dios River (optional)
• Pre- Inca cemetery visit on Day 2
• Meet and Greet in Cusco on 1st day
• USA based host for trip (there is a minimum number of guests required)

NOT INCLUDED IN PERU AMAZON RAINFOREST TOUR:

• Binoculars
• When returning by plane from Boca Manu on Peru Amazon trip : airstrip tax is paid locally
• Personal expenses (Extras, Alcoholic drinks etc.)

 

 

Photos