First Option

First Option: CAMPING TOUR - RESERVE ZONE

With fixed departures, Cloud Forest, Lake Salvador and Otorongo, Macaw Lick

5/7/9 days - by bus, out by plane or bus

DAY 1: Cusco-Cloud Forest

Leaving Cusco early in the morning, we begin an 8-hour journey over the Andes by bus, stopping for a coffee at the beautiful colonial village of Paucartambo. Next, we climb to the highpoint of the Manu Biosphere at about 3,530 m before descending to the cloud forest. In these mysterious surroundings we take a hike to the lek of the incredible cock-of-the-rock, to see the 'performance' of the males right under our eyes. We spend our first night in the camping huts of Posada San Pedro (aprox. 1,600 m).

DAY 2 : Cloud Forest-Atalaya-Manu River

At daybreak we continue by bus to tropical lowland rainforest. Here at the small village Atalaya at 650 m, we change into a motorized canoe to navigate some 5 hours down the turbulant Alto Madre de Dios River to Boca Manu. As the night falls we camp on one of the river's sandy beaches.

DAY 3 & 4: Lake Salvador and Lake Otorongo

On the morning of the third day we turn up the Manu River for a 6 hour ride into the heart of Manu's Reserved Zone. From this vantage point we will have great views of riverside birds, sunbathing caiman, and the enormous aquatic guinea pig, the capybara. We reach our campsite deep inside Manu in the afternoon. This will be our base for the next two days. During this time, we will hike through virgin forest and explore one of the most beautiful lakes of the Manu basin, Lake Salvador, by catamaran. There is a chance to see a huge variety of colourful birds, numerous species of monkeys and with luck, a family of giant otters. After a short boat ride across the river, we begin a 4 hour hike through the forest. This habitat-rich walk takes us to Lake Otorongo and a 20 metre-high observation platform overlooking the lake. At night we can explore the forest by torchlight or go moonlight caiman-spotting on the lake.

DAY 5: Lake Salvador-Boca Manu

After a final walk through the forest surrounding Lake Salvador (flight schedule permiting), we return back down the Manu River. At Boca Manu, you return mid-day to Cusco by light aircraft, if you are participating in the 5-day trip.

If your tour is of 7 or 9 days, it continues as follows:

DAY 5: Lake Salvador-Macaw Lick

Joining the Madre de Dios River we arrive at Blanquillo, near the claylick for macaws, where we spend the night on a beach.

DAY 6: Macaw Lick

At first light we head to the macaw lick to watch the dazzling spectacle of hundreds of parakeets, parrots and macaws eating clay. In the afternoon we visit another one of Manu´s beautiful oxbow lakes, Cocha Blanco. The night is comfortably spent in the jungle lodge Tambo Blanquillo.

DAY 7: Boca Manu-Cusco

A short boat ride takes us to Boca Manu airport and our mid-day return flight over the rainforest and the Andes to Cusco by light aircraft, if you are participating in the 7-day trip.

If your tour is of 9 days, it continues as follows:

DAY 7: Boca Manu-Pantiacolla Lodge

We carry on up the Alto Madre de Dios River for about 5 hours. Traveling on the river gives us our best chance to see rare animals such as the puma or jaguar that are resting or foraging on the beaches; we also get great views of the Andes. For the next two nights we stay at the Pantiacolla lodge, right at the foot of the Pantiacolla Mountains.

DAY 8: Pantiacolla Mountains

This day we hike through a very special rainforest: this is where the Andes and the lowland tropical rainforest meet, providing the visitor with a chance to see a good selection of birds, insects and flora from both zones as well as some endemics.

DAY 9: Atalaya-Cloud forest- Cusco

Back on the boat early in the morning, we head upstream to Atalaya where our bus is waiting to take us back over the Andes to Cusco.

This tour includes:

• Naturalist English and Spanish guides
• Transportation Cusco/Atalaya by private bus (5 & 7 day tour) and back Atalaya/Cusco (9 day tour)
• Transportation by private boat: Atalaya/Lake Salvador/Boca Manu (5 day tour) - Macaw Lick/Boca Manu (7 day tour) – Pantiacolla Lodge/Atalaya (9 day tour)
• Flight Boca Manu/Cusco (5 & 7 day program)
• Tents and mattresses
• Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• Guide book for rainforest of Manu - Talking About Manu
• Paper work for Entrance

This price doesnt include:

• Entrance fee reserved zone ($45 per person)
• Sleeping bag (can be rented in Cusco at $1 per day)
• Soft drinks and beers
• $8 airport tax (5 & 7 day tours)

TAYLOR MADE TRIPS

COLCA TREK has not only these basic choices, if you like to be out of the normal trail, just let us know we can send you our secret trails, or we are ready to made with you the trip in the way, that you order to do, if it's there any special activity you would like to do, just let me know so that immediately we can send you more details , maybe you need information about rafting, mountain biking or city biking, that we can combine to make the best tour for you, please just ask to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  for a immediately answer of our guide Vlado Soto. Thanks.