PROGRAM MANU WILDLIFE CENTER

Manu is a park of superlatives: it hosts the largest diversity of mammals (more than 200 species), among them 13 different primates; in no other national park in the world exist as many different bird species (more than 800). Moreover in Manu National Park live most amphibe species of the Amazonas valley. On a single tree live more insect species than on the British Isles. Twitchers claim Manu National Park to be the best area for bird-watching in the world. This magnificent bird diversity is a result of the various climatic zones that Manu contains: starting in the Andes highlands over mountain cloud forest down to lowland rainforest.

Please find in the following a program for 4 days and one for 5 days.

Fix departure days: Monday, Wednesday & Friday.

Day 1: Boca Manu - Manu Wildlife Center - Forest trail
Early morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Cusco airport. After a thirty-five minute flight in a radar-equipped twin-engine plane you arrive in Boca Manu where you take a motorized canoe for a 90 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios River to Manu Wildlife Center arriving for lunch. You spend the afternoon 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, including 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 2: Parrot & Clay lick - Forest trail - Tapir clay lick
Rising before dawn, you take a 25-minute boat journey downstream to the only large parrot and macaw clay lick in the Manu area. From a floating catamaran blind you have an excellent view over hundreds of medium-sized and large colorful parrots arriving first at the lick, followed by the large Red-and-Green Macaws arriving to eat the clay. After lunch at the center you continue to explore the miles of forest trails surrounding the lodge, and spend the late afternoon on a 34-meter canopy platform. Here you watch the last frantic activity in the rainforest canopy before night settles. Returned for dinner at the center and you then can hike for 60-75 minutes through the night forest to the Amazon's largest known Tapir clay lick. You climb up an observation platform perched 17 feet above the lick itself where you wait for the lumbering Tapirs to arrive.

Day 3: Blanco Oxbow Lake - Night excursion
Rising at dawn you will board the motor-canoe to visit the Blanco Oxbow Lake looking for the resident family of giant otters and other lakeside fauna. After lunch at the center the guide is available to further explore the forest trails with you. Alternatively you can independently explore the forest trails. This evening, from the late afternoon until after Dinner, you are offered the opportunity to search for caiman and other nocturnal life along the riverbank by boat.

Day 4: Return to Cusco
Early after breakfast the motor-canoe for the two hours return trip is ready to bring you to the Manu landing strip, from which you fly to Cusco, where your jungle adventure unfortunately ends. Arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel.

Please note that:

• The clay lick activity reaches its best from August to October and decreases during the months of May and June.
• During the dry season (June-September) the water level on the river does not always allow for a floating blind and it will then be sitting on the ground.
• Please note that the program may vary slightly so as to maximize your wildlife sightings, depending on reports of Manu's researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the lodge.

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Fix departure days:Thursday & Saturday

Day 1: Boca Manu - Manu Wildlife Center - Forest trail:
Early morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Cusco airport. After a thirty-five minute flight in a radar-equipped twin-engine plane you arrive in Boca Manu where you take a motorized canoe for a 90 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios River to Manu Wildlife Center arriving for lunch. You spend the afternoon 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, including 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 2: Parrot & Clay lick - Forest trail - Tapir clay lick
Rising before dawn, you take a 25-minute boat journey downstream to the only large parrot and macaw clay lick in the Manu area. From a floating catamaran blind you have an excellent view over hundreds of medium-sized and large colorful parrots arriving first at the lick, followed by the large Red-and-Green Macaws arriving to eat the clay. After lunch at the Center you continue to explore the miles of forest trails surrounding the lodge, and spend the late afternoon on a 34-meter canopy platform. Here you watch the last frantic activity in the rainforest canopy before night settles. Returned for dinner at the center and you then can hike for 60-75 minutes through the night forest to the Amazon's largest known Tapir clay lick. You climb up an observation platform perched 17 feet above the lick itself where you wait for the lumbering Tapirs to arrive.

Day 3: Blanco Oxbow Lake - Night excursion
Rising at dawn you will board the motor-canoe to visit the Blanco Oxbow Lake looking for the resident family of giant otters and other lakeside fauna. After lunch at the Center the guide is available to further explore the forest trails with you. Alternatively you can independently explore the forest trails. This evening, from the late afternoon until after Dinner, you are offered the opportunity to search for caiman and other nocturnal life along the riverbank by boat.

Day 4: Camungo Oxbow Lake - Fruit & Flower excursion
Rising at dawn you will board the motor-canoe to visit the Camungo Oxbow Lake looking for the resident family of giant otters and other lakeside fauna. Additionally you explore the forest trails and visit the 40 meter or 130 foot high canopy platform. This 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 you explore the forest trails with the emphasis on visiting the fruiting and flowering trees that Manu's experienced naturalist guides have been monitoring. Here you can possibly encounter more monkey species as well as numerous species of birds. Before or after dinner you stand the chance for an additional visit to the Tapir clay lick.

Day 5: Return to Cusco
Early after breakfast the motor-canoe for the two hours return trip is ready to bring you to the Manu landing strip, from which you fly to Cusco, where your jungle adventure unfortunately ends. Arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel.

Please note that:

• The clay lick activity reaches its best from August to October and decreases during the months of May and June.
• During the dry season (June-September) the water level on the river does not always allow for a floating blind and it will then be sitting on the ground.
• Please note that the program may vary slightly so as to maximize your wildlife sightings, depending on reports of Manu's researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the lodge.
  

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