Peru Eco Adventure Manu (4 days)

We leave Cusco early in the morning in one of our vehicles. Approximately mid-morning we visit the interesting tombs of Ninamarca, commonly known as “Chullpas”. We continue to Paucartambo, a picturesque Spanish colonial town, and then to the Acjanacu pass, which marks the beginning of the Cultural Zone of the Manu Biosphere Reserve. Here, a thick cloak of clouds provides perpetual humidity and makes an ideal habitat for epiphytic plants such as bromeliads. This varied and fascinating world is home of the Cock of the Rock, Spectacled Bear, Orchids, Tree Ferns (one of the oldest living plants), mosses and lichens. We have lunch on the way with a spectacular view, then we continue to our Lodge where we will spend the night.

Today we wake up very early to observe the Cock of the Rock (Rupicola peruviana), Peru’s national bird, from a platform. The male birds are a vibrant reddish orange, and as many as several dozen come together for an exhibition of a mating ritual dance in a place called Lek. The males display their crest, showing off and posturing for the females. The females, fewer in number, watch to select the most suitable males. After breakfast we continue in our vehicle down the narrow road between waterfalls and canyons towards the town of Pilcopata. Here you have the option to go for an exciting River Rafting experience. We continue to Atalaya Port where we have lunch, here we board our covered, outboard motor boat and head down the Alto Madre de Dios River for approximately 50 minutes towards a private reserve where we will hike through the interesting trail system that this transitional area between high and low jungle offers. Overnight at the Lodge.

Erika Lodge is located in a transition zone between high and low jungle (500m / 1640ft to 1150m / 3772ft). After the breakfast your guide explains the different habitats, altitude range and the high diversity of wildlife found around this lodge, so immediately after breakfast, we will start walking near the riverbanks, during the hike our guide will talk about insects, medicinal plants, trees, reptiles, mammals, etc. We have lunch, then we board our boat, and after our arrival after approx. five minutes we will walk for another 30 minutes on a nice trail, observing and talking about the interesting flora fond such as sensitive plants, heliconias, fruit plantations, etc. We arrive to Machuwasi Lake where with the help of a telescope we can observe great egrets, tucanets, carpenters, Keskadees, cardinals, etc. Later we’ll make a short night walk to observe American bullfrogs, horned frogs, tree frogs and an incredible variety of insects.

This day we will get up very early to board our boat again for only five minutes down river to our Parrot clay Lick called “Collpa” on the riverbanks, where many species of parrots such as the blue headed parrot, white-eyed parakeet, feed for mineral and salt supplements to their diet of seeds and fruits. We return to the lodge have breakfast immediately we board our boat to Atalaya Port where the bus will drive us back to Cusco city. We have lunch on the way and arrive in Cusco late in the evening. End of our services.