Manu Wildlife Center located east of the Manu River on the north bank of the Madre de Dios
River, and reached by a 35-minute light plane flight from Cusco, offers the Amazon’s
finest short, in-depth wildlife safari. The Lodge contains 22 double-occupancy fully
screened bungalows with private bath (with hot shower), a large fully screened dining
room, and a bar with hammocks for relaxing.
Three fixed departure programs per week, departing from and returning to Cuzco : Monday,
Wednesday & Friday.
Day one
Early morning our representative will pick you
up from your hotel to transfer to Cusco airport.
A thirty-five minute flight on a regularly scheduled commercial flight takes you to Puerto
Maldonado where you travel overland for three hours to Santa Rosa Village. A short
15-minute boat crossing of the Inambari River is followed by an hour's drive to Boca
Colorado Village where you board your motorlaunch for the final motorized boat journey to
the lodge. En route you'll have a box lunch.
After dinner there will be an enchanting night walk along
the trails, in search of nocturnal birds and animals of the rainforest. (BL/D)
Day two
Rising before dawn; we take a 25 minute boat
journey downstream to the only large parrot and macaw clay lick in the Manu area.
From a blind we are afforded excellent views and photo opportunities of
hundreds of medium-sized and large parrots arriving first at the lick, followed by the
large Red-and-Green Macaws arriving to eat the clay.
Please note that : The clay lick activity reaches its best from August to October and
decreases during the months of May and June.
After lunch at
the Center we continue to explore the forest trails surrounding the lodge, and plan to
spend the late afternoon up a 34 meter (112 feet) canopy platform. Here, we
watch the last frantic activity in the rainforest canopy, or rush hour, before night
settles.
We can return for dinner back at the Center, or pack our
meal for the leisurely hike about 60-75 minutes through the night forest to the
Amazon’s largest known Tapir clay lick. Here we climb a 17 by 17 foot observation
platform perched almost 20 feet above the lick itself where we wait for the lumbering
Tapirs to arrive. Then, using powerful flashlights we hope to observe and photograph them
in action. Our scientific reports reveal that tapirs usually visit the clay lick between
9:00 pm and midnight; however, their activity continues until dawn. (L/B/D).
Day three
After another early morning departure by boat and short hike
from the river, you have what promises to be an exciting visit to Blanco Oxbow Lake.
This lake has populations of a variety of aquatic life and water birds, including
the prehistoric-looking hoatzin and the possibility to see the resident family of giant
otters.
After
returning for lunch at the Center your guide is available to further explore the forest
trails for more wildlife encounters. Alternatively, time is available to
independently practice your abilities and experience this expanse of rainforest habitats
on your own.
This evening, from the late afternoon until after Dinner,
we offer an opportunity to search for caiman and other nocturnal life along the riverbank
by boat. (B,L,D,)
Day four
Rising at dawn you board the motorlaunch for
the return three-hour journey to Colorado Village with breakfast on board and a chance to
enjoy the early morning wildlife activity along the river banks. From Colorado begin the
overland journey back to Puerto Maldonado where you catch the return return flight to
Cuzco. (B).
Please note that the program may vary slightly so as to maximize your wildlife sightings,
depending on the reports of our researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the
lodge.
