Manu Macaw, Amazon

This program is designed for visitors to the Manu area, with limited time available, and who want to maximize their rainforest experience in Peru staying at Manu's premier lodge. This area of forest and lakes has a higher diversity of life than the Manu River itself...

This trip has two major wildlife attractions & the Macaw lick and the worlds only know Tapir lick where in the comfort of mattresses and mosquito nets you may watch the largest of all South American Land Mammals visit mineral lick.

The Manu Wildlife Center Llodge is strategically located in an area of forest that counts on the highest diversity of micro-habitats in the Manu area. This means that there are more species of animals, birds, reptiles and insects than elsewhere in Manu. Tierra-firme, transitional floodplain, varzea and bamboo forest is found close to the lodge plus willow and cane stands on beaches and river islands, resulting in the highest bio-diversity in the Manu area.

An astounding 575+ species of birds have been recorded around the lodge. The Blanquillo Macaw and Parrot lick is only 25 minutes away by river and we use blinds to get you close to this amazing wildlife spectacle, where up to 200 Macaws and many hundreds of their smaller relatives come to eat clay essential to their digestion. There are 4 ox-bow lakes in the area and we have floating platforms so that access to the lakes ensures that all lakeside fauna can be readily observed. There are 3 families of the endangered Giant Otters on these lakes and small streams.

About an hours walk through the forest is a large mammal lick where Tapirs, the largest South American land mammal, regularly come for minerals. At night Brocket Deer and other animals share this necessary ingredient to the digestive system. There is a large, raised blind here equipped with mattresses and mosquito nets for those who want to spend the night in comfort observing these nocturnal creatures. During the day several species of small forest Parakeets and Parrotlets as well as Guans, Curassows and Black Spider Monkeys regularly visit the lick. Canopy access is easy at Manu Wildlife Center.

There are also two static canopy platform in large canopy emergent that are accessed by a metal, spiral stairway that anyone can use at any time. It is the only accessible canopy platform of its kind in Peru.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1: We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the airport for the early morning light to the Boca Manu Aerodrome. Leaving the plane, we'll head down the Madre de Dios River for two hours to the comfortable lodge facility near the Macaw Clay Lick - Manu Wildlife Center. This strategically located lodge facility is jointly owned and run by Manu Expeditions and a local conservation group and is a base for scientific research in the area and a center for visitors wanting to explore the rainforest. We should arrive in time for lunch and a shower (hot water) and get to meet whichever researchers are onsite. The afternoon is set aside to relax or, if you want, to explore a trail through the untouched forest to a lookout point on a cliff over the river to watch roosting flights of Parrots and Macaws as the sun sets. Manu Wildlife Center has a canopy platform and an observation tower. The canopy platform is accessible via a spiral staircase so everyone can get to enjoy the rainforest canopy. Those who wish can participate in a night walk with your guide in search of nocturnal animals. Night at Manu Wildlife Center. B:L;D

Day 2: Early start to-day for the Macaw Clay Lick. This is truly one of the world's great wildlife spectacles as hundreds of Parrots and their larger relatives, the Macaws, congregate at this traditional locality to eat the mineral rich clay that is essential to their digestion. We'll use a blind (hide) to get close to the birds. The noise alone is incredible and the sight of these brightly colored birds at the lick is a sight not to be forgotten. As the lick slows down in midmorning we'll head for Cocha Blanco, an old ox-bow lake, in search of a family of Giant Otters that live there, and canoe around the lake on our floating platform looking for other wildlife. After a leisurely lunch at the lodge we'll explore other trails in search of Emperor and Saddleback Tamarins, and we have seen the rare Goeldi's Monkey repeatedly in this area. Night at the Manu Wildlife Center B:L:D

Day 3: A full day to explore the forest and trails around the lodge. We'll be on the lookout for Monk Saki - an uncommon and rarely seen monkey of the tierra firme forest that is occasionally seen here. We'll explore trails where groups of Manakins, perhaps the most enigmatic of neo-tropical birds, perform their strange mating dances and walk to one of our blinds at a large mammal lick where Guans and forest Parakeets and Parrotlets come for clay. Here too, groups of Black Spider Monkeys visit on occasions for clay to help their digestion. Those who wish will return with the guide to the lodge in the late afternoon however there is an opportunity to stay at the lick after dark to see what nocturnal creatures come to the lick. Tapirs, the largest South American land mammal are frequent visitors with up to 12 animals visiting in one night. We watch them from the comfort of mosquito nets and mattresses from our specially constructed blind. Other nocturnal creatures are always possible. Night at the Manu Wildlife Center. B:L:D

Day 4: After breakfast we head upriver (about 2 hours) to the small airstrip at Boca Manu. Early morning flocks of birds pass over the boat, and we may see a Capybara, the world's largest rodent. Arriving at the airstrip we board our aircraft for the 40 minute flight over seemingly endless rainforest and then over the Andes, passing glaciers and snow peaks to the ancient Inca capital of Cusco where our staff will be waiting to take you to your hotel. B:

Other Details

Accommodation Details

The Manu Wildlife Center is a privately owned rainforest reserve which forms part of the Manu Biosphere Reserve. It is located in the Cultural Reserved Zone, set aside for indigenous Amazonian peoples. The lodge is on the banks of the Madre de Dios River in pristine rainforest.

The Manu Wildlife Center is a 44 bed lodge located on the Madre de Dios river only 90 minutes by motorized dugout canoe from the Boca Manu airstrip at the confluence of the Manu and Alto Madre de Dios rivers. It is owned by Manu Expeditions (Expediciones Manu), and the Peru Verde Conservation Group, a non-profit, non-government organization involved in rainforest conservation projects.

Facilities:-
Manu Wildlife Center consists of 22 double bungalows built in the style of, and using. the same materials as the local Machiguenga indigenous communities. Local wood, bamboo and palm fronds for roofing are used. All materials used have been sustainably harvested or brought in from distant areas. For example, the wood used in the construction is collected from the river as, each rainy season, hundreds of trees are washed into the river as it cuts its ever-changing course. On an average every three or four years the river actually enters the lodge towards the end of the wet season (around March) therefore all the bungalows are raised and connected to each other and the rest of the lodge facilities by gravel walkways. Each room has good quality foam mattresses and all beds have cotton sheets and quilts (best for hot tropical conditions). Although all the rooms are screened with imported insect netting, beds are furnished with individual mosquito nets. Furniture includes bedside tables and writing tables.

The bungalows are arranged around a pleasant and well planned Amazonian garden with plants and shrubs that attract birds, butterflies and mammals.

All bungalows are private and separated from each other for privacy and all have large windows facing the forest and garden. All the 22 bungalows boast private toilet and shower facilities. Hot and cold water is always available and all toilet facilities are flush. The large dining and bar/lounge areas are separate from the other facilities but close to all bungalows and the nearby kitchen area. Food is good and wholesome not gourmet, and we use a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, grains and meats in our menu. Our cooks are used to providing for vegetarian diets.

There is a separate spacious bar and lounge area which is located a short distance from the dining area. A variety of cold non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages are always available here.