Manu National Park, located in southeastern Peru (between the regions of Cusco and Madre de Dios) is one of the largest tropical parks in South America. The park stretches from the mountains to the jungle and was designated a World Biological Reserve, as it is considered to be the most biologically diverse and protected park on the planet. In this program, we will spend the night at the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge located at 1600m altitude in the Kosñipata Valley, within the cloud forest reserve surrounded by the spectacular flora and fauna of the area.
FIXED DEPARTURES: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Departure from the city of Cusco very early in the morning, we will board our transport to start our trip by land to the region of the cloud forest. On the way, we will make a visit to a mountain wetland, home to migratory and local waterfowl before crossing the mountain ranges between Cusco and the Paucartambo valley, at a maximum altitude of 3,900m. Our way continues along a winding road through the mountains, we will stop at the Pre-Incan Tombs of Ninamarca, known as "Chullpas" and continue until we pass Ajanaco, from where the panorama begins to change to rainforest plains. We will have lunch and descend the mountain leaving behind the Andes and entering the jungle. We will arrive at the Lodge, have dinner and spend the night.
Early in the morning, we will go out in search of the rooster of the rock, that with luck we could find it during a complete and strident exhibition of courtship, they are very few the places of the planet, where this species of birds can be seen so easily, the males are seen during the whole year but the best months to see this species of birds are in September, October and November. Afterwards, we can take a short walk along the clearing formed by the nearby road, spotting other birds and hopefully, we might see some Brown Capuchin monkeys or Woolly Monkeys. We will return to the lodge for a good breakfast and then go out to explore the forest near the lodge or some of the miles of trails that wind through the valley, to see the different animals in the area. This is a relaxed and enchanting day, as we walk through the forest, we can also marvel at the extraordinary variety of orchids, bromeliads, ferns, begonias, lichens and mosses and if we are lucky, monkeys, toucans and many more species of animals. In the afternoon we can relax in the lodge, enjoying the viewpoint of the dining room, or our private balcony overlooking the forest. Also, we can cross the river by the private oroya of the lodge (cable bridge) and walk on the south side of the Kosñipata river. Overnight at the Lodge.
After a delicious early breakfast, we will begin our way back to the cloud forest road, making several stops on the way, one for lunch, and continue on our transport to Cusco.
Prices in American Dollars per person
