Manu National Park Cloud Forest & Rainforest

Day 01: Cusco - TAMBO PAITITI

We start our jungle tour leaving from Cusco in the morning in our private bus. During the journey, we will pass an impressive landscape and small communities. Leaving the colonial village of Paucartambo behind we reach the Acjanaco Pass (3550 m/ 11.647 ft), the entrance to the Manu National Park. There you will have a first view over the eastern slopes of the Andes to the canopy of the Amazon rainforest. During the trip, further down you will observe the fascinating change from the altiplano to the Cloud Forest of the Manu National Park with its unique fauna and flora. In the early afternoon, you will reach the San Pedro River. A short jungle walk will take you to the Manu Eco Lodge TAMBO PAITITI (1500 m/ 4.921 ft). After dinner, you will experience nature within dark and learn about the wildlife at night in the Manu Cloud Forest. (L, D)

Day 02: TAMBO PAITITI - TAMBO EORI

The early morning is the best time for bird-watching and observation of other animals of the Cloud Forest. From the observation tower or the different platforms of TAMBO PAITITI itself and right above the San Pedro River you may see the Andean Cock of the Rock (national bird of Peru), Toucan, Quetzal, Tanager and Motmot as well as Woolly Monkeys, Brown Capuchin Monkeys, Tayra, Agouti, Southern Tamandua and South American Coati. The Manu Cloud Forest is also habitat of the Night Monkey, the rare Spectacled Bear, the Jaguarondi, Ocelot, Puma, Weasel, Otter, squirrels and a big family of rodents and bats. After a delicious breakfast in TAMBO PAITITI you will continue the jungle tour to the Amazon lowland rainforest until reaching Atalaya and the Alto Madre de Dios River. After about one hour by boat you will be expected in our Lodge TAMBO EORI (470 m/ 1.542 ft) at Maskoitania, the former settlement of the Masko Natives. Nearby the Jaguar has been seen several times! (B, L, D)

Day 03: TAMBO EORI - TAMBO PAITITI

In the early morning, we will have a short boat ride in order to observe parrots at a clay lick nearby. Different jungle trails, which are used exclusively by our groups, lead from Tambo Eori into primary and secondary rainforest. The lowland jungle is the habitat of more than five hundred different species of birds, several species of monkeys, a lot of butterflies, amphibians and reptiles. You may see the tapir and otters and caimans at an oxbow lake nearby. In the afternoon, you will return to TAMBO PAITITI and may relax observing nature from the terrace of the lodge and other viewpoints, or you can have a refreshing bath in the San Pedro River. (B, L, D)

Day 04: TAMBO PAITITI - Cusco

This morning offers another opportunity for the observation of the Manu Cloud Forest’s wildlife. After breakfast, you will take our bus back to the Acjanaco Pass and down to Paucartambo. During our journey towards Cusco you can enjoy once more the variety of landscapes Peru offers. Arrival at Cusco in the afternoon.

(B, L)

Service includes

Private transport (bus + boat), 2 nights in TAMBO PAITITI, 1 night in TAMBO EORI, meals as indicated (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner), potable water, hot drinks, and specialized English speaking guide.

Recommended equipment

• Binoculars
• Camera + extra batteries
• Flash-light + extra batteries
• Sunscreen lotion (SPF at least 30)
• Insect repellent
• Personal toiletries and medications
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Long pants
• Hiking boots
• Sneakers/ sandals                        
• Rain suit
• Swimsuit

Pre-Tour Information & overnight stay

at Manu Lodge TAMBO PAITITI

in the Cloud Forest of the Manu National Park

and Manu Lodge TAMBO EORI in the Rainforest

Our way to the Manu

The Manu Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 2 Mio hectares with different altitudes and vegetation regions between 3.900 m/ 12.795 ft and 300 m/ 984 ft. The partially unpaved road leads from Cusco through the Andean Highlands, crosses the Acjanaco Pass and descends through the Elfin Forest to the Cloud Forest until reaching the Amazon Lowlands.

The diverse way from Cusco through different landscapes and remote communities will be accompanied by relevant explanations about native culture and nature from your guide. This means travelling by bus to the Manu becomes an important component of the tour and a worthwhile experience.

The travelling time between Cusco and our Manu Eco Lodge TAMBO PAITITI (at 1.470 m/ 4.826 ft) in the Manu Cloud Forest is about 5 hours. However, you will have a variety of stopovers during the journey in order to enjoy our picnic and different scenic views and photographic opportunities. Continuing your tour to the lowland you will spend approximately another 3 hours in bus from TAMBO PAITITI to Atalaya where a boat will take you in about 1 hour to the Manu Eco Lodge TAMBO EORI (at 470 m/ 1.542 ft). The actual length of the journey by bus depends on road and weather conditions and also on the number of brakes which will be taken upon request of our passengers.

Weather

You will travel through the Andean Highlands and descend the Eastern Slopes of the Andes to the Cloud Forest and further down to the Amazon Lowlands. Please be prepared for a variety of temperatures: In the Highland, it may feel like summer when the sun comes out but it always remains chilly in the shadow and quite cold at night. In the Cloud Forest the average temperature lies about 19°C/ 66°F, in the Lowlands about 28°C/ 82,4°F with highest temperatures about 34°C/ 93°F. Occasionally occurring cold fronts can lower the temperatures even in the jungle under 10° C/ 50°F. Rainfalls are usual throughout the year, not only during the so-called rainy season between November and April.

Baggage/ Clothing

During your journey through the Andean Highland you will cross two passes above 3.000 m/ 9.843 ft, please be prepared and take some warm clothing, also for possible fresh nights in the Manu Biosphere Reserve. A rain suit is an indispensable part of your equipment.

Do not use flashy colored clothes; otherwise you will be detected by any wild animal before having even the chance to see it.

Because of the humidity in the jungle you should store your clothes in waterproof bags or plastic bags and always pack away unneeded clothes.

Mosquitoes are less annoying in the Cloud Forest than in the Lowlands. The best protection is long sleeved shirts and trousers, we recommend to take along an insect repellent suitable for tropical climates.

In order to reach the lodges, you will have to walk about 10 – 15 minutes on a jungle trail. Please consider this by selecting your luggage: it is far more convenient to take a backpack or a travelling bag on your jungle tour than a heavy suitcase!

Accommodation in the Manu Eco Lodges TAMBO PAITITI and TAMBO EORI

The Manu Eco Lodges TAMBO PAITITI and TAMBO EORI have been built according to the traditional architecture of the native jungle inhabitants. They are made of wood and thatched with a special palm leave construction. The different platforms are connected by wooden bridges or trails. Instead of glass windows you will have a free view to nature from all platforms.

You will stay in (double bedded) rooms with beds & mosquito nets and a roofed terrace for relaxing and wildlife observation.

Toilets/ Washing facilities

In TAMBO PAITITI all rooms include a private area with water toilet & lavatory. In Tambo Eori we are offering individual water toilets & lavatories and showers in a common used area. Towels will be provided in both lodges.

*** Please use soap or shampoo only in the lavatories & showers, not in the river. ***

Electricity

Candle light will provide a friendly atmosphere in the lodges. We do not have no electricity at our lodges.

We recommend to recharge all batteries required for cameras or other equipment before starting the tour and, if necessary, take replacement batteries with you. In specific cases, we could provide a generator, if required please contact us for more details.

Cell phone coverage and internet connection are generally quite rare in the jungle; we have none of these technological achievements in or around our lodges. We are pleased to integrate this into our concept and invite you to turn off, tune out, decelerate your life and truly relax.

Wildlife observation

TAMBO PAITITI and TAMBO EORI offer you the possibility of wildlife observation even from your room. The terraces of all platforms are laid out for your convenience and trouble-free observation of nature.

Meals/ Drinks

During the journey, we will serve a picnic, snacks and soft drinks. In TAMBO PAITITI and TAMBO EORI you will be provided with full board, you are welcome to an unlimited consumption of bottled water and hot drinks.

For the journey by bus and the hikes around the lodges we recommend to take a plastic bottle (at least 0.5 liters) which can be refilled with bottled water.

Health/ Vaccinations

You should take general precautions for your trip to Peru by a vaccination against Hepatitis-A.

For your tour to jungle we highly recommend a yellow fever vaccination (at least 10 days prior to departure). If you are travelling between Peru, Bolivia and Brazil this may even be requested at the frontier.

A Malaria prophylaxis is not necessary for a visit to the Manu Biosphere Reserve!

Pre-Tour Briefing

On the evening before the tour starts we will meet you in order to explain the itinerary and other details of your tour and to give you the possibility to ask any further question. Time and place as agreed.

Recommended equipment

• Binoculars
• Camera + extra batteries (recharged)
• Flash-light + extra batteries
• Sunscreen lotion (SPF at least 30)
• Insect repellent
• Personal toiletries and medications
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Long pants
• Hiking shoes/ boots
• Sneakers/ sandals
• Rain suit
• Swimsuit