Manu Deep: Biosphere Reserve Zone

We’ll depart from Cusco in the morning in our private minivan, traversing the Andes eastward. The mountain landscapes will give way to subtropical valleys. Our first stop is Paucartambo, a charming colonial town steeped in tradition, where we’ll take a brief walk through its cobbled streets and admire its famous colonial bridge. We’ll continue our ascent towards the Acjanaco Pass, the gateway to Manu National Park. From this point, the scenery transforms dramatically: we’ll leave the high Andean grasslands behind to enter the dwarf forest and then the cloud forest, a vibrant ecosystem brimming with life. During our walk in the cloud forest, we’ll delve into a magical environment of giant ferns, bromeliads, and wild orchids. Here, with patience and silence, we’ll observe the impressive courtship ritual of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola Peruviana), Peru’s national bird. It’s also possible to spot quetzals, toucans, woolly monkeys, and other species native to the cloud forest. Late in the afternoon, we’ll arrive at the cozy Bamboo Lodge, surrounded by nature, where we’ll spend the night and prepare for the Amazonian adventure that continues the next day.

After breakfast, we’ll resume our journey in our private minivan, heading to the port of Atalaya, a key entry point to Manu’s lowland rainforest. Along the way, we’ll stop to visit a coca leaf plantation, learning about its cultivation process, ancestral use, and cultural value in Amazonian communities. We’ll also make a brief stop at a natural viewpoint, offering a spectacular view of the valley and the river we’ll navigate later. From Atalaya, we’ll embark on a motorized boat and navigate the Alto Madre de Dios River. During the journey, we’ll likely observe a wide variety of riverside birds, such as herons, kingfishers, and jungle vultures, while enjoying the immense jungle landscape. Mid-journey, we’ll make a stop at Aguas Calientes, where you can relax in its natural hot springs, an ideal spot to unwind amidst nature. In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at Papaya Lodge, from where we’ll begin a walk towards our camouflaged hide. This special refuge in the middle of the jungle is where large and small animals come to feed on the minerals from the saline clay. Here, in the quiet of the jungle, we’ll have the opportunity to closely observe tapirs, deer, and other animals in their nocturnal ritual of eating the clay that provides them with essential nutrients. During the night, we’ll stay at the Camouflaged Hide, taking turns to observe the nocturnal fauna approaching the clay lick, including the mysterious creatures of the tropical rainforest.

Very early in the morning, we’ll head to Cocha Salvador, a tranquil lake surrounded by virgin jungle. Aboard a rustic catamaran, we’ll navigate silently over its calm waters while observing species like spider monkeys, herons, and, with luck, the impressive giant otters actively fishing. The spectacle of macaws at the clay lick is also one of the most vibrant moments of the day. After this unique experience, we’ll return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll set out to explore the less-traveled trails of the primary forest, attentive to the movements of monkeys, birds, and perhaps a group of peccaries crossing the forest. Our guide will accompany us, interpreting every detail of the surroundings: fresh tracks of tapirs, deer, or armadillos marked in the mud, sounds among the leaves, imposing trees that have witnessed generations of wildlife and hold stories in their bark. We’ll end the day with a sunset, enjoying a unique landscape of the jungle illuminated by the last rays of the sun before returning to Casa Matsiguenka Lodge for the night.

After an early breakfast, we’ll begin our return journey, navigating the Manu River, enjoying the opportunity to spot jaguars, capybaras, caimans, and various birds along the riverbanks once more. We’ll make a brief stop at the Limonal Checkpoint to register our departure from the Restricted Zone. Taking advantage of the location, we’ll visit the nearby observation tower, which offers a privileged view of the Amazonian canopy, where we can observe large birds such as macaws, toucans, and falcons, as well as monkeys moving among the treetops. After this experience, we’ll continue navigating upstream on the Alto Madre de Dios River until we reach Papaya Lodge, where we’ll have time to rest. As night falls, we’ll embark on a guided night walk, a fascinating opportunity to discover the hidden world of the jungle: tarantulas, tree frogs, bioluminescent insects, owls, and sounds that only awaken under the moonlight.

We’ll start the day with a morning walk along the trails of the Papaya Lodge, exploring a different area of the forest to broaden our possibilities of sightings. This stretch of jungle is a transition zone between the lowland rainforest and the premontane forest, creating a unique mix of flora and fauna: giant trees, lianas, ferns, tropical butterflies, monkeys, and birds like trogons, woodpeckers, and toucans. After breakfast, we’ll board our boat again to travel upstream on the Alto Madre de Dios River towards the port of Atalaya. This river journey, approximately 3 hours, allows us to bid farewell to the Amazon with final sightings of riverside animals such as kingfishers, herons, and sunbathing turtles. Upon arriving at Atalaya, our private transport will be waiting to continue the road journey. We’ll gradually ascend towards the cloud forest, making stops for panoramic photos and to stretch our legs. During the journey, it will be possible to observe some high-altitude forest birds again, such as multicolored tanagers, oropendolas, and perhaps a hummingbird. In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at our Bamboo Lodge, strategically located in the heights of the premontane forest. After settling in, we’ll take a short walk to explore the lodge’s surroundings, enjoy the sounds of insects and birds at sunset, and end the day with a final immersion in nature. We’ll have dinner at the lodge and spend the night in this tranquil refuge, surrounded by lush vegetation and pure air, knowing that we have traveled one of the most spectacular and biodiverse routes.

After an early breakfast, we’ll begin our return to Cusco, once again traversing the cloud forest, with opportunities to spot birds like toucans and tanagers. We’ll arrive in the city in the afternoon with the satisfaction of having explored one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.