Puerto Maldonado
Amazon Travel from Puerto Maldonado
Amazon travel is at its best in the vicinity of Puerto Maldonado, tucked away in southeastern Peru at the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers.
Amazon travel is still conducted by river boat, though the jet age has brought Puerto Maldonado airport less than an hour’s flight from Cusco.
It’s no wonder that Puerto Maldonado is known as the world’s capital of biodiversity. The nearby Manu National Park and Tambopata-Candamo Reserve offer what may be the best wildlife viewing in the entire Amazon Basin.
Manu National Park, half size of Switzerland, boasts more than 200 species of mammals including 12 kinds of primates, more than 800 species of birds, the highest diversity of amphibians in the Amazon Basin, and more insect species in one tree than all the insect species recorded in the British Islands.
Tambopata-Candamo Reserve shelters dozens of endangered species, and is home to macaws, herons, kingfishers as well as scores of other rare birds that are seen nowhere else on earth.
Amazon travel near Puerto Maldonado means delightful jungle lodges that are far from civilization and dedicated to helping their visitors gain a full appreciation of the magnificent natural surroundings. It also means exploring rivers, oxbow lakes and trails deep in the pristine jungle, where the visitor can view the most astounding flora and fauna.
PROGRAMS
3 Days / 2 Nigths
Day 1 / Puerto Maldonado
Upon arrival reception, assistance and transfer to dock on the Madre de Dios River for boat trip to lodge. After lunch, a guided jungle walk introduces visitors to the spectacular fauna and flora of this region.
Day 2 / Rainforest
Follow jungle trials from lodge to a nearby lake, home to scores of birds and caimans and a canoe ride.
Day 3 / Puerto Maldonado
Early transfer down the river to the Puerto Maldonado airport for departure flight.
* Daily departures
Puerto Maldonado
Macaw Clay Lick
5 Days / 4 Nights
Day 1 / Puerto Maldonado
Transfer from Puerto Maldonado airport to dock for a 3-hour boat ride down the Tambopata River to the lodge. Introductory walk to the flora and fauna of the deep jungle. In the late evening, opportunity to enjoy the sounds of the jungle.
Day 2 / Macaw Clay Lick
5-hour boat ride up the Tambopata River will take you to the collpa, where you will see thousands of macaws and other parrots feeding on the mineral rich, red clay 50 meter (170 ft.) high cliff. Camp overnight at nearby beach.
Day 3 / Collpa
Early morning collpa experience before returning to the lodge.
Day 4 / Cocococha Lake
Four mile hike to the Cocococha lake where you will observe exotic plants and animals. Free afternoon.
Day 5 / Puerto Maldonado
Return to the Puerto Maldonado airport for departure flight.
* Daily departures.
Manu
5 Days / 4 NightsManu Nature (Todos los Viernes)
Day 1 / Cusco - Manu Lodge
Depart Cuzco in the early morning for a 45-minute flight to Boca Manu airstrip, at the mouth of the Manu River. Board your river boat for a 4-hour journey up the Manu River of the Manu Lodge for a chance to see, among others, large black caimans and maybe even a magnificent jaguar. Overnight at lodge.
Day 2 / Manu – Oxbow Juarez Lake
Morning excursion on the trails near Manu Lodge. Enjoy the pristine Oxbow Juarez Lake that harbors communities of amazing birds, monkeys and caymans. Now and then families of giant otters visit the lake and troops of monkeys can be seen from the lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 3 / Manu - Miradors
Dawn visits to miradors located near the lodge will reward you with the sighting of several species of primates and birds. Afternoon boat excursion to a spectacular macaw and parrot roosting and nesting site. (B,L,D)
* Optional canopy climbing.
Day 4 / Manu
Boat ride to other trail systems and oxbow lakes, such as lake Salvador where the visitors will take a catamaran lake excursion. Learn about the wide array of medicinal plants that grow in the rainforest. (B,L,D)
Day 5 / Manu - Cusco
Boat transfer to Boca Manu airstrip for flight to Cuzco. (B)
* Itinerary subject to change according to weather conditions.
* Macaw clay lick camping 2 day trips are available only with 8 day itineraries.
5 Days / 4 Nights
(Ever y Monday)
Day 1 / Cusco – Manu Wildlife Center
A 35-minute flight will take you from Cuzco to the Boca Manu airstrip for a 2 hour motor canoe transfer to the lodge for lunch. The afternoon will be spent exploring some of the 30 miles of clean forest trails that surround the lodge, having an excellent chance to encounter some species of monkeys. After dinner hike for 60-75 minutes through the night forest to the Amazon’s largest known tapir clay lick. (L,D).
Day 2 / Manu Wildlife Center
Rise before dawn to go on a 25-minute boat ride to see parrots and macaws at a large clay lick. A catamaran takes visitors closer for excellent view of these colorful animals. Return for lunch. The afternoon is spent visiting one of the two oxbow lakes found in the area. These lakes have a big variety of water birds, including the prehistoric-looking hoatzin, and also house giant otters. After dinner, another opportunity to visit the tapir clay lick. (B,L,D).
Day 3 / Manu Wildlife Center
A dawn rise to explore the forest trails and see the fruit trees that sustain large monkey communities as well as numerous species of birds or an early visit to one or both of the lakes before exploring the forest trails. After lunch, further opportunity to explore more of the forest in the vicinity of the lodge. It is also possible to spend time behind special blinds to observe and perhaps photograph the brilliantly colored dancing birds called manakins. After dinner, you can once again visit the tapir clay lick. (B,L,D)
Day 4 / Manu - Cusco
Rising at dawn you board the motor canoe for the two-hour return trip to the Boca Manu landing strip, from where you will fly to Cuzco bringing your jungle adventure to its end.
E-Mail: info@vsudamericacusco.com
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