MANU WILDLIFE CENTER

Manu Wilderness Area, Peru

Manu Wildlife Center is located in a private, 40,000-acre rain forest reserve adjacent to the 1 million acre protected area named the “Amarakaeri Reserved Zone”. The Center is the only lodge in the Manu lowlands with roomy, private bungalows, each of which has en suite private bathrooms complete with tiled, hot water showers.

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. No other lodge in Manu offers all the major wildlife attractions in one spot:

• The world's largest tapir lick.
• The most photogenic large macaw lick.
• Miles of monkey-rich trails through mature rain forest.
• Two 120-foot-tall (35-m) canopy platforms.
• Two mature lakes complete with Hoatzins and Giant Otters.

2009 Departures:

• Thursdays and Saturdays/May through October, with a minimum of two people

2009 prices: $1100 per person/based on double occupancy

Shorter 3 night program departs Monday, Wednesday & Friday and eliminates day 4. Cost is $960 per person

• Plus $390 round-trip charter flights from Cusco
• Plus $30 airport taxes to be collected locally

Itinerary

Day 1
Early morning our representative will pick you up from your hotel to transfer to Cusco airport .

A thirty-five minute flight in a radar-equipped twin engine plane takes you to Boca Manu. Here you take a motorized canoe for the 90 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios River to Manu Wildlife Center to arrive for lunch. The afternoon will be spent exploring some of the 30 miles of clean forest trails that surround the lodge. On these trails you have an excellent chance to encounter some of the 12 species of monkeys, which include the Monk Saki and Emperor Tamarin, which inhabit the surrounding forest.

After dinner you will have a short night excursion to explore nocturnal life in the rainforest. (B)

Day 2
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 floating catamaran 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.
• During the dry season (June-September) the water level on the river does not always allow for a floating blind and it will then be sitting on the ground.

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 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. (B/L/D)

Day 3
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 4
Rising at dawn you will board the motor-canoe to visit the Camungo Oxbow Lake. In addition to touring the lake by catamaran to look for the resident family of giant otters and other lakeside fauna, we will explore the forest trails and visit the 40 meter or 130 foot high canopy platform. This platform provides a beautiful view of the Camungo Lake as well as the forest canopy, and on very clear days it is possible to look over the rainforest to the Andes.
After lunch at the Center we will explore the forest trails with the emphasis on visiting the fruiting and flowering trees that our experienced naturalist guides have been monitoring. Here we will hope to encounter more monkey species as well as numerous species of birds. Again, before or after supper, those explorers still with enough energy will have another chance for an additional visit to the Tapir clay lick. (B/L/D)

Day 5
After early breakfast, we leave near dawn by motor canoe for the two hour return trip to the Manu landing strip, taking advantage of valuable early morning wildlife activity along the river. From here you fly to Cusco, where your jungle adventure ends. Arrival at Cusco Airport, reception and transfer to your hotel. (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.

B=Breakfast; L= Lunch; D=Dinner.

Trip notes:

• This itinerary is offered as a component for any complete Peru itinerary (usually requires a minimum of 7 nights of arrangements) General booking conditions & deposits apply as per your entire itinerary.

• Flights are included from Cusco. You will need to spend at least one night prior to your departure, and the night of your return in Cusco or the surrounding area. Due to the charter nature of the operation, it is not dependable to schedule connecting flights from Cusco.

• A baggage allowance of 10 Kilos (22 pounds) per person is imposed for the flights.

• Manu Wildlife Center has no electricity. Lighting in the communal areas is by kerosene lamp and candles, with the paths around the lodge complex lit by kerosene lamps. Lighting in the guests bedrooms is by candle. An 110V generator is available from which camcorder batteries can be recharged. Please note that guests may need to bring a special adaptor to plug into the generator.

• More extensive itineraries are available including overland transfer to Manu and a night in the cloud forest. Please contact us for details on our Wildlife Expedition tour.

• Shorter 3 night program departs Monday, Wednesday & Friday and eliminates day 4. Cost is $960 per person + $390 charter air.

• Due to the proximity to the Bolivian border, a yellow-fever certificate (proof of vaccination) is required for this itinerary.

• IN CASE OF FLIGHT CANCELLATION
• If the flight Cusco to Boca Manu is cancelled owing to bad weather, then the guest loses the first night in Manu Wildlife Center. No refund can be given and the guest is responsible for the costs of the additional night and expenses in Cusco.
• If the plane is cancelled whilst the guests are waiting to return to Cusco, arrangements must be made with their guide for accommodation. Guests must pay for any additional costs incurred during this extra night. If the guests decide to return to the lodge for an additional night (SPACE PERMITTING), and return to Boca Manu the following day, the guests must pay for the extra night and boat transportation.

Risk and Responsibility