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.

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

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

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.

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.

BOCA MANU:

Boca Manu is a small village located at the intersection of the Alto Madre de Dios River and Manu River. The town is a major town in the jungle and a necessary stop before continuing on into Manu Biosphere Reserve or Blanquillo Ecological Reserve. Here we stop to buy gas supplies and also there is a small airport where travelers can fly out of or into Manu National Park.
Around the Boca Manu there is an Oxbow lake called “Isla de los Valles”. Here you have opportunities to see a family of giant otters and some groups of monkeys. This oxbow lake is a very good place for bird watchers.

MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE:

Manu National Park is a biosphere reserve located in Madre de Dios and Paucartambo, Cusco. Before becoming an area protected by the Peruvian government, the Manu National Park was conserved due do its inaccessibility. The park remains fairly inaccessible by road to this day. In 1977, UNESCO recognized it as a Biosphere Reserve and in 1987 it was pronounced a World Heritage Site. It is the largest National Park in Peru, covering an area of 15,328 km². The Biosphere Reserve includes an additional 2,570 km² and an extra 914 km² are included in a "Cultural Zone" (which also is protected), bringing the total area to 18,811 km².

The park protects several ecological zones ranging from as low as 150 meters above sea level in parts of the Amazon Basin to the Puna grasslands at altitudes of 4200 meters. This topographical range is the primary factor that contributes to it having one of highest levels of biodiversity of any park in the world. Overall, more than 15,000 species of plants are found in Manu, and up to 250 varieties of trees have been found in a single hectare. The reserve is a destination for birdwatchers from all over the world, as it is home to over 1000 species of birds, more than the number of bird species found in the United States and Canada combined.

MANU RIVER:

Manu River is one of the main tributaries of the Madre de Dios River which is a tributary of the Amazon River.
Manu River is found in the southeastern section of Peru. It runs down from the eastern slopes of the Andes to the Amazon Basin through Manu National Park. Manu River has a high concentration of wildlife in its waters and also on its river banks. You will see many white and black Caimans lying on river bank. We have reports from a group of tourist who had the opportunity to see five jaguars in one morning. Also along the river you can see several monkeys, deers, capybaras, Tapirs and many varieties of birds.

MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE OXBOW LAKES:

An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the mainstream of a river is cut off to create a lake. This landform is called an oxbow lake for the distinctive curved shape that results from this process. In Australia, an oxbow lake is called a billabong.
Manu National Biosphere Reserve has 13 oxbow lakes near the Manu River, were tourist get see a lot of wildlife including species such as the black Caiman, families of giant others, spider monkeys, red howler monkeys. The largest and most beautiful oxbow lake in Manu Biosphere reserve is Salvador Lake.

CASA MACHIGUENGA LODGE:

Our Machiguenga lodge is located inside the Manu National Park near Cocha (Lake) Salvador. The lodge is established and run by native Machiguenga Amerindians from two communities located in the heart of the Manu National Park. From this lodge we have access to unexplored forest and oxbow lakes.

MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE MAMMALS:

Manu is the most biologically diverse region of the Amazon when considering mammals. It provides unforgettable opportunities for seeing about 200 species of mammals. There are 13 species of monkey and it is estimated that there are over 100 species of bats.

MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE BIRDS:

Manu represents 25% of all the birds known in South America and 10% of all the species in the world. It is thought that there may be as many as 1,000 bird species in total. According to Renton, six species of macaws occur in the lowland forest to include Ara ararauna, A. chloroptera, A. macao, A. severa, and A. manilata. Three Endemic Bird Areas are represented within the park. Manu Park is also home to 15 restricted range species.

BLANQUILLO PRIVATE RESERVE

Tambo Blanquillo Lodge is located two and a half hours down river from Boca Manu. At the Lodge we have platforms with a comfortable dining room. The reserve has three oxbow lakes (blanco, Blanquillo and Camungo oxbow lakes) with ideal conditions to observe giant otters from a wooden catamaran. Also there is a 45 meter metal tower perfect location where bird watchers can spot many birds.
Near the lodge there is one of the most beautiful places in the world called “collpa.” A collpa is a clay lick where some species of mammals and birds go every day to neutralize the toxins in there system.
In Blanquillo tourist can enjoy an amazing macaw clay lick. Red and green macaws are daily visitors of the clay lick along with many parrots and medium size macaws.

MACAW CLAY LICK:

One distinctive habitat nearby Tambo Blanquillo is the shebonal forest. This type of forest is high in clay content, creating clay licks, locally known as collpa which are specially used by macaws and other rainforest species as a healthy diet supplement that helps them remove toxins from their digestive tracks. Macaws usually obtain these noxious chemical substances from unripe fruits they ingest.

Our lodge is just 10 minutes away from the Macaw Clay Lick. A blind of 10 meters of altitude has been built facing it, so you can take close-up pictures without disturbing the bird’s activity. It consists of 40 comfortable seats, each with a personal counter where your binoculars and cameras can be placed in order to give you better stability to take superb pictures of the macaws on the clay lick. Breakfast will be served at the blind and a toilette facility is available.

FISHING:

Fishing is another activity that we can do on your jungle tour. In the middle of the Isla de los Valles Oxbow Lake or Madre de Dios River, in the immerse thick everlasting green of the Amazon jungle, you can grab your fishing line and hook onto the fun, causing zero impact on the environment and to any vulnerable species. You can catch delicious Doncellas, Zungaros and piranhas for dinner.

WHAT 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
  
• Toilet paper
  
• Dark clothes (for the walking days)

TOUR INCLUDES

• Private Boat and bus
• Rubber boots, rain poncho
• All accommodations  and lodges
• Bilingual tour guide.
• Mineral water
• First aid kit
• Three meals a day included vegetarian option.
• Profetional cook
• Entrance to the hot spring
• Entrance to Bonanza ecological reserve.
• Entrance fee to Manu National Park
• fly out from Boca Manu to Cusco

FAQs ABOUT THIS TOUR

1. What is the weather typically like?

The weather is typically hot and humid. There are normally eight months of rain and four months of dry weather. During the day the temperature can reach 38 degrees Celsius but it will feel hotter because of the humidity. The humidity is around 90%.

2. What are the dangers of visiting the jungle?

There are really no specific dangers in the jungle. In general, the animals are not dangerous. The most dangerous species in the jungle are the snakes, the most common and dangerous ones are the Fer-de- lance snakes. However, these snakes are rarely seen. Precautions are taken which include wearing rubber boots while going on jungle walks to avoid any possible dangers.

3. Are there mosquitoes?

Yes, there are mosquitoes and sand flies. The mosquitoes are most active in the mornings and at dusk. We recommend that you bring a very good mosquito repellent with you to help avoid these mosquitoes while you are walking in the jungle. All the lodges provide mosquito nets for your beds and also the tents which are used have a mosquito net as well.

4. Do you provide clean drinking water?

Yes, all tour prices include mineral water throughout the entire trip and the expeditions include mineral water as well but when you are deep in the jungle the river water is normally boiled which makes it suitable to drink. On the expeditions, we highly recommend that our passengers bring water purifying pills.
5. What types of animals and wildlife will we see?

Manu National Park has the highest concentration of wildlife in the world, therefore the probability of seeing animals and wildlife is very high. There are over 150 species of mammals, 99 species of reptiles, 140 species of amphibians, 1000 species of birds, including the beautiful and rare Macaw, 200 species of fish, 1000 species of butterflies, 130 species of dragonflies, and an unknown amount of insect species. However, even though this is a wide variety of wildlife, the area we will be visiting is not a zoo and therefore it is never certain what animals and wildlife you will see during your tour, is depends on luck.

6. What type of food will we eat and are there choices if you are a vegetarian?

The food we provide during these tours will be mostly foods native to the jungle. It will include fish, chicken, beef, rice, and vegetables. Fresh native jungle fruit such as pineapple, bananas, plantains, and passion fruit will be provided. Drinks during the tour will include natural juices like pineapple, star fruit, papaya, and passion fruit, mineral water, café, tea, and hot chocolate. We also make accommodations for vegetarians.

7. What type of things will I need to bring to be prepared for a tour in the jungle?

The most important things for you to bring are: mosquito repellent, a flashlight or torch with extra batteries, camera with extra batteries, sun block, sandals, sleeping bag, a canteen or camel pack, hat, knife, extra money to buy personnel items, and binoculars.

8. Do you provide a first-aid kit?

Yes, we do have a very comprehensive first aid kit with us, but we also recommend that you carry a small first aid kit of your own, which includes all the basic items of a first-aid kit.

9. Is there malaria in the region?

No, there has not been a confirmed case of malaria in the region of Manu National Park since the 1980. However the area is still considered a malaria region and therefore we highly recommend that you take anti-malaria medication during your time in the jungle.

If you have a question that is not answered here, please send us an email at: requests@sacredlandperu.com and we will get you an answer.

PHOTO GALLERY