Manu Cloud Forest

3 days dificulty: 1		cod: PER-118 activity: Bird Watching

Beginning in Cusco, this adventure offers a wide variety of activities. Colonial towns, jungle villages and the expansive Amazon basin are just part of this package, which allows you to tailor your experience to your preferences. For the adventurous, choose optional mountain biking or white water rafting. For those looking to relax, forest walks provide ample opportunity to study the forest life. Whatever you choose, the cloud forest’s fantastic array of plant, animal and bird life will be revealed to you.

Starting early from Cusco, you will travel through Andean landscapes of unmatched beauty: deep valleys, highlands and rural communities where you will enjoy highland birds such as the mountain caracara, Puna ibis and Andean flicker, as well as the pre-Inca Lupacas burial towers, before arriving at the picturesque colonial town of Paucartambo, which as been the gateway to the Manu forests since pre-Hispanic times. Here you will visit the church with its image of the Virgin of Carmen, and see the historic Carlos V bridge. Once you pass through Acjanaco Pass (3,850 meters/12,630 feet), the official entrance to Manu National Park, the road descends through the important, sparsely-vegetated Andean grassland ecosystem, before reaching the cloud forest in the afternoon. This area is a wealth of flora and fauna; it is the habitat of cock-of-the-rock, crested and golden quetzal, blue-crowned motmot, gray breasted mountain toucan, butterflies, ferns and orchids. To name just a few! After this big day you will spend your first night enjoying the comforts of Paradise Lodge (1,470 meters/4,821 feet).

Driving distance: 181 km/113 miles (6 to 8 hours, including 3-hour hike)
Included: lunch & dinner

After your first night in the cloud forest, you will enjoy a pre-breakfast walk into the forest to observe the cock-of-the-rock perform its daily ritual, in which a group of males puts on a show to attract females. You’ll return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast and then spend the rest of the day exploring the surrounding forest at a relaxed pace, visiting local farmers on their pineapple and coca leaf plantations. Ample time for bird watching will give you the chance to look for quetzals and motmots, as well as the green jay, paradise tanager, bay headed tanager, orange eared tanager, golden tanager, in addition to observing fauna and learning about this unique environment. The road to Pillcopata provides birders with the ideal route for short hikes. Our bus is available to you at any time for transport to the area’s principle attractions. And remember, you can always sign up for mountain biking and white water rafting (class II and III rapids) on the Kosñipata River. Spend another night in the comforts of Paradise Lodge.

Included: breakfast, lunch & dinner

This is the final day in the forest. After breakfast you will have time to continue relaxing or to explore the area before boarding the private bus for the return trip to Cusco. Follow the now-familiar route as far as Paucartambo, from where the route follows the course of the Quencomayo River to Colquepata and over the high pass at Apacheta (4,100 meters/13,448 feet). From here descend into the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas, stopping along the way to enjoy the countryside dotted with traditional Andean villages inhabited by weavers, shepherds and farmers. You will enjoy spectacular views of the Pisac archaeological site before arriving at the local village and continue to Cusco.

Driving distance: 192 km/120 miles (6 hours)
Included: breakfast & lunch

• Specialized bilingual guide
• Accommodation in our exclusive
• Paradise Lodge in the cloud forest (2 nights) and a typical lodge (1 night)
• Private bus transportation
• All meals indicated on the itinerary:
  B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner (soup, main dish and dessert), BL= box lunch
  No additional charge for vegetarian diets
• Basic first-aid kit
• Specialized books are available during the trip

• Personal items and medicines e.g., gear, clothing, laundry, telephone calls)
• Tips to local staff (we recommend $8-10 USD per day of service per guide or driver)

• 1 photocopy of passport
• Daypack
• Hiking boots
• Sweater
• Light warm jacket
• Rain gear
• Long-sleeved cotton shirts
• Hiking shorts
• Hat or bandana
• Swimsuit
• Sport sandals
• Sunscreen/sunglasses
• Insect repellant Flashlight Pocket knife Camera and film (ASA 200/400) or memory card
• Camera charger (220V)
• Binoculars for wildlife viewing (8 or 10X magnification) One bottle of water for the first day