Begin this Peru tour, wandering the cobblestone streets of Cusco, exploring markets, museums and nearby ruins. Then, embark on a stunning two-day journey over mountains and through cloudforest, stopping for the night at small jungle lodges. Our destination is the Manu Wildlife Center, set amidst some of the most prolific jungle in the entire Amazon basin. A final night in Cusco before heading home gives one more opportunity for cultural exploration.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Lima. Overnight.
Day 2: Fly Cusco
A morning flight takes you to the colonial city of Cusco. Andean history comes alive in Cusco, and the day is yours to enjoy on your own. For the energetic, Cusco offers mountain biking, rafting and horseback riding! Wander its narrow streets, tour nearby ruins and visit Qoricancha (the Inca's Temple of the Sun). This evening enjoy a folkloric show at one of Cusco's typical restaurants.
Day 3: Cloudforest (B,L,D)
Today you leave early from Cusco and head into the Manu cloudforest. The road climbs to almost 13,000' as you pass over two Andean mountain chains before descending into the cloudforest - a paradise for birders! After nearly seven scenic hours on the road, you arrive at the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge in the Selva Sur private cloudforest reserve, where you'll spend the night within earshot of a tumbling mountain river.
Day 4: Enter the Amazon Basin (B,L,D)
Early morning is the most active time for wildlife, so while in the jungle and cloudforest you will begin your days as the sun rises. Today on your Amazon tour you'll wake and visit the lek - or mating ground - of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. You'll spend the morning hours watching these beautiful birds.
With luck, you'll also see the Common Wooly Monkey before departing by bus for Atalaya and the Alto Madre de Dios River. A box lunch tides you over until your two-hour canoe ride brings you to the Amazon lodge in time for supper. The forests surrounding the lodge are threaded with hiking trails. Enjoy a relaxing evening or explore the lodge's surrounding.
Day 5: Transfer Manu (B,L,D)
There's time for a short hike this morning before you set off for your main destination, the remote Manu Wildlife Center. Billed as the single best wildlife destination in the entire Amazon, the MWC is a six-hour drive away, including a stop at a Piro Indian Village along the way. Over thirty miles of trail wind around the lodge at Manu, set within the largest protected area in all of Peru.
Spend the afternoon wandering the trails and searching for the abundant wildlife that inhabits the surrounding forest, including twelve species of monkeys. After dinner you'll take a short excursion to explore the nocturnal life in the rainforest.
Day 6: Macaw and Tapir Clay Licks (B,L,D)
Rising before the sun, you'll take a twenty-five minute boat journey downstream to the largest parrot and macaw clay lick in the 4.4 million acre Manu Biosphere Reserve. A floating catamaran blind lets us get closer to the hundreds of parrots arriving at the lick, followed by large red and green macaws, eating the clay for its high salt content.
The birds begin to disperse around nine in the morning, and you'll head back to the lodge to spend the rest of the day exploring the canopy platforms, trails and the Amazon's largest known tapir lick. The elevated screened-in platform overlooking the tapir lick is equipped with inflatable mattresses and pillows, along with fresh pillowcases. Adventurous souls are welcome to spend the night there.
Day 7: Cocha Blanco and Cocha Camungo (B,L,D)
You will depart early again this morning, this time to the Blanco and Camunga oxbow lakes, where giant otter families and a variety of water birds make their home. After lunch at the lodge, the afternoon is free to relax and enjoy a siesta, or spend more time touring the Amazon with your guide. Once dusk approaches you'll have an opportunity to search by boat for caiman and other nocturnal life along the riverbank.
Day 8: Return Cusco
After an early morning transfer to the Boca Manu airstrip, you'll board your flight back to colonial Cusco. At night, travelers from all over the world fill Cusco's restaurants, pubs and dance clubs, providing the most vibrant and unique nightlife on the continent.
Day 9: Fly Lima and Return Home
Accommodations: 3 nights comfortable hotels, 5 nights rainforest lodge.
Food Includes: All meals as indicated (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner); most of our hotels offer free continental breakfast.
Transportation: Local flights, motorized and paddled canoes
An Amazon tour for any age. Emphasis is on wildlife and nature with lots of time to follow personal interests.
Weekly departures
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Single Supplement: US$340
6-day option: US$1695
5-day option: US$1495
4-day option: US$1395
Note: Roundtrip flight Lima-Cusco-Lima is not included. Please add US$310 (flight cost subject to change).
Personal Budgeting: Allow US$40 for meals not included, US$28 international departure tax, US$10 local departure taxes.
Pre & Post Tour Accommodations: Share US$45, Single US$90
Arrival/Departure Transfers: 1 person US $50 each, 2 or more persons US $25 each
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Peru
Wildlife Viewing
Rainforest
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