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| Ecotourism |  |
| Manu | |
From Lima, your trip will start in the city of Cusco,the capital of the former Inca Empire. You will travel down through the Andes by road, seeing breathtaking photo ops around every bend in the road until we reach the Cock-of-the Rock Lodge, located in the cloud forest at 5000 feet (1600 m). Here, you will spend our first night in the rain forest. The lodge was named for the world's largest known display ground of the blazing scarlet Andean Cock of the Rock.
The next day you are off by road and then by river to scenic Pantiacolla Lodge in the Manu foothills, where you will spend our second night. The lodge is ideally situated at 1,700 feet (550 m). As many as seven species of monkeys have been reported for the area. The lodge clearing offers superb birding without even stepping into the forest.
The next day, you continue by boat for 6-7 hours downstream on the Madre de Dios River to the incredibly remote Manu Wildlife Center, where you will be spending the next four nights. The Manu Wildlife Center offers more wildlife sightings and a higher level of comfort, all at a lower price than any other lodge in the Manu area. Here is where you will see the Macaw clay lick mentioned in the January 1994 issue of National Geographic, as well as the award winning TV shows about Manu. The lick is the most photogenic and photographable Macaw lick of them all because of the unique floating blind. The best period for photography is from July through November. Explore the 30 miles (48 km) of scientifically-designed forest trails surrounding the Center to search for the 10 species of resident monkeys, including the Red Howler and Black Spider Monkey. We will visit the worlds largest known Tapir Clay Lick, where you can observe and photograph these wiggly-nosed, 550 pound (250 kilo) beasts, the largest land animal in South America. You will paddle around two oxbow lakes,where we should see Giant River Otters, and the Amazon's largest crocodilians, Black Caimans.
On our fifth day you sadly depart this wildlife spectacle, with a boat ride back to the airstrip, where you will depart for Cusco. We will spend the night in Cusco, giving you the opportunity to visit this magnificent town nestled in the Andes at an elevation of 10,700 feet (3248 m). Machu Picchu extension available. MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE IS 15 PASSENGERS.
Flights directly to and from Manu available.
Trips are booked through Tropical Nature Travel, South America's only non-profit travel agency with all proceeds benefiting nature.
Click here to see related photos.
