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PERU TRAVEL PLANNER
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MANU NATIONAL PARK RESERVED ZONE PROGRAM
The Manu Explorer 5 days 4 nights tour
This program is similar to our traditional "Bio-Trip" but features the
Wildlife Tented Camp located inside the Manu National Park.
Departures from Cusco : Every Thursdays (From May through November)
Price per person $1470 (2/4 pax)
Price per person $1390 (5 up pax)
Price per person $1770(1 pax)
Prices per person in double accommodation. (Minimum two passengers)
Manu National Park, located in southeastern Peru, is one of the largest parks in
South America. The area of the park encompasses parts of the Andean department
of Cusco and the jungle department of Madre de Dios. Manu protects over 2
million hectares (4.5 million acres) of territory rich in flora and fauna
species in a variety of habitats including high Andes, cloud forests, and
lowland tropical rain forests.
UNESCO officially recognizes this natural paradise as a world heritage site. In
1977 they designated Manu as a World Biosphere Reserve because it contains the
best existing example of biodiversity in protected areas of rain forest, as well
as endemic areas of cloud forest.
Humans have altered the majority of forests in the world. Fortunately, Manu has
remained intact and untouched by civilization. Thus, we can observe a variety of
animals in their natural habitats, including: Giant Otters (Pteronura
brasiliensis), Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger), the majestic Jaguar (Panthera
onca), the strange Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus), the Tapir (Tapirus
terrestris), the Ocelot (Felis pardalis), 13 species of primates, and an
estimated one thousand species of birds including seven species of Macaws (Ara
sp.).
Manu also contains 10% of the world’s vascular plant species, including several
species of figs and palms, as well as countless species of medicinal plants that
scientists are currently cataloguing. A single hectare of forest in Manu can
have up to 220 species of trees, while a hectare of temperate forest in Europe
or North America may only have 20 tree species.
THE MANU EXPLORER
ITINERARY
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Day 1: Cusco/Manu Cloud forest (Thursday) We pick you up by bus from
your
hotel, after your breakfast, and set off for the cloud forest. We pass over
two Andean chains of almost 13,100 feet elevation through a steppe-like
landscape, or Puna. On the way we pass stone Chullpas, or burial chambers,
of the Pre-Inca people and will hope to catch sight of some of the bird
species of the high Andes, including the Giant Hummingbird and Mountain
Caracara.
We plan on a delicious boxed lunch at the edge of the cloud forest, Ajanaco,
which if clear, affords views over the cloud forest and the vast sprawling
expanse of the lowland rain forest. From here the road suddenly descends the
eastern slope of the Andes. We plunge downwards, past remnant patches of
elfin forest, through swirling mist and cloud, to emerge in a forest of
stunted, evergreen trees, festooned with mosses, lichens, bromeliads and
other epiphytes. Nestled in this forest within a 2-minute walk of the road,
and within earshot of a rushing mountain stream, lies the Cock-of-the-Rock
Lodge, if there is time available, we will have a chance to briefly begin
our exploration of the surrounding forest before dinner. (Box Lunch,D)
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Day 2: Manu Cloud forest/Boca Manu (Friday) Observe Cocks-of-the-Rock
displaying and calling at down, and then enjoy breakfast back at the lodge.
Explore the cool, moist, mosquito-free cloud forest and search for the
confiding Brown Capuchin Monkeys. Travel by bus for 2-3 more hours to the
riverside hamlet of Atalaya, where we board our motor canoes to travel down
the Alto Madre de Dios River towards the mouth of the Manu River. Depending
on the road and river conditions on this day, we either sleep in a simple
tented camp (with small tents) or in a rustic local lodge near the mouth of
the Manu River. (B,L,D). |
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Day 3: Boca Manu/Manu wildlife Tented camps at park (Saturday) Dawn
in the
forest or on the riverbank, Visit Boca Manu town. That day we will join the
group that comes from Cusco by plane and together we will travel by motor
canoe up the Manu River for 5-6 hours to the Wildlife Tented Camp near Cocha
Salvador. We will stop at the Guard park station to be registered. On the
way we will have the chance to observe beaches with different birds, black
caimans, capybaras, turtles, etc. Afternoon arrival at Manu Wildlife Tented
camp. Then we will explore some trails of primary forest searching for
monkeys.
After dinner, the visitors with enough energy will explore other trails
looking for different species including insects and frogs.
(B,L,D). |
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Day 4: Manu
National Park (Sunday)
Visit Cocha Salvador and take a canoe or catamaran outing on the lake to
look for the famous endangered Giant Otters and observe some birds and
monkeys searching for food. The rest of the day we will explore other trails
through different forest types, with excellent chances to observe monkeys.
(B,L,D).
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Day 5: Manu National Park/Boca Manu/Cusco (Monday) Leave very early
to motor
down the Manu River and catch the flight to Cusco (airfare included).
Transfer to your hotel in Cusco. (B).
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Important note: Please note that the program may vary slightly so as
to maximize your wildlife sightings, depending on the reports of our
researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the lodge.
INCLUDES:
All hotel and lodge accommodations based on double occupancy. All scheduled
land, lake and river transportation. All transfers. All scheduled excursions
with English-speaking guide services. All entrance fees. Meals and domestic
airfares as specified in the itinerary. B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE FEE
International airfares, airport departure taxes or visa fees, excess baggage
charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight
cancellations,alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or bottled water,
snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, radio calls or
messages, reconfirmation of international flights and items of personal
nature
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RECOMMENDED TWO-NIGHT EXTENSION TO VISIT MACAW CLAY LICK, TAPIR CLAY LICK,
AND CANOPY PLATFORM
For those who
wish to extend their stay to visit the macaw clay lick, tapir clay lick,
120-foot-high (35m-high) canopy platforms and nature oxbow lakes near Manu
Wildlife Center, we recommend that you boat down the Madre de Dios River and
spend two nights at Manu Wildlife Center with full board. This two-night
extension could be done just after our “Manu Adventure” itinerary. Post-trip
extensions start at the Manu Landing Strip on Thursday and end on Saturday.
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Mon-Fri 9 Am - 6 Pm ET
please allow pop-ups
Published articles and reviews about us
2009
Testimonials
Noelle Melnychuk
Calgary, AB
Our tour to
the islands on Lake Titicaca was a
wonderful day. We had great weather and the people that we met
were very friendly. The island of Taguile was a beautiful little
paradise. The hotel in Puno was very good, with a great
breakfast. It is too bad we could only stay one night. We kept
the room for the second night so that we could freshen up before
going on the bus to Cusco Peru.
Thank you for everything that you have done to make our trip so
enjoyable. Please pass along to Christi our thanks for the great
job that she did in organizing our tour. She was able to
assemble an itinerary that included everything that we asked for
and still was not too rushed. It was an enjoyable, informative
and relaxing time.
Thank you again to all of the staff at
Peru travel Gateway
and your suppliers for making this a wonderful experience.
Peggy Chang
McLean, VA
US
I always wanted to write
you a line and let you know my husband and I had a great time in
Peru. Thank
you so much for the arrangement; everything was really smooth! The
guide in
Cusco, Eriksson, was really great. thank
you also for helping me with all
the reservation and all the changes!! Cusco and
Machu Picchu were all
fantastic, I"m sure we will want to go back to Peru at some point
again, and
I"ll definitely contact you again!! Thank you!!
Sincerely,
Peggy Chang
Mary W. Earp
WINNALSAW, NC
US
We had a very nice trip to Peru.
Thanks for you help. Our hotels in Peru
were what we expected, very nice and the hotel help went out of
their way to make sure we were comfortable and had what we needed.
Our guides were outstanding. Always on time and catered to our
needs. Our groups were small except for the Sacred Valley tour where
we had 25 members. Food was plentiful and tasty at each restaurant.
The Hotel Casa Andina in Cusco gave us an upgrade when we returned
from MP which was very nice. Also, the Radisson gave us an upgrade
when we returned to Lima although we stayed only 6 hours.
Again, thanks for your services. I feel very fortunate that I
selected your travel services, because of the services. Several on
the trip thought I was mighty brave to select an unknown agency. I
was impressed with Ivan during our first emails and phone
conversations. I trusted him and he trusted me, this makes for happy
results for everyone.
Sincerely, Mary Earp.
Wendy Feldman
Los Angeles, CA
US 90025
I just returned back to the US from my trip to Peru. I wanted to let
you know how grateful I am for the wonderful experience that you
help me coordinate and plan. I loved all of the sites and felt I had
a unique experience that I will never forget.
The tour planners and the tour
guides were all wonderful and extremely helpful. Each of them were
very polite and knowledgable about their subjects and locations. I
learned alot about Peru and its customs.
The hotel on Machu Picchu (Sanctuary Lodge) and the hotel in Puno
(The Libertador) were excellent and I would recommend anyone to stay
in each of those locations. The San Augustin El Dorado was just
adequate; I found the hotel to be clean and the staff helpful, but
there is too much noise during the evening and mornings; this is
because many of the rooms overlook the central lobby of the hotel
and the acoustics create echos of sound from the front desk and
those people having conversations in the lobby area. Also, the space
heaters in each of the El Dorado rooms I stayed in did not work at
all. I do not think I would recommend the hotel to people unless
they didn't mind a noisy atmosphere.
The Posada del Inca hotel in Bolivia was very nice; I really liked
the rustic feel and intimate setting and the private gardens--the
views of Lake Titicaca and the mountains were spectacular. Although
I didn't realize it would be a hike (literally) up to it. One of the
couples I was travelling with on the first day in Bolivia had
trouble making it up the hillside (they didn't know they would have
to hike to the top to get to the hotel). I would recommend letting
potential guests know that it is a 40 - 45 minute hike from the dock
to the hotel itself. The guides were very helpful and it was good
that our luggage was carried up separately.
The trip was amazing and I just wanted to thank you for all of your
planning. I would recommend you and your staff to everyone I know
who wanted to plan a trip to go to Peru.
Have a wonderful new year!
Regards,
Wendy
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