Manu Reserve Peru and Macaw Clay Lick (7 Days)

The seven days Manu Reserve Peru and Macaw Clay Lick experience in Manu Peru biosphere reserve is one of our signature tours. The experience takes you deep into Manu National Park.

Manu Peru is divided into three zones – Manu Core Zone, Manu Reserved Zone and Cultural Zone. Access to Manu Core Zone is restricted to scientists and researchers. Manu Biosphere reserve or reserved zone is dedicated to tourism and the cultural zone is home to natives where some jungle lodges are located.

The Amazon Rainforest is spread over 1,532,806 hectares (1.5 million hectares) and connects many countries in South America. Manu Peru is the largest part of the Amazon.

Manu is widely visited among travellers. Primarily because of its close proximity to Cusco. Manu National Park houses countless species of birds, animals and plants. Most plants are used by the natives for medicinal purposes.

Manu National Park rises from 150 metres above sea level to 4200 metres above sea level. UNESCO recognised Manu as one of the world heritage sites in 1987.

This seven days Manu Reserve Peru and Macaw Clay Lick tour with our local crew takes you to the protected areas of the Amazon jungle. You will be able to see the biodiversity that exists in the Amazon rainforest.

The experience also includes many activities like birdwatching, jaguar spotting, night safaris, survival lessons, seeing different plant species and more.

Why Palotoa Amazon Travel?

We are a family owned local tour operator from the Palotoa community in Manu National Park. We take pride in employing locals from the community. They have an extensive knowledge about the flora and fauna, trails and the indigenous culture and traditions.

Do take a moment to see our guest reviews on Tripadvisor

Package / Tour: Manu Reserve Peru and Macaw Clay Lick 7D/6N
Price 2024: USD $ 2500.00 price per person, with 2 to 3 travellers
Group price from 4 to more passenger special price
Locations Visited: Reserved Zone and Tambo Blanquillo, Boca colorado
Frequency: 4 Times of week
Physical Grading: 1-2-3-4-5

OVERVIEW & ITINERARY

Start: Cusco
End: Cusco
Group size: Minimum 4 Maximum 10
Age Minimum: 05 to 15 years old with their parents, Adults up to 70 years of age
Style: Original and unique
Type: Adventure and biodiversity
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Tour Route and altitude
Cusco (3,300m.s.n.m.) – Andes– (3830 m.s.n.m.) Cloud Forest (1,500m.s.n.m.), Amazon Basin (280m.s.n.m.)
Manu National Park covers an area of 1716 292 22 million hectares, and is categorized as one of the most extensive parks in South America.

MANU PERU DETAILED ITINERARY

NOTE: Our seven days Manu Reserve Peru and Macaw Clay Lick Tour involves several trips by bus and boat. The weather in certain areas is unpredictable. The program may be subject to change at any time without notice.

Day 1 – Cusco – San Pedro – Rain forest Lodge):

We will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco quite early in the morning. Then we will embark on a long drive from the Andes to Amazon in our private transport. We will have a couple of stops on our way.

Our first stop will be in a small town called Nincamarca. It is home to pre Incan funeral towers from the Lupacas civilization. We will be giving you a guided tour of the site.

We will then continue to Paucartambo. It is a folkloric town. People here have maintained their age-old traditions and customs. They still continue to converse in the native language, Quechua.

From here we will be driving up the hill to the viewpoint of Tres Cruces from where you will have a panoramic view of the Amazon basin.Then will descend through the cloud forest of the Manu National Park.

Manu National Park:

We will have a brief stop here. The region is home to the Peruvian National Bird – Andean Cock of the Rock. Here you will also be able to spot different and distinct breeds of Monkeys like the wooly monkey. Our local expert guide will be giving you a detailed tour.

Later in the evening, we will drive you to Rain fores Lodge where we will accommodate you in an ensuite room.

Day 2 – Rain forest Lodge – Amazon Lodge:

At 0630 in the morning, after breakfast, we will be checking out from the hotel. Then we will be driving you to the Atalaya port. On our way, we will be stopping at a viewpoint to get a panoramic view of the Peruvian Amazon and Alto Madre de Dios river.

We will also be visiting a local farm where you will be able to see local farmers producing different types of tropical fruits. We will also be visiting a coca plantation.

Once at Atalaya port, we will be taking a boat on the Madre de Dios river. On this journey, you will be able to see different bird species including parrots, vultures, oropendolas and others. This region is also home to capybaras. They are massive jungle rodents.

At around 0500 PM, we will be reaching the serene Amazon Lodge. We will be accommodating you in an ensuite private room. After dinner, we will be doing a night safari to spot some nocturnal creatures like the tarantulas, snakes and scorpios.

Day 3 Amazon Lodge – Casa Matsiguenka (Reserved Zone):

This is one of the best days of the Manu Reserve Peru and Macaw Clay Lick tour. Early in the morning, after breakfast we will be checking out of the Hummingbird Lodge. Leaving behind the clear waters of the Madre De Dios river, we will be entering the clay laden waters of Manu river.

We will be having a brief stop at Limonal Control where we will have to present the permits to the Park Rangers. We will then sail for five hours on Manu river. The beaches here are full of nesting birds, feeding herons, Orinocos and ergets. You will also be able to spot some black and white caimans.

Over a hundred sand coloured nightjars roost during the day on logs and beaches. Here you will also be able to spot Jaguars. This region is also home to red howler monkeys and squirrel monkeys. We will be stopping for lunch amidst the jungle.

Casa Matsiguenka Lodge:

We will then reach the Casa Matsiguenka lodge that nestles on the shores of the Cocha Salvador Lake. The lodge is managed by the Matsiguenka community. There are many interesting trails around the lodge where Matsiguenkas, as locals, guide the tours.

We will be spending the afternoon exploring some interesting trails on this pristine Amazon rainforest area. Then we will be visiting the Cocha Otorongo lake which houses a 20 metres high observation tower in the rainforest canopy. You will have a panoramic view of the lake and the wildlife from here. You will also be able to see giant otters here.

Then we will return to the lodge for dinner. After dinner, we will have the option of experiencing the night tour of the jungle where you can spot more nocturnal creatures. We will be sailing on the boat for the night tour, so you will also have the opportunity of spotting black caimans, olingo kinkajou, ocelot etc.

After a full day tour of the lowland rainforest, we will return to the lodge.

Day 4 – Casa Matsiguenka – Cocha Salvador:

We will be serving you a typical Amazonian breakfast, then we will be spending the rest of the morning at Lake Cocha Salvador. We will be canoeing on the lake and from the floating platform, you will be able to spot wildlife of the Salvador Oxbow lake.

Here, we will also see Agami Heron, brown capuchin monkeys, and more. There are specially constructed stones that jot out into the lake.

From here you will get to see families of giant river otters that inhabit here. These are the world’s largest freshwater carnivores remaining in Manu. Each of these animals consumes between 4-5 kgs of fish a day. You will often spot them eating fishes on the lakeside.

We will be spending the rest of the day hiking on the trails and looking for the thirteen iconic species of monkeys. The region is also home to many medicinal plants. Our guide will be explaining its uses in detail.

Her we will also spot groups of Peccaries. They are a species of new world pigs. We will then cross the Pakitza Post of Control to see more bi-diversity. After sunset, we will return to Casa Matsiguenka lodge for dinner.

Day 5 – Casa Matsiguenka – Blanquillo Tambo Lodge:

We will be waking up to the call of the red howler monkeys. After relishing a delicious Amazonian breakfast, we will sail on the Manu River. On our way, you will be able to see different species of birds namely kingfishers, herons, king vultures etc.

On our way, we will have a brief stop in Boca Manu to buy some refreshing cold beverages. We will then continue to Tambo Blanquillo Lodge. After finishing the check in formalities, we will hike through some beautiful trails and spot stunning lagoons, alligators and some nocturnal animals.

MACAW CLAY LICK:

One peculiar habitat near the “Tambo Blanquillo” is the shebonal forest. This type of forest is high in clay content, creating clay licks , locally known as Collpa which are specially used by macaws and other rainforest species as a healthy diet supplement that helps them remove toxins from their digestive tracts.

Macaws usually obtain these noxious chemical substances from unripe fruits they ingest. Our lodge is just 10 minutes away from the Macaw Clay Lick. A blind of 10 meters of altitude has been built facing it, so you can take close-up pictures without disturbing the bird’s activity.

It consists of 40 comfortable seats, each with a personal counter where your binoculars and cameras can be placed in order to give you better stability to take superb pictures of the macaws on the clay lick.

Day 6 – Blanquillo Tambo Lodge – Macaws Clay Lick

At day break, we will go by boat to “Macaw Clay Licks”, a special place where flocks of Parakeets, Parrots, and Macaws come every day to eat the nutritious lick, located at the wall of the river.

We will stay here at a camouflaged hideout house for the birds. It is bird lover paradise, where you will get to see and hear many of them, however this activity is very much weather dependent. (Hiding house).

There we will spend around 5 hours waiting to see the macaws in their daily activity. We will then return to the lodge for lunch. We will then visit the camungo oxbow lake. Here, we will hike to an observation tower. The view point offers spectacular views of the Amazon basin and the lake.

We will then return to the lodge for dinner.

Day 7 – Blanquillo Tambo Lodge – Boca Colorado – Cusco:

After breakfast, we will be travelling by motor boat for three hours to Boca Colorado. From here, we will be taking a mini-van to Puerto Carlos. Here we will be crossing the Inambari river. Then we will take our mini van for a six hours drive back to Cusco.

IMAGES RESERVED ZONE AND MACAW CLAY LICK

MANU RESERVE PERU AND MACAW CLAY LICK TOUR INCLUDES

Private transport terrestrial and fluvial (bus and boat)
Professional and bilingual tour guide from the jungle
Rubber boots
Waterproof bag
All accommodations at Lodge
All camping equipment
Mineral water all the time
First aid kit
3 meals per day ( buffet) included a vegetarian food
Snack
Professional cook
Entrance to the Hot Spring and
Entrance to Manu National Park
Entrance to Macaw Clay Lick
Entrance to Palotoa Ecological Reserve

RECOMMENDED TO CARRY TO MANU RESERVE PERU

Mosquitos Repellent
Good Binocular
Camera with extra batteries
Flashlight with extra batteries
Sun lotion
Poles cotton long sleeve
Cotton socks,
Sunglasses
Pocket money
Daypack
Water bottle
Sun hat
Sandals
Swimming suit

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Manu national Park located?

Located in the southeast of Peru, in the provinces of Paucartambo in Cusco and Manu in Madre de Dios.
It has an area of 1’717’295.22 hectares.

How to get to Manu National Park Peru?

Manu is at 130 kilometers from Cusco city traveling by road, which interacts as a gateway to the Manu National Park. You can also get to Puerto Maldonado by land from Cusco or by air through Lima. From there you can ride the mother river of God by boat. and you can get to the manu reserve. but it is more far and expensive.

Manu National Park when to visit?

The best time to visit the Peruvian Jungle is between April and November, during the dry season. The rainy season is from February to March, when access by road becomes more difficult and when the paths in the forest can be flooded.

What is the difference between the cultural zone and the reserved zone?

The Manu National Park is divided into three parts: cultural zone or buffer 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.

Do I need to be in good physical condition to travel?

It is not a requirement, but one must be able to walk a path of several kilometers to fully enjoy what Manu has to offer.

Do vaccines are needed for yellow fever, malaria and malaria?

In the Manu National Park there are no reports of cases of yellow fever, malaria and malaria however if you want to stay longer in tropical places it is better to consult with your doctor.