Jungle tours Manu - Cusco

Manu National Park was established in 1977 and in recognition of its uniqueness was designated a ''World Heritage Site" ten years later. Manu is internationally acclaimed as one of the most biodiverse areas on earth.

Approximately half the area of Switzerland, the Manu Biosphere is a complete ecosystem with protected watershed embracing Andean mountain cloud forest, tropical lowland forest and the rios Alto Madre de Dios and Manu drainage systems. The biosphere itself is subdivided into national park and two adjacent zones, one for tourism and the other for cultural subsistence. It is home to over 1000 species of bird, 15,000 species of plant, over 200 species of mammal, an untold number of insects and within its heart remain yet uncontacted peoples.

Manu retains healthy populations of jaguar, tapir, anteater, black caiman, giant otter and among the 13 species of monkey we find the unique pigmy marmoset, the smallest monkey in the world, and the nocturnal night monkey. Because of Manu's low human population and their continued use of traditional hunting techniques, the animals in the park show little fear of man and are more readily approachable than in many other rainforest locations. Manu, therefore, offers unparalleled animal watching opportunities.

Wildlife aside, however, the journey into the park itself is amazingly spectacular and not to be missed either. Access is normally by road and the two day trip from Cusco to the entrance of the Manu Reserved Zone carries you over the mountains to an elevation of 4000 m, past pre-Inca ruins and down through the cloud forest on the eastern side of the Andes into lush lowland rainforest. Roads remain largely unpaved and wind their way precariously past cascading water, deep gorges and precipices. Manu is truly a complete experience.

APU tour offer 2 different jungle programs in the Manu Biosphere Reserve:

Itinerary 7 Day Jungle Program

Day 1	Leaving Cusco we head over the Andes stopping for a coffee at the beautiful colonial village of Paucartambo. Continuing, we climb for the highpoint of almost 4.000 mtr before descending to the cloud forest. In these mysterious surroundings we take a short hike and make our first camp.
Day 2	At daybreak we walk to the leek of the incredible cock of the rock, to see the ¨performance¨ of the males right under our eyes. Afterwards we continue by bus to tropical lowland rainforest. Here at 650 mtr we change into a motorized canoe to navigate down the turbulent Alto Madre de Dios river to Boca Manu. As night falls we make camp on one of the beaches.
Day 3 & 4	On the morning of the third day we turn up to the Manu River. 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 change to see a huge variety of colorful birds numerous species of monkeys and with luck the a family of giant otters. A five hour hike through the forest takes us to lake Otorongo and a 20 mtr high observation platform that overlook the lake.
	At night we explore the forest by torchlight and go for moonlight caiman spotting on the lake.
Day 5	After a final walk through the forest we return back down to the Manu river. Joining the Madre de Dios river we arrive al Blanquillo, near the macaw clay lick where we spent the night at the beach.
Day 6	At first light we head to the macaw lick to watch the dazzling spectacle of hundred parakeets, parrots and macaws eating clay. In the afternoon we turn back up the Madre de Dios river, making camp near the airstrip.
Day 7	A short boat ride takes us to Boca Manu airport and our return flight over the Rainforest and the Andes takes us back to Cusco.
	Price Information Price: US$ 845.- per person. Not included: Entrance fee; Includes: Guide; All the mentioned transport; All days breakfast, lunch and dinner; Tent and sleeping bag; Entrance fee; Guide book of Manu.

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Itinerary 9 Day Jungle Program

The first 6 days are equal to the 7-day program.

Day 1	Leaving Cusco we head over the Andes stopping for a coffee at the beautiful colonial village of Paucartambo Continuing, we climb for the highpoint of almost 4.000 mtr before descending to the cloud forest. In these mysterious surroundings we take a short hike and make our first camp.
Day 2	At daybreak we walk to the leek of the incredible cock of the rock, to see the ¨performance¨ of the males right under our eyes. Afterwards we continue by bus to tropical lowland rainforest. Here at 650 mtr we change into a motorized canoe to navigate down the turbulent Alto Madre de Dios river to Boca Manu. As night falls we make camp on one of the beaches.
Day 3 & 4	On the morning of the third day we turn up to the Manu River. 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 change to see a huge variety of colorful birds numerous species of monkeys and with luck the a family of giant otters.A five hour hike through the forest takes us to lake Otorongo and a 20 mtr high observation platform that overlook the lake At night we explore the forest by torchlight and go for moonlight caiman spotting on the lake.
Day 5	After a final walk through the forest we return back down to the Manu river. Joining the Madre de Dios river we arrive al Blanquillo, near the macaw clay lick where we spent the night at the beach.
Day 6	At first light we head to the macaw lick to watch the dazzling spectacle of hundred parakeets, parrots and macaws eating clay. In the afternoon we turn back up the Madre de Dios river, making camp near the airstrip.
Day 7	By boat we go to the river Alto Madre de Dios. Over here we have a beautiful sight at the Andes. At the afternoon we will arrive at Pantiacolla lodge where we will stay for 2 nights.
Day 8	Today we have a jungle walk up way to the Pantiacolla mountain. These mountains are over 1000 meter above our lodge and is the main reason for finding an extreme variety of wildlife.
Day 9	In the morning we continue following the river Alto Madre de Dios until we arrive at Atalaya where we take a bus back to Cusco.
	Price Information Price: US$ 845.- per person. Not included: Entrance fee; Includes: Guide; All the mentioned transport; All days breakfast, lunch and dinner; Tent and sleeping bag; Guide book of Manu.

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About APU tour

APU Tour is managed and organized by the economist Maria del Carmen Huaman Enriquez. She was born in the province of Ilo in the south of Peru, just four hours from Chile.

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