Itinerary of the Manu Tour: The Pioneer
DAY 1 :
6:00 Cusco – Manu Cloud Forest
Manu: The Pioneer starts at 6:00, when our guide passes by you towards the Amazon Cloud Forest, crossing the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in a journey that offers the change of the Andean climate and landscape towards that of the tropical jungle. Keep in mind that the temperature will rise as the trip progresses.
The first place you know is the capital of folklore, Paucartambo, center of the ancient trade routes of the Incas, inquiring about their cultural fusion, crafts, traditions and their way of life between the Andes and the forest.
The tour continues until you reach the Acjanaco park ranger station, entrance to the Manu National Park, where you can see the grass of the Andean highlands or ichu; small bushes and beautiful orchids. In this place the change of vegetation and climate begins; If the sky is clear, you can see the landscaping of the largest National Park in Peru, its immense trees and the traditional Amazonian relief, marked by waterfalls and exuberant vegetation pouring through the clouds.
In San Pedro a well-deserved lunch corresponds to continue the journey to the lodge (Cock of the Rock Lodge, Paradise Lodge or Wayquecha Biological Station) arriving at approximately 3 in the afternoon.
Finally, it is the first contact with the Amazonian flora and fauna, to enjoy dinner and spend the night at night.
DAY 2 :
Manu Cloud Forest – Manu Learning Center
You wake up very early to contemplate a colorful and sonorous sunrise in the Amazon. With the exit towards the cloud forest, you will see the National Bird of Peru, the Gallito de las Rocas bird displaying its beautiful plumage and plume that it wisely uses in a dance and courtship rite, to achieve mating.
Then you have breakfast at the lodge and the road trip to the Cloud Forest begins, on a journey whose music is the sounds of the jungle, monkeys, countless birds and, of course, an unparalleled view. It is possible to see the spectacled bear, hundreds of birds, butterflies and some primate.
You arrive at a coca plantation where you discover the uses, benefits, form of plantation and medicinal properties of this ancient plant.
After knowing Pillcopata, it is necessary to board a motorized canoe, in the Port of Atalaya, heading to the Manu Learning Center; journey of about 60 minutes, which allows you to feel the power of the meandering Amazon River in its tributary, the Alto Madre de Dios.
You have lunch at the lodge and in the afternoon, our naturalist guide accompanies you on an exploration of the local trail system of the Manu Learning Center; where later you learn about the human history of the place, the efforts made by this institution for the conservation and preservation of the local flora and fauna, among other challenges of naturalists and explorers.
Until the night you can relax and connect in this magical natural environment, which will definitely get you out of the routine.
DAY 3 :
Manu Learning Center – Parrot and Macaw Clay Lick -Manu Learning Center
For bird lovers, this is a long-awaited day and you are enjoying one of the most interesting activities at the Manu Learning Center; the monitoring of the Parrot and Macaw Clay Lick, where, among others, various birds are observed and studied, especially the endangered blue-headed macaw. You enjoy the way they eat, their beauty, the bustle of the place and the way of life of these birds.
After breakfast, continue the expedition to the bio-garden; part of the sustainable project of Manu Learning Center which, among other objectives, includes supplying the hostel’s kitchen.
This afternoon you can opt for a tour with the naturalist guide or get to know the forest and its fauna at your own pace, being able to find a diversity of amphibians, squirrel monkeys, butterflies, hummingbirds and sharp-billed curassows.
After dinner, you can choose between enjoying the exhibition meeting organized by the Learning Center to help preserve the region; or take a night walk to see all the species that coexist in the place.
Take advantage of the happy night at the hostel and the benefits of being in the natural lung of Peru, disconnected from the hustle and bustle of the city.
DAY 4 :
Manu Learning Centre – Cusco
After breakfast, it is time to prepare everything to board the boat back to the Atalaya River Port, a journey in which you say goodbye to the Amazon, surely planning a soon return.
You board the transport to return to Cusco on a journey that this time ascends towards the Andes. You cannot miss this new contrast, saying goodbye to the humid jungle lands, to embrace the cold Andean mountains again, arriving at approximately 7:00 p.m.
On this return you can plan a next trip with Guru Explorers. Where do you want to go next?