Manu Amazon Rainforest Tours 8 Days

Manu National Park is one of thirteen National Parks in Peru. It is located in Cusco and Madre de Dios, extending from the highlands in Cusco (4000m) to the Amazon floodplain at the mouth of the Manu River (300 m).

The park was established on May 29th, 1973, with an area of ​​1,532,806 ha. In 2002, the entire lower valley of Manu, which used to have the temporary status of Reserved Zone, was annexed; since then it has an area of 1,692,137 ha. Manu National Park is unique in Peru’s National System for Protected Areas (SINANPE) as being the only National Park which protects an entire watershed. It also includes a complete sample of Andean-Amazonian landscapes of southeastern Peru and a huge number of species of flora and fauna.

This Park is also home to the native people of Matsigenka, as well as other poorly known groups, known as the Mashco-Piro or Nomole, which live in voluntary isolation inside the park.

In 1977, UNESCO declared Manu National Park and adjacent areas as a Biosphere Reserve with an area of ​​1,881, 200 ha. Ten years later, in recognition of its outstanding natural value​, UNESCO added the Park to the list of “World Heritage Site.”

It ranges from 300m at the confluence of the Manu River with the Alto Madre de Dios River, to 3,800 meters at the summit of the mountain Apu Kañahuay. Some researchers believe that in the virgin areas of this reserve is found the Païtiti or the lost city of the Incas.

Inca – colonial. Manu area has a history marked by the arrival of foreign people, since the times of the Incan Empire and since the Inca Pachacutec and Tupac Inca Yupanqui annexed this area to their empire, until the arrival of the Spaniards soon after the invasion of Cusco they founded Paucartambo, where they established farms and parcels and where also the king Carlos III of Spain ordered the construction of a bridge to facilitate trade of local products; and this how this valley began to supply products Cusco as coca, sugar, cotton, pepper, wood and others.

In March 1567, the Spanish Juan Alvarez Maldonado who was charge of the province of Mojos started a journey of 37 days to make the first expedition from Paucartambo to the current location of Pilcopata. In May of the same year, Manuel Escobar mounted a second expedition that followed the course of the Alto Madre de Dios River to the Manu River.

Republic Era of Manu National Park

In 1861, Colonel Faustino Maldonado embarked on a new expedition from Paucartambo to the Madre de Dios River. It was after him that 30 years later, the rubber man, Carlos Fitzcarrald baptize the mouth of the Tambopata River to Puerto Maldonado, the actual capital of the department of Madre de Dios.

In the lowland forest, indigenous people were affected by extractive activities in the late nineteenth century, the rubber boom ushered in companies like bold Fitzcarrald, one of the most famous of that time. However, Manu area was partially exploited. Rubber activities ceased in the 20s when the resource, unable to recover to intensive exploitation and competition from the prosperous and less expensive crops in Asia started to decline.

Between 50 and 60, the construction of the final section of the road began the logging of cedar and mahogany and the work in the “haciendas” and then extraction of fine skins (jaguar, ocelot, and Giant otters). More recent are the oil exploration activities. Meanwhile, in the Andean region, agricultural activities were affected by the agrarian reform initiated in 1969.

Since the twentieth century, the religious presence became more significant. In 1902 the Dominicans founded their first mission in Asuncion. In 1908 they installed the second missionary position, San Luis del Manu, at the mouth of the Manu River; after leaving it, they settled in Pantiacolla mission, which after being washed away in a river flood the finally stablish in Shintuya in 1958.

In the Biosphere Reserve of Manu Park there is evidence of ancient cultures, such as petroglyphs Pusharo, a set of prints of those who still could not explain its origin and meaning, which were first reported by Father Vicente de Cenitagoya in 1921 and are located on the right blank the Shinquivenia tributary of Palotoa river; other petroglyphs are found in the Queros river on a great rock wall “Xinkiori” which is legendary for Huachipaeris. Similarly, we are aware of an archaeological site in the area Mameria located in the headwaters of the Piñi Piñi River.

Creation of Manu National Park

In 1967, at the initiative of Celestino Kalinowski, son of a famous Polish naturalist who came to Peru in 1887, and the report of the British advisor Ian Grimwood, the Peruvian state was recommended the creation of a National Park in Manu. In 1968 it was declared a National Forest and subsequently the Manu National Park was established on May 29, 1973, by Supreme Decree 0644-73-AG, in order to preserve its natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of present and future; determined for the same purpose by UNESCO recognition of the Biosphere Reserve of Manu which today covers an area of 1,881,200 ha (18,812 square kilometers) in the provinces of Paucartambo in Cusco and Manu in Madre de Dios. Its boundaries were drawn by applying the principle of natural boundaries and river tributaries. However, the boundary of the park in the same river Manu had to stop at the confluence with the river Panahua because there was an oil exploration.

The National Park is a category of Protected Natural Area owned and managed by the Peruvian government as part of national protected area system of Peru (Sistema Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado en el Perú – SINANPE). Its objective is to protect and preserve intact ecosystems, which can hold a high biological diversity and relevant esthetical and landscape attractions, where indirect use activities can be done like: research, education, tourism and recreation.

The Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO category. It is a representative ecological area with three self-complementary functions: i) support for education and scientific research, ii) conservation and iii) sustainable development. Nowadays, the Manu Biosphere Reserve is divided in a nuclear zone represented by the Manu National Park territory, a buffer zone and a transition zone.

Yes, it is open the whole year. The best time to visit is from April to November during the dry season. The heavy rainy season is from February to March, when access by both road and air becomes more difficult and when trails in the forest can become flooded.

The Grass land: In its vast territory, from the high plateaus of 3500 m, covered with grass, where the dry air and temperatures vary as is the sun or under the shade, and depending on the month reaching -9 ° C to 22 ° C between the months of September and April and times of snow or hail rains between October and April; is down a long stretch of transition called “wooded thicket or matorral boscoso ” that descends to about 2,600 meters from where the vegetation forms a forest, which to date have identified about 450 species of plants and area where rainfall can reach between 500 and 1000 mm.

The Forests “Montana Baja”: takes place between 2200 and 1650 m; there are found trees up to 25 m in height covered with orchids and ferns growing families on the walls of the deep precipices. These can be found Araceaes broad leaves and tree ferns that characterize the place, covered in these cloud forests there is a cold climate and landscape between shadows and penumbras which is constantly wet.

The “Rainy Montaña” forest: This area is also known as “cloud forest” and is an almost magical place located between 600 and 1650 meters, the fog is constant and covers the beautiful landscape full of greenery, trees here are up to 30 m height which are overgrown by orchids, and ferns forming a dense forest interrupted only by small streams and waterfalls that are born and are lost in the vegetation. At present it is estimated that this area contains no less than 200 different species of trees with a density that can exceed 700 per hectare. Here the temperature varies between 20 ° and 25 ° C at night can drop to 16 or 18 ° C.

The “tropical humid forest”: This area is also called “lowland” and spreads over the vast Amazonian plain from 300 to 600 meters. This is undoubtedly the most representative area of the Reserve. Here at Manu area meandering river, the trees have a gigantic height; on the high tops of these, only two species emerge beyond the wall or ceiling canopy of the forest: the robust shihuahuaco (Dipteryx micrantha) and kapok (Ceiba pentandra) which are the highest of the forest trees and can exceed 60 m tall and has a crown up to 50 m in diameter.

The Nucleo Zone: The Nucleo Zone or Manu National Park area is dedicated to the protection and only anthropological and biological research are allowed, limited to the observation of life and ecological processes in their natural form; in the Park is found the Cocha Cashu Biological Station, one of the most important research centers in tropical forests. The place is intangible and to visit it you should have a special permission.

In this same area there are human populations of native Amazonian belonging to different ethnic groups that inhabit from time immemorial, whose number is estimated at about 1000 indigenous; however, there is also a Quechua population of approximately 200 people in the area Callanga.

The Reserved Zone: Manu Reserved Zone is located in the lower part of the Manu River, in this area tourist activities (organized by authorized agencies) and research with minimal manipulation are allowed. You may observe a rich natural landscape by the large number of flora and wildlife visible from the rivers and the “lakes” (meandering river that close and are isolated from the mainstream, forming ponds that hold a wealth of fauna). The visits are controlled. It extends from the Panagua River to Boca Manu.

The Cultural Zone: The cultural area is formed by the basin of Alto Madre de Dios River and the Andean territories bordering the southern part of the reserve, the dividing line between the National Park and the Mapacho River. This area is dominated by settler populations who develop agricultural, livestock and forestry activities and who have basic health, education and development, although incipiently. Conducting environmental activities is permitted.

Around the Manu Biosphere Reserve there are other areas such as State territorial lands in favor of Ethnic Groups Kugapakori and Nahua, the Megantoni Sanctuary and the Amarakaeri Reserved Zone; because the expansion of these territories plus the basin of Mapacho river expanded of the existing cultural area later called (Multiple Andean and Amazon use area) are considered within studies and proposals for integrating them into the Biosphere Reserve of Manu.

1. High Andean Sector: Acjanaco – Tres Cruces:

Arriving at 3650 m, you can see the puna and the cloud forest that are home to unique species of flora and fauna such as; orchids, bromeliads, ferns, spectacled bears, pumas and brightly colored birds. Around the Acjanaco checkpoint and the Tres Cruces viewpoint you can take walks and enjoy wonderful landscapes. At the Tres Cruces viewpoint you can see the sunrise between the months of June to August. Hundreds of people come in the months of June and July to appreciate this phenomenon that occurs during the winter solstice. The area is accessed by a 13.5 km road. from the Acjanaco Control Post, which is the registration place for visitors to enter the Park through the high Andean area.

2. Historical Cultural Zone:

Located in the basin of the river Palotoa (500 m). In this area, the enigmatic “Petroglyphs of Pusharo” stand out, figures that have been engraved on immense rocks, representing one of the most important manifestations of cave art in the Peruvian Amazon.

Access begins on the Alto Madre de Dios River, from the towns of Atalaya, Santa Cruz and Shintuya. In the area there is a tourist lodge managed by the native community of Palotoa – Teparo near the petroglyphs.

3. Manu River Sector:

Between the Limonal and Pakitza Posts (300 m). Along the river it is possible to observe jaguars, shore birds, turtles, macaws, among others. Its oxbow lakes (lagoon in Quechua), habitat of the river wolf, black caiman, and a large birdlife stand out. Another tourist attraction is the various forest associations on the banks of the river, where you can see trees over 40 m. of height and great variety of flora and fauna. One cannot ignore the collpas (salt land in Quechua), which are walls with a high concentration of salts and minerals where numerous species of fauna flock.

Travel Accessibility

Tourist activity in the Manu Biosphere Reserve is mainly influenced by the presence of the Manu National Park, within which you can find facilities such as shelters, services provided by SERNANP, access to trails and lakes, among others.

Despite this, for some travelers the time it takes to visit this natural wonder is certainly a long time and they choose to develop a large part of their activities in shorter times in the Buffer Zone of the Manu National Park, which belongs to this Biosphere Reserve.

Nature is relatively well preserved to be able to develop activities in it and you can also find accommodations with different services and at different prices.

Biodiversity in the Manu National Park

• 1,025 bird species (55% of the 1,800 Peruvian bird species, and 10% of the world’s birds).
• 221 species of mammals (43.5% of all Peruvian fauna), and 5% of the species worldwide (7 species are definitely endemic to the country).
• 150 amphibian species.
• 100 Reptile species
• 210 fish species
• 1,307 species of butterflies (15% of the world’s total)
• Up to 500 thousand species of invertebrates (136 species of dragonflies, more than 300 ants and 650 beetles).
• Up to 15 thousand species of plants (IUCN and UNEP, 2009)

The Amazon can have a mysterious nature for first-time visitors.

We’ve made this Amazon Rainforest travel guide to help you find the best areas to visit. The guide will help you make the most of your experience.

We will cover the best areas to visit for deep rainforest adventures and where to go on short tours of 3-days. We will also mention areas of the Amazon better for certain animals and plants. For example, clay licks provide fantastic places to see macaws and other parrots. These are only found in certain regions.

Rainforests contain impressive animals and plants. In total, the world’s rainforests cover only 7% of the Earth’s surface but contain 50% of all land-living species.

And the Amazon is the world’s largest container of wildlife. The Amazon Rainforest covers 40% of the South American continent. This vast forest contains some of the world’s most untouched tropical wilderness.

The next largest rainforests of the Congo in Africa and the island of New Guinea can fit comfortably inside the vast expanse of Amazonia.

Within the Amazon Rainforest, you can find an incredible diversity of animals and plants. There are also wildlife-rich oxbow lakes and beautiful scenery to enjoy.

For example, the Manu National Park in southern Peru contains 10% of all the world’s bird species. It’s usual for national parks and reserves in the Amazon Rainforest to have more species of birds and other animals than entire countries.

For nature lovers, adventure seekers, or simply people looking for a different vacation, this makes the Amazon a perfect place to visit.

The Amazon also makes a great add-on to other South American attractions, such as the Galapagos Islands or Machu Picchu.

Amazon Rainforest Attractions

There are some fascinating attractions in the Amazon Rainforest. You can find oxbow lakes, clay licks, canopy towers and tall emergent trees.

Not limited to the lowland rainforest, you can also explore the mysterious cloud forests on the side of the Andes. Differing in altitude and climate, these forests are home to a completely new set of animals and plants.

Oxbow Lakes

Oxbow lakes are areas where tributaries of the Amazon River once flowed but have since changed direction. This sometimes leaves behind oxbow-shaped bodies of water known as oxbow lakes. The lakes become very attractive for variety of animals and plants drawn by the water.

On tours of oxbow lakes, you can find many different animals. These often include the favorites Amazon animals. You can see giant river otters, black caiman, water birds, giant Arapaima fish and lake-visiting animals. These include many different monkeys, which feed from trees around the lake.

One of the most common animals around the oxbow lakes are the strange hoatzin birds. These are a chicken-sized bird that digest food by fermentation in a similar way to cows. Strangely, young hoatzins are born with a claw. This is used to cut through the shell of the egg but also to climb their way through the thick lake-side vegetation.

The lakes are also often surrounded by palms. And these are ideal nesting habitat for scarlet macaws and other parrots. This means you can often see different macaw parrots on short walks around the lakes.

Some great lodges in Peru to visit oxbow lakes include the Posada Amazonas Lodge, Refugio Amazonas Lodge.

Macaw Clay Licks

Clay licks are areas of exposed river bank where different animals come to feed on the clay itself. Over 50 different animals worldwide are known to use the licks. And the clay not only contains much needed salt, but also neutralizes toxins found in unripe fruits and seeds.

In South America and the Amazon Rainforest, one of the most iconic animals that visits the clay licks are the fantastic macaws.

Hundreds of macaws gather at the clay at one time and they present visitors with a fantastic display of sound and color. You can see all types of birds at different clay licks. Some of the licks are best for seeing scarlet macaws and other for the blue and gold macaws for example.

The rainforest of Puerto Maldonado in southern Peru is fortunate to contain the most clay licks of anywhere in Amazonia. This has created one of the most developed tourism industries in Amazonia.

Clay licks can be found throughout the Puerto Maldonado rainforest and the different protected areas. For example, for macaw clay licks, one of the best to see is the Chuncho clay lick in Peru’s southern Amazon. This is accessible from both the Tambopata Research Center and the Refugio Amazonas Lodge.

Nearby, there are also smaller clay licks for mammals, which you can also see from the Refugio Amazonas Lodge. Parakeet clay licks for small parrots can be been from the Posada Amazonas Lodge.

In Peru, here’s a graph showing the different lodges and the most common mammals that visit the nearby clay licks.

The Cloud Forest

Cloud forests are defined as tropical forests at altitude dispersed with cloud cover. The Andean forests are home to one of the highest levels of species on Earth. And they are abundant with birds, including the world’s highest diversity of hummingbirds.

On tours of the cloud forest, you can find many different weird and wonderful animals and plants. As well as birds, see one of the highest diversities of orchids and epiphytes. Watch the different hummingbirds and visit the dancing ground of cock of the rocks. You can also see different mammals, including woolly monkeys, capuchins and even spectacled bears.

To visit the cloud forest, some fantastic tours in Peru, you can visit the cloud forest of the incredible Manu National Park accessible from Cusco.

Manu National Park is a globally renowned haven of terrestrial biodiversity at the meeting point of the Tropical Andes and the Amazon Basin in Southwestern Peru. As a vast, geographically and economically isolated watershed, the still roadless property has been spared from most human impacts and is difficult to access to this day. The originally inscribed area was extended to 1,716,295 hectares in 2009, spanning the complete altitudinal gradient of the Eastern slope of the Andes from around 350 to above 4,000 m.a.s.l. The in some places precipitous transition includes high Andean Puna grasslands, mountain cloud forests, Yunga forests and lowland rainforest. Fed from numerous whitewater creeks in the mountains, the Manu River meanders through the lowland forests, before it joins the mighty Madre de Dios River at the Southern edge of the property. As evidenced by Incan and Pre-Incan ruins and petroglyphs, there is a long history of indigenous occupation. The local legend of Paititi, according to which the “Lost City of the Incas” is located within what is today the property, has lured researchers and adventurers alike. Today, various indigenous peoples are the only permanent inhabitants. Some of them are sedentary and in regular contact with the “modern world”, while others maintain a semi-nomadic lifestyle as hunter-gatherers in so-called “voluntary isolation” or “initial contact”, respectively.

The immense variety of Manu National Park in terms of altitude, microclimate, soils and other ecological conditions results in a complex mosaic of habitats and niches. There is a broad spectrum of plant communities, ranging from the seemingly homogenous but highly diverse Andean grasslands to a range of mostly pristine forest types. Estimates of plant diversity range between 2,000 and 5,000, with some scientists even assuming considerably higher numbers. Records of fauna are similarly impressive with well over 1000 vertebrate species, including at least 200 species of mammals and more than 800 species of birds. Among the mammals are the Giant Otter, 13 different species of primates and eight felids, including Jaguar, Puma and the elusive and endangered Andean Mountain Cat. The wide range of estimates in various taxonomic groups of fauna and flora illustrates how little is known, let alone understood about the diversity of life in the property. In the medium and longer term developments in the surroundings of Manu National Park such as gas extraction and road construction may affect the still mostly pristine property in various ways. Careful planning and management is needed to balance development needs with the integrity of a global conservation gem.

Manu National Park has a remarkable location at the meeting point of the Tropical Andes and the Amazonian lowland forests. The massive altitudinal gradient has favoured an extremely broad range of ecological conditions and the evolution of highly diverse species and ecological communities. The landscape diversity ranges from high Andean grasslands to various forests types, including pristine montane cloud forests and lush lowland rainforest. The combination of topography, ecological conditions and isolation have permitted the almost undisturbed and ongoing evolution of an extraordinary diversity of life at all levels and a high degree of endemism. In addition to the diversity of life, Manu National Park is also known for an unusually high abundance of fauna across many taxonomic groups.

The extraordinary biodiversity combined with the large size and excellent conservation state makes Manu National Park a protected area of major and global biodiversity conservation importance. More than 200 species of mammals, 800 species of birds, 68 species of reptiles, 77 species of amphibians and impressive numbers of freshwater fish imply a diversity of vertebrates matched only in very few places of the World. Numbers in other taxonomic groups are at least as impressive, for example the more than 1,300 recorded species of butterflies out of probably several hundreds of thousands of arthropods. Thousands of higher plant species are distributed across the diverse ecosystems, habitats and niches. Hundreds of tree species have been identified, often jointly growing within very small areas. For decades, the property has been among the foremost references for scientific research in tropical ecology. As such the property has significantly helped our understanding of tropical forest ecosystems. Even seasoned researchers are overwhelmed not only by the diversity of life but also by the impressive abundance of vertebrates, including mammals. Despite the major record of research, even today taxonomic studies invariably reveal species unknown to science, including vertebrates, clear evidence that Manu continues to hold many of its biodiversity secrets.

Located in the Madre de Dios and Cusco regions of Peru, the nearest city to Manu National Park is Cusco. The center of the Inca Empire and home of Machu Picchu, Cusco is the most popular tourist destination in the country, thus making Manu National Park conveniently located for those wanting to see both the Amazon and Wonder of the World, Machu Picchu.

Manu National Park can be accessed by road from Cusco, though the only access to the lowlands is by boat up the Manu River. The bus from Cusco to Shintuya or Atalaya takes about 10-12 hours, then requires another 8 hours by boat to Boca Manu. From here, it’s another 8 hour journey to reach the entrance of the “reserved zone” of the National Park. This remote location is what has enabled it to remain so well preserved.

For those on a shorter timeframe, it is also possible to fly to Boca Manu from Cusco (or elsewhere in the country), and then all that remains is the 8-hour drive to the National Park Entrance. All-encompassing tours are recommended to make this journey as comfortable and easy as possible, with minimal time wasted traveling.

All of the Amazon lodges are constructed of traditional materials designed to minimize the impact on the local environment and maintain the ambiance of the rainforest. Accommodations vary from simple and rustic to quite comfortable. All of the lodges offer running water, showers and flush toilets. The most remote lodges have shared bathrooms and do not have electricity or hot water. They are a great choice for adventurous travelers interested in truly getting away from the distractions of modern life and experiencing the rainforest in the most authentic way possible.

Slightly less isolated lodges such as Refugio Amazonas , Inkaterra Reserva  Amazonica include many more creature comforts. They have private baths, hot water, electricity, and fans in the room. These are great options for travelers of any age, providing an authentic rainforest experience without sacrificing all of the comforts of home.

You will have a pre-departure briefing at your hotel the day of your arrival or one day  before at 6:00 pm, we will send you one of our tour guides who will explain you all the manu jungle tour program day by day, also he will answer any remaining questions about the tour, then you can  finalize the  payments of your balance.

The Manu National Park is divided into three parts: cultural zone , reserved zone or core zone and the intangible zone. The cultural zone and the reserved zone are for tourist use. The intangible zone is used exclusively for scientific studies and with special permits.

Manu Amazon Jungle is a relatively remote area with little human population, and is has an extremely high biodiversity and very good opportunities to observe animals in the rainforest (especially at the clay licks), which is not very easy due to the dense vegetation.Manu offers ideal conditions for nature and animal lovers, photographers and ornithologists.

You will not find mass tourism here. In August (high season) there are most visitors around, so it gets a bit busy.

Please note that it is not always possible to exactly stick to the program on a rain forest tour and small changes to the program may occur. In case of unusual situations caused by the weather (for example ) our guide will look for the best alternative and always try to include all activities of our program. The guide will explain the situation to the group and you are welcome to ask questions.

Both tours, the Manu Biosphere Tour and the Manu Cultural Area, take you to the lowland rainforest of Manu and you visit

A.- MANU CULTURAL AREA

In the cultural zone of Manu, you can see two types of ecological floors, the first place to visit will be the cloud forest, where two species of Monkeys can be seen, and the national bird of Peru. And it is also a good place to observe endemic birds, such as trogon, quetzal, eagles, owls, and several species of hummingbirds. You can also see a variety of orchids, begonias and medicinal trees. Then a boat tour is made to the lodge inside the jungle, where walks are made to identify mammals such as sachava, monkeys, alligators, jaguars. And also take the opportunity to visit the parrot and macaw collpa.

It is called a cultural zone or buffer due to its proximity to the native villages that inhabit the Manu National Park such as Matsiguenka, Nanti, Yora, Haranbut, Yine and Quechua divided into the towns of Callanga, Huacaria, Keros, Shintuya, Diamante and Palotoa and they feed on house and fish therefore there is not much diversity.

On the Manu Cultural Zone  you can enjoy the unique scenery of Rio Manu’s primary lowland forest. Inside the Reserved Zone (Tourist Zone) we visit the Machu Wasi lake to observe Giant Otters, birds, Mamals, Macawclaycliks, several insects. The scenery on Rio Manu is impressive and chances to observe wildlife on the river banks are very good. (If we are lucky we may see a jaguar.) But we spend considerably more time into the deep rainforest.

This tour is designed in activities of 3, 4 and 5 days.

B.- MANU RESERVED ZONE

The Manu Biosphere Tour is the more active tour, we spend more of 5 days in the area of Limonal   and Blanquillo and we have plenty of time for walks on the trails. Our program is flexible and we have good opportunities to see a variety of animal species. Direfent lakes (to observe Giant River Otters), the big Macaw Clay Lick at Blanquillo as well as the Mammal Salt Lick, located at walking distance from our  Lodge.

• The 5 day tour is the shortest tour to the Manu lowland, but shows you the highlights of Manu.
• On the 7 day Biosphere tour we have one day (day 5) on which the group can decide what type of animals you would like to prospect for again. This day is especially rewarding for bird, tapir and monkey observation. In case of bad weather conditions we are flexible enough to modify the itinerary according to our needs and have more options to see animals. On this tour our return journey takes us back to Atalaya and through the cloud forest.
• On the 8 day tour we have 2 full days inside the Reserved Zone which gives us better chances for giant otter and monkey observation.
• Chances to observe animals are similar on both tours. The more time you spend in the rainforest the better the chance to see a bigger variety of animals.

The trip to the area reserved by boat is approximately 7 to 8 hours every day and by bus only the first and last day according to your itinerary. Our company pays the Peruvian state for nature conservation, for the entry of each tourist, for each passenger and annually and this same money is for payments of the park guards of the Manu National Park. Each group of Andean Great Treks visits the Machiguenka house to buy their handicrafts that are made by themselves with plants, fruits and natural colors and we support in this way to generate economic income for the subsistence of the population of Tayacome and Yomibato. We also work directly with the natives of tayacome, yomibato, Diamante as crew members and boat riders in our company as connoisseurs guarantee our safety in the rivers of Alto Madre de Dios and Manu. Since they are native of the jungle.

300 to 400 soles should be taken for additional purchases on the tour such as handicrafts, soft drinks, moisturizers, beers and tips for the staff (motorcyclist, crewman, cooks and guides).

Andean Great Treks  is peruvian  a local tour operator, offering an unforgettable experience since 2008 that works with social and environmental responsibility. Pay the Peruvian state to conserve nature to the National System of Protected Natural Areas. .All the guides and drivers are very knowledgeable professionals of the jungle that guarantee 100% their safety because they studied in the Peruvian jungle and specialized in Cusco.The company’s teams guarantee 100% YOUR SAFETY AND COMFORT. The prices are reasonable quality and price. Your trip is 100% guaranteed. If you travel with us you will be helping to protect the environment and therefore the economic sustainability of the native communities mentioned above.

On our Manu tours the maximum group size is 10 people per guide. This way everybody can hear what the guide says and the group is not too big to observe animals. If there are 8 to 12 participants on a tour we take one more guide to divide the group in two while walking on the trails, but you may be sharing the bus and/ or boat. If there are more than 12 participants on the same tour we split in 2 groups, each with its own guide  and boat.

Our tour guides are very well prepared, they use all of their senses listening for small sounds like the breaking of a branch or fruit falling from the canopy, sniffing for animal odors, scanning the leaves above and below for motion. With this heightened attention and care to make little noise, the chances of observing large and small creatures is greatly increased.

The Manu Amazon Jungle has the greatest collection of life on earth, and so understandably, many visitors to the Manu Amazon Jungle expect to see lots of mammals. But it should be kept in mind that the story of the Manu Amazon Jungle  is that it has high diversity, but low density. So on our trip we will see lots of kinds of creatures but not very many of each kind. But the beauty of this place is how the flora and fauna have evolved the wonderful and bizarre adaptations to thrive in this wilderness. With this perspective, travelers can directly experience and appreciate the infinite variability.

The dry season is a good season to see the birds. The most likely reason for them to come together and eat the clay is because at certain times of the year there are hardly any fruits available for them, just seeds. Seeds in general have a toxic layer, exactly to prevent animals eating them. If the macaws eat them anyway, they have a build up of poison in their stomach. To neutralize the acids that the poison produces in their stomachs, they eat the clay. In the rainy season up until the beginning of the dry season (May) there are many fruits. So the macaws eat fewer seeds and more non-toxic fruits and feel less necessity to eat the clay. Usually it means there are fewer macaws present in the beginning of the dry season. In the middle of the dry season there may be about 100 to 150 macaws visiting the clay lick in one morning, whereas there may only be 10 to 50 at the end of the rainy season/beginning of the dry season.

There is not a lot of walking in the sense of going far. All walking is done slowly. This is because most of what you find in the manu amazon jungle  is vegetation and to be able to pick out the animals you have to take your time to look around, and listen as well.

For the manu amazon jungle 7-days tour, there are the following walks: The first day of the tour has an afternoon walk of about two hours. The second day is mostly spent looking for birds and animals on the Alto Madre de Dios River, with less walking than the other days. The third and fourth days feature a short walk to Lake Salvador, and various different walks in the Reserved Zone and on trails around the accommodation. The 5th & 6th day you walk maybe one or two hours in the Blanquillo area. The seventh day there is no walking at all.

As local travel agency that we travel all the time and organize trips, We would recommend you to travel from April to January, this is the good time to visit the Manu Amazon Jungle and all over of Peru.

• From April to May is the transition months of the end of the raining season with moderate rainfall usually is raining only one or three hours a day but not every day.
• From June to October is our dry season, but the Manu Amazon Jungle is well known as the rainforest so even at this season we may have some rainfall not as much like in the rainy season.
• From October to January is the transition months which is the end of the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season and there is moderate rainfall usually is raining at nigh one or three hours by night, but not every day.
• From the ends of January, February and March is really our rainy season until the beginning of April at this time of the year there are some big landslide that block roads and the rivers in some areas floatplanes at this time some village, towns and cities have no road connections just for a couple of days.

Manu Amazon Jungle  tours can be done with normal fitness by people of all age groups. You should be able to walk medium distances (for about 2 – 3 hours) and on often uneven surfaces. Make sure you bring good walking shoes.

If you are travelling with children, please let us know in advance for further recommendations, depending on the age of your children.

On a Manu Amazon Jungle tour you spend some time travelling by bus and by boat – this varies according to the tour (e.g. on the National Park Tour you spend more time in the boat) and we do walks that usually do not exceed 3 hours at a time. We don’t have to cover big distances on the walks; we will often walk slowly or stop to observe animals and plants on the way. Sometimes we need to listen, wait and have patience. You only need to bring a day pack on the walks. Night walks are optional and usually take about 1 hour. You are not expected to carry your luggage to the lodge, but help is appreciated.

Due to the humidity and warm temperatures some people may feel a bit weak or faint, but there normally is a short ‘siesta’ at midday and you have the possibility to stay at the lodge instead of participating in a walk. In the rain forest it ‘s important to drink a lot.

A rainforest tour is not a ‘comfort tour’, but if you bring appropriate gear (please see our packing list) you will have an incomparable experience.

As several days of our tours include road travel, Andean Great Treks  emphasises the importance of safety and travel comfort. All vehicles have special adaptations for driving unpaved roads. Depending on the number of people in your group, you can be traveling by 4-wheel drive truck, a mini van, or a medium sized bus. All drivers are experienced on the Manu Amazon Jungle Roads. Additionally, Andean Great Treks has its own set of rules to be followed by the drivers, to reach higher safety standards, giving you more pleasant travels.

Please bring a maximum of 23 kg of luggage per person on your Manu Amazon Jungle Tour. Especially during the dry season (approx. from June to September) the water levels of the rivers are low; therefore we try to reduce the weight of our boat to make headway better and faster. We recommend to bring a waterproof bag or rucksack for the amazon jungle tours.

During the Manu Amazon Jungle  Tour you can store the rest of your luggage at your hotel in Cusco. In case you have special photo equipment with a considerable weight please let us know in advance.

Our boats are 15 and 16 m long with Yamaha outboard motors. They have wooden seats with cushions and backrests as well as a roof. There are life vests for all passengers. When travelling on the river in the rain you may get wet, so you should have your rain gear at hand. Our boat staff will also provide plastic covers to protect you if it rains. There is no toilet on the boat; please just let your guide know if you need to use the bathroom, so he can stop the boat. And you can make your needs on the banks of the river

We bring bottled mineral water from Cusco for the entire tour, for every excursion in big bottles and this is drinkable and perfectly safe during trip. The water in the bathroom is not for drink is only for body cleaning but this water is clean.Please bring a big water bottle for the first day of the tour (min. 3 lt) as it is complicated to get out water for you during the first day’s bus ride. Then please keep your water bottle and you can refill it every day in the morning and/ or evening.

Due to the high temperatures in Manu Amazon Jungle, it is important that you have to  drink plenty of water. Please help to protect the environment and avoid buying plastic bottles as these are not yet recycled properly in Peru.

When visiting Manu Amazon Jungle  you should be aware that you travel to a remote area and there is no reliable mobile phone line nor internet access. In case of an emergency and for receiving short reports by our guides we have radio communication at the lodges. There is a satellite telephone in Boca Manu village and sometimes there is mobile phone access there as well.

Along our route there are 3 small hospital wards, apart from this the guide will carry a first aid kit throughout the tour.

Please inform us about diseases that may represent a risk on the tour, such as epilepsy or heart diseases (even if symptoms date back several years), before your tour.

In case of severe illness, a transport back to Cusco might become necessary. Please make sure that you have good and adequate travel health insurance.

At el Paraíso Amazon Lodge, where we spend the first night, there is electricity, but in the lowland there is none.

At Casa Matsiguenka a generator is normally available. Make sure you bring enough spare batteries for your camera and flashlight for the tour. We recommend to leave your, Laptop or IPad in Cusco.

There is no Internet access in Manu Amazon Jungle,there isn’t a mobile phone signal; only in some places you may receive calls occasionally.

We recommend to bring rechargeable batteries and to take used batteries back home, as they are not recycled in Peru.

Binoculars are essential to a better appreciation and recognition birds and other animals. Binocular and sleeping bag both can be rented in Cusco.

Binoculars are essential for a Manu tour: to spot animals and get a closer view of them.

8 x 40, 10 x 40 or 10 x 42 magnifications are recommended.

Quality binoculars (Zeiss, Eschenbach, Leica, Minox und Nikon brands)

There is no dry season in a amazon rainforest, so pack your best mac and some waterproof boots.

Wet and humid throughout the year, the Amazon’s climate is characterised by continuous rainfall and temperatures that hang around 30°C. Let’s not beat around the bush, the rainforest is no place for people who hate the heat. Whether you go in the wet or wetter season may affect how you explore, but every month offers its own experiences. In summer, drier weather permits rainforest treks, but boats are the only answer in winter, when rivers can rise to three storeys high.

WHEN TO GO, WET & DRY SEASON

The Amazon Rainforest  doesn’t really have a dry season, but for six months of the year it is a bit less wet. It’s sometimes thought to be the best time for wildlife spotting, as animals are enticed out onto dry river banks to drink. It’s the best time to go if you want to be on your feet, with more ground accessible to walking excursions. Less moisture in the air means lower humidity and fewer mosquitoes, but both are going to be a feature of any trip to the rainforest.

Rain doesn’t stop play in the Amazon Rainforest, in fact the higher the water levels the further your boat can go, as rivers burst their banks and seasonal floodplains fill up. These new channels and shortcuts are easily explored by canoe or small cruise boats – arguably the best way to experience the rainforest. Bear in mind that rain doesn’t fall equally across the whole of the Amazon – Ecuador especially gets much more than Brazil or Peru.

Our Amazon travel specialists, shares his thoughts on the best time to go: “If you want to go to the Amazon it doesn’t really make much difference when you go; it’s the rainforest so it rains all year. There is high water and low water, but there are advantages to both. In low water you get more walks through the forest, and at high water (Jan-May) as much as 10m of water rise through the forest – which means you’re 10m higher into the canopy when you’re in a boat. So the animals that live in the canopy are not absolutely miles away – you can see them much closer!”

May to September is the best time to visit the Peruvian Amazon, when wildlife congregates on shrinking riverbanks and mobs of mosquitoes are in decline. The drier, clearer sky is also better for highland trekking.

“The Amazon is definitely family friendly but I would not be inclined to take kids under about 6. Maybe not even younger kids aged 6-8, you wouldn’t want to put them on those very long journeys, but some of the lodges are better set up for families. I went to a lodge in the Tambopata Reserve and we had a fantastic time because it’s not that far away, it’s not right on the river bank, they have very good dedicated guides for kids and trails set up for kids, they provide welly boots for kids and they’ve got a games area for kids.”

The Amazon Rainforest tours are an excellent choice for kids who are interested in wildlife and the outdoors. Spotting colorful macaws flying overhead, listening to howler monkeys roar in the trees, and climbing into the rainforest canopy inspire the wonder in all of us and can be particularly fascinating for children. Most lodges do not have electricity so they are not a good choice for kids who rely on television and video games for entertainment. Some lodges require much longer transfer times to reach or are particularly remote and rustic. Ask your trip coordinator for recommendations. Some vaccinations and malaria preventatives are also recommended for these tours. Some of these cannot be given to children under a certain age/ weight, though alternatives are generally available. Ask your pediatrician for advice before booking your tour.

The food at all of the Amazon lodges is excellent, fresh, and authentic. Generally, the lodges seek to provide a mixture of local and international cuisine. Jungle fruits, vegetables, and juices provide a uniquely fresh flair that is unmatched in more temperate climates. Although menu choices are limited at the most remote lodges, all can accommodate vegetarians or other common dietary preferences if sufficient notice is provided.

It will depend on exactly where in the Amazon you visit, as different countries will have different types. Some trips may cross borders, so double check with your Trip Planners to confirm exactly which countries you’re visiting and what their power requirements are. Generally, you can expect the following:

Peru uses 220 volt, 60 cycle electricity. Travelers will require a voltage converter for 110 volt devices. Plugs are typically the 2 pronged flat type found in the US, though some facilities have been noted to use the 2 rounded prongs instead.

Like all of our tour leaders, the Amazon guides are exceptional! They are fluent in English (some tours also have a second native guide who may only speak limited English) and generally speak the local jungle language(s) and Spanish as well. They are trained in biology or ecology and specialize in jungle guiding, giving them a unique ability to spot elusive wildlife. Some lodges, employ both a native guide from the local area and a biologist guide with formal training.

We have had travelers of nearly every age on our Amazon tours. These trips commonly attract multi-generational families as well as young honeymooners or adventurous single travelers. Travelers of any age can likely find an Amazon option where they will fit right in.

Absolutely! We arrange small group tours (6 or less) so these tours are a great choice for single travelers interested in getting to know a small group of other travelers. Some lodges are easier to coordinate for single travelers than others.

Tour rates do not include international flights. We find that it is usually less expensive for travelers to book these separately and this also allows you the flexibility to choose the schedule and routing that is most convenient for you. You are welcome to book these on your own, or we can certainly help you arrange these flights with an airfare consolidator who specializes in South America flights.

Tips are not required on any of our tours. However, it is customary in Latin America to offer a small tip for exceptional service. Tipping amounts vary widely, though some travelers report that ~$2-$10/ day for your guide is common. Other travelers opt to bring small gifts from their home to give to service providers along the way.

The native communities in the Manu Park are not accessible for tourists. The chances of seeing nomadic people living in isolation is very low as the tourism zones are established to avoid areas they use, but in case you come across them, you should leave the area and avoid any contact with them and immediately report the incident to the Park staff.

For safety reasons, it is forbidden to swim in the rivers and lakes.

It is strictly forbidden. Only the local native communities are allowed to fish and hunt in authorized areas inside the Park.

The short answer is yes. Especially if you are a nature lover, the Amazon is one of the most fascinating places in the world. It is home to at least 10 percent of the world’s biodiversity. In fact its residents include 40,000 plant species (16,000 types of trees) and more than 5,000 animal species. However, if you are only in Peru to see ancient ruins and don’t really like being immersed in nature – it’s probably not the place for you.

The Amazon Rainforest is between 3-3.2 million square mi (7.8-8.2 million square km) in size. It is the largest rainforest in the world, and 80 percent of its land is covered by forests. To put into perspective, the physical size of the Amazon is roughly equivalent to the size of the entire lower 48 states of the United States.

13 percent of the entire Amazon rainforest is located in Peru. 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil, and 10 percent in Colombia. That being said, 60 percent of Peru is covered in the Amazon rainforest.

Depends on how much time you have and your specific interests. For short itineraries, Tambopata Jungle  probably has the most accessible wildlife-viewing. Iquitos offers the unique chance to cruise the Amazon River. Manu National Park is well-suited for travelers with more time who don’t mind basic accommodation in exchange for a unique experience of spectacular bird life, clay licks, and unique habitats.

Yes, the Peruvian Amazon is a safe tourist destination; but like anywhere you should practice precaution. Stay with your tour group at all times and wander only within the property of your lodge in your free time. Do not join tours from the streets or follow people/guides you don’t know. Also, the rainforest is full of wild animals, so be sure to watch your step and be mindful of where you place your hands.

With a range of ecological zones contained within the Manu National Park, the terrain varies from Amazon forests at 150 meters above sea level, to portions of Peruvian Yungas at middle elevations, to the Central Andean wet grasslands at the highest elevations of 4,200 meters.

This variety leads to an incredible level of biodiversity, which includes more than 15,000 species of plants in all of Manu National Park (that’s 10% of the world’s vascular plant species!). As many as 250 varieties of trees have been found in a single hectare here, and potentially more remain waiting to be discovered.

With 40% of Manu classified as Amazonian lowland tropical rainforest, travelers can count on seeing Mauritia palm swamps, seasonal floodplain forests, and oxbow lakes (river bends that have been cut off from the rest of the flowing river). Dense foliage mixes with the open and vast grasslands (much easier for animal sightings), as colorful and unusual plants big and small dot the landscape. Many medicinal plants long used by native people can be found here, with a variety of uses that have enabled human habitation for centuries.

The Amazon rainforest is a thriving hub of biodiversity but, to see it, you’re going to have to go in deep. Local guides, their senses attuned to the shadows in the trees and the rustle of leaves, will spot secretive animals with ease, especially in the most remote and uninhabited regions of the rainforest. Read on for our guide to Amazon wildlife and where to see it.

It might seem odd that the place with the most biodiversity on the planet isn’t necessarily the best for wildlife watching. There are too many trees and so many places to hide. Our holiday specialists, points out that more than the wildlife, “you go for that sense of being in the Amazon. Just being in that massive rainforest and feeling really really small, it’s quite humbling.”

You’re more likely to hear the Amazon’s inhabitant than see them – the rainforest is surprisingly loud. Like a sudden onset of tinnitus, the constant buzz of millions of insects will be the backing track throughout your holiday here. Howler monkeys can be heard from three miles away and the bare-throated bellbird and screaming piha are two tiny birds with hundred-decibel lungs. Hordes of peccaries (small pigs) can sometimes be heard stampeding through the undergrowth in groups a hundred strong.

Living within the thriving ecosystems of Manu are many species flying, fluttering, and climbing overhead. As the varied landscape offers a unique combination of flora, so does it provide a range of fauna to be witnessed. So far, this includes 222 species of mammals, 99 species of reptiles, 140 species of amphibians, 1,000 species of birds, 210 species of fish, and over 2,300 insects (not including the numerous species that remained unnamed).

Some of the most impressive of the rich and diverse wildlife of Manu National Park are the Peruvian jaguar, macaws, the puma, the ocelot, the giant otter, the giant anteater, the giant armadillo, the Brazilian tapir, a variety of sloths, marsh deer (especially unique as it is actually a savanna animal), and fourteen different species of monkeys.

Monkeys are one of the more common sights for visitors, known for playing in the trees and watching the activity below. Guests can also expect an array of birds and butterflies constantly swooping through the rainforest canopy, and sightings of several unique reptiles and insects are never far. Keep your eyes peeled for one of the rarer jungle mammals, and perhaps leave with the sighting of a lifetime.

In terms of what you’ll see, “it really depends on how far in you’re going”. In Manú National Park, where some of our wildlife holiday specialists are based, in the Peruvian Amazon. It’s been responsible for regeneration an area of completely destroyed rainforest and restoring its biodiversity back to 87 percent – just one of many organisations working in remote regional parks and reserves. Manú National Park has been protected for quite a long time so it’s a good place if you want to try and see big mammals, but at all these lodges you’re going to see monkeys and birds, insects, snakes and spiders.

We have been in lots of Amazon in Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru… really Manú Park  doesn’t compare to any of those places. We would describe it completely like an African safari but in the Amazon, in terms of what you see, how remote you are. It’s a bit like a Galapagos effect. They’re not scared of us, they’re inquisitive because they don’t see humans at all. The amount of people that are visiting the Manú National Park is nothing. You need the time to go there, but we would 100 percent recommend it, in terms of wildlife it’s incredible.”

Jaguars

The jaguar is the chunkier cousin of the leopard. Heavier, more muscular and with jaws that can crush a turtle’s shell, it’s the largest cat on the continent. It’s both revered and feared, the real king of the jungle, and one of the most sought-after rainforest sightings.

Jaguars are widely distributed but their declining numbers and stealthy nature make them one of the Amazon’s least-spotted animals. The more time you spend here, and the deeper into the jungle you go, the better your chances will be. Choose a tour that takes you a national park or reserve, or stay at an ecolodge that uses the money earned from tourists to protect the surrounding area

Harpy eagles

One of the most underrated birds of the Amazon, the harpy eagle is an enormous and quite terrifying looking raptor, with claws the size of a grizzly bear. These powerful predators can be found across the Amazon, but regularly nest along the rivers. They can also be found in Peru’s Tambopata National Reserve where, as a direct result of the income from tourism, hunting and tree cutting has decreased – boosting the number of endangered harpy eagles and making it popular destination for wildlife photography holidays.

Monkeys

There are some parts of the rainforest where you’ll see wildlife that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else in the Amazon, or the world. Monkeys are one of the most commonly seen animals in the Amazon, often found lounging in lodge gardens like the wizard-whiskered emperor tamarins at the Manú Park lodge.

Giant river otters

A lot of tours in the  Amazon Rainforest are water based, led by guides on small motorised canoes, so it’s very easy to run into river otters. These giant members of the weasel family can be spotted feeding on the huge fish that live in the rivers and streams – reaching almost 2m long, they’re much, much bigger than the otters we know.

Birds

In this nutrient-lacking rainforest, hundreds of macaws gather on the clay banks of the Amazon, most likely looking for salt in the soil. These clay lick sites can be found in Manú National Park and the Tambopata National Reserve, where a colourful frenzy of feeding birds can be watched, undisturbed, as your boat floats downstream.

Bugs & snakes

Some people think that they’re not going to like it because of the insects and mosquitoes but, actually, I’ve always found in the lodges you don’t have much of an issue because you always have mosquito nets to sleep under and mosquitoes just generally don’t come into the buildings. It’s the same with spiders and other insects and snakes, you have to really go looking for those creatures, they’re not going to be slithering around your feet. So it’s actually not nearly as much of a problem as you think it might be.”

After you book your tour, you will receive a detailed packing list with your departure packet. In general, light, synthetic, breathable, quick-drying fabrics provide the most comfort. Long sleeves, a sun hat and long pants are advised to protect from bugs and sun. The lightweight convertible pants that zip off into shorts are a great option as you can convert them to shorts during the heat of the day and back to full length when the bugs are at their worst in the evening. Unlike most destinations, you will probably want to plan a separate outfit for each day. Clothes dry very slowly in the jungle and you may not want to re-wear the perspiration soaked shirt of the previous day! Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and insect repellent, as well as any personal toiletries that you need as it’s difficult to find replacements at these remote lodges.

The preparation for your stay is when the emotion and anticipation really begins. But if you never have time spent in the Amazon jungle, you may not be sure what to pack. We have prepared this list to help with some guidelines and suggestions. This list is only intended to provide ideas and suggestions about what you may want to bring and nothing on this list is mandatory.

OFFICIAL PAPERS:

• Valid passport
• Airline tickets

CLOTHING:

• Lightweight, easily washable items for evening wear or when traveling
• T-shirts – synthetic lightweight, long-sleeve shirt(s) for sun/insect protection
• Long Sleeve Shirts and TrousersThe best thing to do is to put on zipper trousers, because this way you can always shorten your trousers quickly in case it gets too warm. Regarding what to wear in the Amazon rainforest, long sleeves and long trousers are probably the best tip we can give you, because they help you avoid getting bitten by mosquitos or other insects.
• Hiking shorts – synthetic, quick-drying
• Hiking pants – synthetic, quick-drying
• Hiking socks and liners
• Swimsuit

ELECTRONICS:

During limited hours there is a 220 V current available to charge the batteries during certain times of the day. Most current electronic components (for example, laptops, cameras, cell phones, tablets) can be safely charged using 220 power, but check the owner’s manual first.

• Cameras & extra batteries
• Chargers for cell phone, camera & small electronic devices
• Camera and Extra Memory Card

Take your camera, an extra memory card and your charger with you. There is electricity in the lodges at certain times of the day so that you can charge your devices.

LUGGAGE:

Weight Restrictions:

We do not have weight restrictions for luggage, but we kindly request that each guest limit the weight of their luggage to 23 kg or 50 lb. If your luggage weighs more than this amount, plan to store the extra in Cusco or Puerto Maldonado  at our office in our secure storage room until you return from your trip.

Backpack

A backpack is useful to bring your personal belongings to the lodge. Also for the daily excursions, so that you can safely store water, cameras etc.

• Duffel bag (wheels and retractable handle are fine), sturdy and large enough to hold clothing and gear
• Passport security pouch or belt
• Daypack to carry raingear, camera, water and snacks
• Luggage tags and luggage locks

CLOTHING ACCESSORIES:

• Sun hat
• Bandana

OUTERWEAR:

• Rain jacket (or poncho) – waterproof and breathable
• Rain pants – waterproof and breathable, side zippers highly recommended
• Lightweight windbreaker

FOOTWEAR:

Shoes and Socks

Almost all excursions are made in rubber boots (provided by the lodge), so you should bring sandals, flip-flops or normal shoes for your time at the lodge. Take an extra pair of socks with you as you can quickly get wet and sweaty feet in the jungle.

• Lightweight hiking boots or trail shoes, broken-in
• Comfortable walking shoes or sandals
• Water sandals or booties

TRAVEL ACESSORIES:

• Sunglasses and retainer strap
• Sunblock and lip balm
• Insect repellent with Deet
• Small binoculars
• Handi-wipes
• Toiletry kit
• Hand sanitizer gel
• Watch with alarm or travel clock
• Headlamp/flashlight with extra batteries/bulb
• Personal first-aid kit
• Small towel and washcloth

OPTIONAL FIELD GEAR:

• Pocket knife or multi-tool
• Reading and writing materials
• Ziploc bags for easy storage
• Mosquito head neT

MEDICATION:

Mosquito Spray and Insect Repellent

If there’s one thing you don’t want to forget, it’s insect repellent, because there are lots of mosquitos in the Amazon! Tip: get a cortisone cream as it helps relieve the urge to itch.

Waterproof Sunscreen

Since the Amazon jungle lies directly on the equator, the sun is very intense. We therefore recommend that you take a waterproof sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 50.

Cosmetics

Take shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant and everything you use in cosmetics with you.

• Personal medication
• Anti-malaria tablets
• Allergy medication

Flashlight

Many lodges offer a jung walk at night, so it’s advisable to take a headlamp or a regular flashlight with you.

Cash for Souvenirs or Tips

If you want to buy souvenirs, order drinks at the bar of your lodge or tip the guides/staff, you will need cash. In some lodges, drinks or dishes from the menu can be paid for by card, in others not (it is best to contact your lodge directly to find out).

Water Bottle

As you will sweat a lot due to the heat in the jungle, you have to make sure to drink enough water. Keep one water bottle per person, because most lodges offer free water dispensers.

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, hiking boots, a pair of shorts/shirt/fleece top/sandals and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.

Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene®, MTS® and Thermax®.

Bring clothing that is lightweight and protects you from the sun. Muted earthtone colors are best for wildlife viewing. It is always good to have a lightweight, long-sleeve jacket, especially for the evenings.

Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.

Make sure boots are broken-in. Bring moleskin for foot treatment. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic, not cotton. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip.

Stuff sacks are great for sorting gear. Use different sizes/colors to differentiate contents.

Plastic bags are great for keeping clothing and gear dry. Use Ziploc bags to keep wet clothes separate from dry clothes.

If you wear prescription glasses, use a safety cord and bring an extra pair if possible. Contact lens wearers should also bring an extra set, or bring eyeglasses for a backup.

On the first day of your tour we travel over the Andes, where you should have a sweater and wind & waterproof jacket. In the afternoon, reaching the cloud forest temperatures are more pleasant.

The first night you spend in the cloud forest, at 1600 m., you can expect temperatures between 12 and 18°C (53 to 62°F), and reaching the lowland forest you should expect between 26 and 36°C (78 to 95°F) during the day and around 20 to 26°C (66 to 78°F) at night.

However, cold winds from Patagonia may reach Manu Amazon Jungle and the temperature may lower to about 10 degrees Celsius (50F). These “friajes” are more common during the southern hemisphere’s wintertime (between April and the end of August).

On some occasions we can get a cold front (“friaje”) from the south, this occurs mainly during the months of May to July/ August (dry season). When these winds reach the lowland forest, temperatures may go down as far as 14 or 10°C (50°F), which feels colder due to the humidity in the rainforest.

The climate in Manu National Park is hot, tropical and humid. The temperature is more or less constant during the year.

Manu Jungle has seasonal variations regarding the amount of rainfall, being the wetter season between October and May, and the drier season between June and September.

The Amazon jungle can be explored in any season and we can organize tours every day of the year.

Here it never rains for long periods of time due to the tropical climate.You will get to do all the activities included on the tour but the order could change depending on weather conditions.

We do hike in the rain and any other weather conditions that nature decides to throw at us. After all, we’re going on adventures!

Spotting wildlife

“When it comes to the wildlife sightings there’s such an element of luck involved, so I always recommend that people stay as long as they possibly can and just really try and relax, wander some of the trails by yourself if you can. And everything’s always better first thing in the morning. All the Amazon lodges get you up at five in the morning to go out and do a walk before breakfast, but I would always do those because that’s when you’re going to see things.”

Tips from Our Travellers

At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often… other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.

We have selected some of the most useful tips for holidays in the Amazon that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.

Have fun! Watch what you eat – four and five course Peruvian food that’s fresh and healthy can pile on the pounds if you aren’t careful. Hike a LOT to keep it off. Bring a refillable water bottle and stay away from the ubiquitous water bottles in the hotel to help reduce plastic.

This is a very active holiday so you need to be fit and have relevant hiking, walking, swimming gear. There are a lot of optional activities each day, budget accordingly. Everyone is different but you’re likely to find someone who wants to do the same thing as you. Bring along a good first aid kit. If you don’t need anything someone else in your group most likely will – if you forget something not to worry everyone shares and you can buy supplies in the larger towns. Be open-minded and you will have one of a supremely enjoyable holiday.

“It’s a real adventure holiday, so not for those looking to relax or sit by a beach which meant it was perfect for us. Beware of the sun – is mean! Take lots of small bills in cash – even $20 bills are hard to change.”

Bring layers. It was cold at the highest elevations and very hot in Manú. A long-sleeve light shirt was helpful to keep sun and bugs off and neutral coloured clothes were preferred for the clay lick morning. I was very glad to have brought my good binoculars, the birds were amazing.

HEALTH INFORMATION FOR TRAVELERS TO PERU

We suggest that you consult with your primary care physician for a professional medical opinion.

PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP TO PERU:

Before visiting Peru, you may need to get the following vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases you might be at risk for at your destination: (Note: Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities.).

To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it.

Even if you have less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see a health-care provider for needed vaccines, anti-malaria drugs and other medications and information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. Find a Travel Clinic near you. If you have a medical condition, you should also share your travel plans with any doctors you are currently seeing for other medical reasons.

If your travel plans will take you to more than one country during a single trip, be sure to let your health-care provider know so that you can receive the appropriate vaccinations and information for all of your destinations. Long-term travelers, such as those who plan to work or study abroad, may also need additional vaccinations as required by their employer or school.

Be sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Check the links below to see which vaccinations adults and children should get.

Routine vaccines, as they are often called, such as for influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) are given at all stages of life; childhood and adolescent immunization schedule and the routine adult immunization schedule.

Routine vaccines are recommended even if you do not travel. Although childhood diseases, such as measles, rarely occur in the United States, they are still common in many parts of the world. A traveler who is not vaccinated would be at risk for infection.

VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES:

Before visiting Peru, you may need to get the following vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases you might be at risk for at your destination: (Note: Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities.).

• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Yellow Fever

RECOMMENDATIONS:

According to the USCDC, it is recommended for all travelers over 9 months of age going to the following areas <2,300 m in elevation: the entire regions of Amazonas, Loreto, Madre de Dios, San Martin, and Ucayali and designated areas (see Map 3-19) of the following regions: far northeastern Ancash; northern Apurimac; northern and northeastern Ayacucho; northern and eastern Cajamarca; northwestern, northern, and northeastern Cusco; far northern Huancavelica; northern, central, and eastern Huanuco; northern and eastern Junin; eastern La Libertad; central and eastern Pasco; eastern Piura; and northern Puno. Vaccination should be given 10 days before travel and at 10-year intervals if there is on-going risk.

RABIES:

Rabies vaccination is only recommended for certain travelers, including:

travelers with significant occupational risks, such as veterinarians

long-term travelers and expatriates living in areas that pose a high risk for exposure

travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, stray dogs and cats, wildlife, and other mammals. Such travelers include wildlife professionals, researchers, veterinarians, or adventure travelers visiting areas where bats, wildlife, and other mammals are commonly found.

MALARIA:

Areas of Peru with Malaria: All departments <2,000 m (6,561 ft), including the cities of Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado, except none in the cities of Ica, Lima (and coast south of Lima), and Nazca.

If you will be visiting an area of Peru with malaria, you will need to discuss with your doctor the best ways for you to avoid getting sick with malaria.

Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. Humans get malaria from the bite of a mosquito infected with the parasite. Prevent this serious disease by seeing your health-care provider for a prescription antimalarial drug and by protecting yourself against mosquito bites.

MEDICINES YOU MAY NEED:

The prescription medicines you take every day. Make sure you have enough to last during your trip. Keep them in their original prescription bottles and always in your carry-on luggage. Be sure to follow security guidelines, if the medicines are liquids.

• Antimalarial drugs, if traveling to a malaria-risk area in Peru and prescribed by your doctor.
• Medicine for diarrhea, usually over-the-counter.

Note: Some drugs available by prescription in the US are illegal in other countries. Check the US Department of State Consular Information Sheets for the country(s) you intend to visit or the embassy or consulate for that country(s). If your medication is not allowed in the country you will be visiting, ask your health-care provider to write a letter on office stationery stating the medication has been prescribed for you.

OTHER ITEMS YOU MAY NEED:

Iodine tablets and portable water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available. See A Guide to Water Filters, A Guide to Commercially-Bottled Water and Other Beverages, and Safe Food and Water for more detailed information.

Sunblock and sunglasses for protection from harmful effects of UV sun rays. See Basic Information about Skin Cancer for more information

Antibacterial hand wipes or alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

TO PREVENT INSECT/MOSQUITO BITES, BRING:

Lightweight long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a hat to wear outside, whenever possible.

Flying-insect spray to help clear rooms of mosquitoes. The product should contain a pyrethroid insecticide; these insecticides quickly kill flying insects, including mosquitoes.

Bed nets treated with permethrin, if you will not be sleeping in an air-conditioned or well-screened room and will be in malaria-risk areas. For use and purchasing information, see Insecticide Treated Bed Nets on the CDC malaria site. Overseas, permethrin or another insecticide, deltamethrin, may be purchased to treat bed nets and clothe

See other suggested over-the-counter medications and first aid items for a travelers’ health kit.

AFTER YOU RETURN HOME:

If you are not feeling well, you should see your doctor and mention that you have recently traveled. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

If you have visited a malaria-risk area, continue taking your antimalarial drug for 4 weeks (doxycycline or mefloquine) or seven days (atovaquone/proguanil) after leaving the risk area.

Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the physician your travel history.

Important Note: This document is not a complete medical guide for travelers to this region. Consult with your doctor for specific information related to your needs and your medical history; recommendations may differ for pregnant women, young children, and persons who have chronic medical conditions.

Expect bugs in the Amazon. The warm, humid environment provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other troublesome insects. That said, many travelers are surprised that the bugs are not nearly as prevalent as they expect. The diverse bird populations near most Amazon lodges help to keep insect populations in check and travelers are often too busy enjoying the sites and sounds of the jungle to be bothered by the lingering insects that remain.

Mosquito breeding is heavily dependent upon the weather, however, and the number of insects can change dramatically from one day to the next, depending upon the amount of standing water and other weather factors. It is always a good idea to take reasonable precautions to insure you have the most enjoyable experience. Use insect repellent with DEET and wear long sleeves and long pants whenever possible, particularly in the evening and early morning when insects can be at their worst. The lodges generally provide mosquito netting for you to tuck in around your bed and most travelers find that portable netting for hiking is not necessary (though bring it along if you are particularly sensitive to bugs!).

Macaw Clay Licks

See some of the most amazing amazon rainforest birds. Large flocks of macaws and parrots congregate around exposed sections of riverbeds, called clay licks, to nibble at the clay and socialize. Why do the birds eat the clay? Some scientists theorize the clay contains sodium and other minerals that they may need but don’t get from their food. Others think that the birds ingest the clay to help neutralize the toxins they eat from certain plants. To observe these beautiful birds in clay-eating action, guides may point out clay licks along the river while traveling in boat or take you to a protective dry-lead camouflage covering.

Oxbow Lakes

Oxbow lakes are unique habitats to Peru’s southern Amazon basin region. These lakes are formed as bends in the river are slowly cut off from the main water flow over hundreds of years. Get an early start to your day and explore the lake waters aboard a paddle-driven boat. With luck on your side, caimans, several species of birds, and resident families of giant otters are among the wildlife you can see!

Canopy Tour

Gain a new perspective of the Amazon on a visit to the jungle canopy. The startling diversity in flora and fauna varies not only by habitat but also by distance from the rainforest floor. The canopy bridge at the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica jungle lodge swings 31 meters (103 feet) above the rainforest floor.

Jungle Walk

Guided jungle walks are a chance to soak in the surrounding nature you at a slower. Some trails meander old-growth forests of towering trees, others explore shin-deep waters. Along the way, your expert guide will point out hidden wildlife and share knowledge about the Amazon rainforest vegetation.

Local Community Visit

Many jungle lodges work closely with local communities. Posada Amazonas is a popular jungle lodge near the Tambopata National Reserve that’s owned in partnership between the native Ese’eja community and Rainforest Expeditions. Visiting a local farm or traditional community clinic offers great insight to how locals live in harmony with the Amazon.

Responsible tourism requires responsible travellers, and this page is dedicated to helping you understand the very big issues that currently threaten the Amazon rainforest. Read on to find out how your visit can benefit the rainforest and the people who make their lives in it.

Rainforest deforestation

It’s a small world and we’re all connected. You may not know but, every year, the same amount of soil nutrients washed away by the heavy rains of the Amazon is replaced by the dust blown across the ocean from the Sahara. In fact, the Amazon is so big that not only does it make its own rain, it provides rain for countries as far away as Paraguay and Argentina.

It’s not news that we’re destroying the Amazon – after all, many of us have been surrounded by save the rainforest campaigns since school. But we’ve now reached a tipping point where, if we don’t stop, experts believe the natural systems that support this enormous rainforest will be broken. Deforestation is directly linked to a reduction in rainfall in the Amazon, generally thought to be the most powerful mitigator against rising temperatures. We’re messing with naturally regulated Earth systems, and not for the first time. A recent UCL study shows that human activity in the Amazon had an impact on climate change long before the Industrial Revolution.

On the other side of the coin, in tiny isolated pockets of a huge area, the Amazon’s indigenous population is hanging on by a thread. Over centuries, the continent’s native people have been impoverished by the continued theft and decimation of their lands in the name of development. An estimated 11-50 million native inhabitants lived in the rainforest in 1500. In Brazil, only 900,000 remain, making up just 0.4 percent of the population. In some cases, only a handful of members of some tribes are still living.

Ever since the arrival of Europeans in the 1500s, Amazonian people have suffered discrimination, persecution and mass genocide. Alongside the threat of colonial-brought disease, against which they have little immunity, intensive farming is the greatest danger to the livelihoods of most indigenous people today. Traditional tribal cultures have been eroded and indigenous languages are being forgotten, some are down to just single speakers.

Faced with extinction, some tribes have turned to tourism. Ecolodges that are part-founded and run by indigenous communities benefit both locals and the environment they live in. They have also helped rekindle interest in preserving traditional ways of life, as demonstrating ancestral customs to strangers motivates younger generations to practice them.

They’re examples of how tourism can offer an economic solution to poorer inhabitants of the Amazon, providing not just jobs but, as proven by Uakari Lodge, higher incomes than the average local wage.

Amazon River Cruises

If the thought of a cruise conjures up confusing images of huge floating hotels barging through the rainforest, you wouldn’t be far out. Some of the most popular Amazon river tours are run by some of the largest cruise line companies in the world, transporting up to 1,000 passengers at a time. These boats are simply too big to venture beyond the massive main artery of the Amazon and there’s not much chance of spotting wildlife out here. Filled with gyms, spas, Jacuzzis and buffets, they consume enormous amounts of energy and contribute little to the local economies.

Some of the same cruise lines found guilty of dumping dirty wastewater along coasts and discharging oil into the sea also sail up the Amazon. Most have a poor record when it comes to air pollution. Smaller, more sustainable boats built specifically for river cruises have a lower environmental impact. They’re not luxury cruises and consume less energy, so can rely on more renewable sources, and they regularly turn their engines off to conserve fuel. They’re also quieter and their size makes them less damaging to their surroundings, so you’re more likely to see wildlife.

Integrity

The property benefits from a natural protection at a relatively large scale due to its remote location and is considered to be one of the most pristine areas of the Peruvian Amazon. The presence of large top predators in natural population densities, such as Jaguar, Puma, Giant Otter and Harpy Eagle, provides evidence of the near-pristine overall state of Manu National Park. Unlike other parts of the Amazon Manu National Park is believed to be still largely free of alien invasive species. The property is today embedded in a much broader conservation complex comprised of different categories of protected areas and indigenous communal areas, including the contiguous including Alto Purus National Park, Megantoni National Sanctuary, adding another layer of protection. There are functional corridors extending all the way to the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazon. Since the extension of the property, the watershed of the Manu River, a major tributary to the Madre de Dios, is protected in its entirety. Direct human use and interference is minimal and mostly restricted to small numbers of indigenous residents. Provided that they maintain a lifestyle compatible with conservation objectives, their presence is not believed to negatively affect the conservation values of Manu National Park. The integrity of the property could be compromised by inappropriate developments in its vicinity, implying a need to strongly consider the surrounding buffer zone in protection and management efforts.

Protection and Management requirements

The geographic isolation and longstanding protection have saved Manu National Park from changes that have been occurring elsewhere in the Peruvian Amazon. The formal conservation history started in 1968, when Manu Nature Reserve was declared. Owing to the dedication of a group of Peruvian conservationists and international supporters the national park was formalized by Supreme Decree in 1973. In 1977, Manu National Park was recognized by UNESCO as the core zone of an even larger biosphere reserve. Both the national park and the biosphere reserve are today under the authority of Peru’s national protected areas agency SERNANP under the Ministry of the Environment. The zonation of the government-owned park distinguishes various zones. The by far largest is the Restricted Zone, consisting mostly of undisturbed forests and dedicated exclusively to conservation with controlled access for researchers and de facto accepted indigenous subsistence resource use. Other, smaller zones are a Special Use Zone, two distinct Recreational Zones, a Cultural Zone and a Recuperation Zone covering relatively small Andean areas impacted by livestock and related use of fire. The smallest zone is a so-called Service Zone around Cocha Cashu Biological Station and the various control posts manned by rangers. The management of the property is guided by a Master Plan with a committee comprised of various stakeholders set up to ensure local participation in and contributions to management.

The Manu National Park and its adjacent area, in the Manu Biosphere Reserve, are characterized by their great cultural diversity. The high Andean part is inhabited by Quechua peasant communities; the Amazonian part by the Matsigenka, Yine Harakmbut, Yora (Nahua), Nanty (Kugapakori) and the “Mashco Piro” indigenous peoples, who, like some Matsigenka and other settlements, still remain in voluntary isolation or in initial contact with the larger society.
In the Andean zone, the Manu National Park adjoins the Quechua Peasant Communities of Mendozayoc, Pucará, Solan, Televan, Sahuay, Jesús María, Lali, Patanmarca, Lucuybamba, Huaccanca, Pilco Grande, Pasto Grande and Jajahuana. The Manu National Park is related to the Andean communities through agreements on the use of pastures, reduction of the conflict with the Andean bear and the prevention of forest fires. In addition, the traditional festivities of Inti Paqareq and the Virgen del Carmen are of utmost importance, which, due to their magical-religious significance, mobilize faithful and tourists to the Tres Cruces sector, inside the PNM, to appreciate the fascinating exit of the sun.
In the Amazon area, the Manu National Park adjoins the Native Communities of Santa Rosa de Huacaria, Palotoa Teparo, Shipetiari, Isla de los Valles and Diamante. Within the ANP are the Native Communities of Tayakome, and its annex Mayzal, and Yomibato, with its annex Cacaotal. Likewise, throughout the territory of the Manu National Park, there are Matsigenka populations in initial contact and Mashco Piro populations in voluntary isolation. The objective of ecosystem conservation, which is a priority for the administration of the Manu National Park, allows to guarantee the ecosystem services for the maintenance of the living conditions of the populations inside the park.
Culture
“Indigenous peoples have a lot to teach us, not only on the spiritual level, but also on practical issues about the environment in which they live. Indigenous peoples have great knowledge about medicines, wild edible and domesticated plants, to dyes, insect repellents, perfumes and other practical uses of plants Not only do native peoples have enormous knowledge about individual plant species, they also know local plant communities, habits and forest types better than scientists (Shepard G.).
Indigenous Peoples in Situation of Isolation and Initial Contact
Indigenous peoples in isolation or initial contact constitute vulnerable sectors of national society that have historically been affected in territorial, sociocultural, economic, and biological terms. For this reason, the Peruvian State defends their rights through a Special Multisector Protection Regime regulated in Law No. 28736.

Native Communities
Queros
The Native Community of Queros (CN Queros) consists of 6,975.99 hectares, located in the District of Kosñipata, Province of Paucartambo, Department of Cusco.
The landscape of the Queros Native Community is mountainous, forming slopes, ravines, chains of peaks and blades with slopes between 50% and 75%, and its altitude range varies from 824 m to 1773 m. It is surrounded by the Blanco Grande and Chico rivers, tributaries of the Queros River. Its channels are irregular (torrentous) in the springs, formed by a rocky relief.
The average annual temperature is 24°C, which gives it a warm and humid climate, high temperatures reach 29°C and low temperatures 18°C, and can reach between 6°C and 8°C in the cold season. The average annual precipitation is 3,102 mm with an average annual relative humidity of 87%.
Within the biological characteristics, the vegetation corresponds to primary forests characterized by presenting a timber forest composition, tree species that are in the process of natural regeneration, a high variety of flora species typical of the high jungle, epiphytic species among which the Orchidaceae family stands out, undergrowth made up of ferns, some trees, and a wide variety of shrubs and herbs. The faunal potential is very rich and varied and the area is important for being a unique and intact site that will serve to house the fauna of nearby places that move due to the pressure exerted by hunting and logging.
Santa Rosa de  Huacaria
The Santa Rosa de Huacaria Native Community comprises a total area of ​​36,806.25 hectares, located in the District of Kosñipata, Province of Paucartambo, Department of Cusco.
The territory of the Santa Rosa de Huacaria Native Community is mostly characterized by mountains, presenting a rugged topography, generally superficial soils and abundant outcrops of the rocky substrate and high acidity. The populated center of the community is located at 520 meters above sea level. It extends along the right bank of the Amalia River to its junction with the Piñi Piñi River, continuing downstream along its right bank until it meets the mouth of the Huacaria River and then the Quebrada Bienvenida.

The average annual temperature is 23.13º C, with little variation throughout the year, the minimum temperatures occur during the months of June and July, and the maximum occur during the months of September and October, although throughout the year the nights are very cool, presenting sudden changes in temperature. The average annual precipitation for the annual basin is estimated at 2,876 mm, the spatial variation of the precipitation is related to the proximity of the Piñi Piñi and Pantiacolla mountain ranges, where the highest values ​​of precipitation are recorded in their vicinity, contrary to The lower and flatter areas have less precipitation.
Other communities
• PalotoaTeparo
• Shipetiari
• Shintuya
• Diamond
• Island of the Valleys
• Tayakome
• Yomibate

See more at: http://bdpi.cultura.gob.pe/node/103#main-content

The Tambopata National Reserve, Peru

The Tambopata National Reserve is found in southern Peru. This can be reached after only 30 minutes of travel time from the rainforest gateway town of Puerto Maldonado. This section of Peru contains the most clay licks in the Amazon. These are fantastic places to see colorful macaw parrots gathered at the clay. You can also find beautiful oxbow lakes, which are sometimes home to giant river otters.

The Tambopata National Reserve covers around 274,690 hectares of lowland Amazon Rainforest. This protects the lower section of the Tambopata River following its descent from Lake Titicaca down the Andes.The reserve contains some fantastic animals and plants. These include the tall emergent trees of Brazil nuts, mahogany, and cedar.

Spot various toucans, macaws and other parrots flying over the forest. These are best seen at clay licks and canopy towers, which you can find at certain Tambopata Rainforest lodges.

The lodges in the Tambopata rainforest provide some fantastic trails, lakes and clay licks. And you can find a variety of rainforest animals. Enjoy seeing herds of peccary, several different monkeys and giant river otters. You even have a chance of spotting jaguar from deep lodges. Our favorite Tambopata lodge is the Tambopata Research Center. This lodge even offers a 20% chance of spotting wild jaguar.

For another favorite animal to find, a great lodge for seeing giant river otters is the community-owned Posada Amazonas Lodge. This is located in connected rainforest next to the reserve. To give an example of the Tambopata Reserve and surrounding rainforest, here’s a table to show the chances of seeing different Amazon Rainforest animals.

As recommended lodges to provide examples, the table contains information for:

• The Posada Amazonas
• The Refugio Amazonas
• The Tambopata Research Center

The Manu National Park, Peru

The Manu National Park covers an impressive 1.5 million hectares. The area protects the entirety of the Manu River. Manu continues to set records for wildlife richness. This is not only because of its large area, but also because it includes lowland rainforest and forest on the Andes.

Although not permitted in the national park itself, visitors can visit connected rainforest. This is the rainforest surrounding the park known as the Reserved Zone. Enjoy some large macaw clay licks where hundreds of colorful macaw gather at the clay. You can also see a beautiful lake with giant river otters and different monkeys.

We require a 50% deposit to hold your reservation that can be made with any major credit card, when we receive your payment we will send you a payment confirmation via email. The remaining balance will be due at the time of (or before) your arrival to Cusco, at our travel office.

You can book your Amazon tour at any time and generally the earlier you book, the better, especially during dry season. Some lodges fill up 6 months in advance or more during the most popular dry season departures (esp. June – August). During the wet season, travelers can often book last minute, though 2-3 months notice is still recommended to give you time to arrange vaccinations, international flights, etc. We also recommend that you wait to book your international flights until after your tour is confirmed. The sooner that we arrange your tour, the sooner that you can take advantage of flight deals as they become available.

We are often able to accommodate last minute travelers (some even departing in less than one week!!), so give us a call and we will do our best! For last minute bookings, it helps to be flexible and organized. Your first choice tour may not be available for your selected dates, but your trip coordinator can probably recommend some other similar options that would be equally interesting! Many lodges will not hold spaces less than 30 days before departure so for last minute bookings, you may be asked to send your registration form and trip payment in right away to secure your spaces.

We operate amazon tours from Manu National Park  every single day with no fixed departure dates – accommodating your schedule, not ours!

Yes, you can pay your amazon rainforest  tour with VISA, Mastercard and most of the other credit cards like AMEX, Discovery, etc. But has a fee of 5.5 %.

Please read the tour program carefully before you book a tour, if you have any questions we will be happy to answer them. Changes in the itinerary may occur, due to the natural circumstances in Manu National Park.

For a booking we need your full name, address, age, passport number and nationality. To secure your booking we require a down payment of (minimum) 300 US $ per person for the longer tours and 200 US$ per person for short tours.

The deposit can be made to our Reservation formular in our web page. Then we confirm by email the reception of the deposit and your tour booking(s).

The balance will be paid in cash in Cusco the day of your arrival  (in Soles or US$). Payment by Visa or Master card is also possible, but has a fee of 5.5 %.

Please note that damaged US$ bills are not accepted in Peru, as it is foreign money. Even small rips are reasons for bills being refused.

Please contact us with your idea for a private Amazon tour, including the group size and telling us which one of our tours would you like to use as a base for creating your desired experience.

The cost depends on this information.

We can make customized trips up to 4 days in Manu National Park, Tambopata Jungle. You can plan a mixture of lodging for the more adventurous format. We have specialized bi-lingual guides, with years of experience on birdwatching tours, group and private tours.

All food, water, and camping equipment will be provided.

Cancellations done 16 days or more before the departure date will be 100% refunded when is not a special offer (rate) minus 5% for administrative expenses.

Cancellations within 15 days before the departure date will be billed at full fare.

Refunds will not apply under cancellations of air, road, lake, river, or trail travel due to changes in airline schedules, bad weather conditions, civil or government strikes, acts of God or government, acts of terrorism, force majeure (including world or local health conditions), criminal activity, or sickness.