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• MANU cultural zone
4 days
Difficulty : 1
Price : € 0.00 		  COD: PE-125
Category : Jungle

CULTURAL ZONE PROGRAM

4 days3 nights

Outside reserve zone(sleeping in lodge)

Adventure with rafting and mountain bike

 

This tour departs every day with a minimum of 3 persons

You discover the beauty and variety of fauna and flora, in this tour you don’t meet as many animals as in the national reserve, but you get the real jungle feeling, its an mixture of nature, culture and adventure. The Cultural Zone is one of the three zones from Manu National Park which covers high mountains, cloud forest and low jungle.
In this area there are small villages, settlers and native communities working in productive activities such as agriculture, since these activities are controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Park Authorities.
One of the proposes of this controlled area is to act as a buffer zone to the Reserved and Intangible Zones.


• Day 01

We leave Cusco early in the morning, visit the interesting pre-Inca tombs of Ninamarca, the colonial town of Paucartambo, and then down to the Cloud Forest. Here, a thick cloak of clouds provides perpetual humidity and makes an ideal habitat for epiphytic plants such as bromeliads. This varied and fascinating world is home of the Cock of the Rock, the Spectacled Bear, Orchids, Tree Ferns (one of the oldest living plants), mosses and lichens. At least 50% of the plant species found here are endemic to this region. Overnight in our open air lodge "San Pedro".


• Day 02:

We observe the ritual mating dance of the Cock of the Rock (Rupicola peruviana), Peru's national bird, from the platform ( "lek"). After breakfast we continue in our overland transport *1 down the narrow road between waterfalls and canyons toward Pilcopata town *2. After 30 minutes bus ride we will arrive to the Port of Atalaya, board our covered motorized boat and head down the Alto Madre de Dios River for approximately 30 minutes toward our private reserve "Erika Lodge" where we will spend the next two nights. Short walk around the lodge


• Day 03:

The great diversity of wildlife around the lodge is due to the wide altitude range of this beautiful site. Immediately after breakfast, we start walking and our guide will explain us about insects, medicinal plants, trees, reptiles, mammals, etc. Before returning for lunch we can have the chance to swim in the clear water of natural pools of a stream close to the lodge. Early in the afternoon we will have a short boat ride to visit a small lake near the Alto Madre de Dios River. Here we will have the chance to see the Hoatzin, a primitive bird, black caimans, many species of birds, insects, etc. This will be our last night in this wonderful Amazon jungle. Overnight in Erika lodge.


• option

* 1 Optional:Descend with mountain bikes from San Pedro lodge (1700 m.a.s.l)- Cloud Forest to Pilcopata- High Jungle (700 m.a.s.l) This cost 20 usd extra and you have to reserve in advance !

 


• option

* 2 Optional:A 3 hour rafting trip down the Kosñipata river where we will have the opportunity for a dip and of course enjoy the spectacular view of the Koñeq canyon. Continuing down the Alto Madre de Dios river to Erika Lodge.



• Day 04:

Early wake up to board our boat. After five minutes ride, we will arrive to a small "Collpa", which is a wall of clay in the riverbanks where many species of parrots feed for mineral and salt supplements to their diet of seeds and fruits. After this colourful and noisy show we continue by boat to Atalaya Port and then the bus back to Cusco arriving late in the afternoon.



• included

  • Specialized and bilingual guide,
  • camping equipment, 01 night in San Pedro open air lodge, 02 nights in Erika Lodge,
  • meals,
  • first aid kit,
  • all land and river transportation ,rafting equipment,
  • safety box for values and storage for luggage.


• What do you have to bring

 

  • Sleeping Bag
  • Binoculars, Camera and film ASA 200 and 400 for the inner forest.
  • Warm clothing (in case of a cold front), long sleeve shirts and long pants (cotton)
  • 100% waterproof rain gear (long poncho or rain wear)
  • Insect repellent (at least 50% Deet), sunscreen lotion
  • One pair of lightweight ankle height boots and sandals
  • Flashlight, enough batteries (alkaline) and bulbs
  • Wide brim hat (for sunny days), sun glasses
  • Towel, swimming suit, personal medicines and/or supplies (e.g.: liquid for contact lenses).
  • Day pack, and one back pack or duffel bag of luggage per person /One bottle of water for the first day, plastic bags.



    • • Our lodges

    Our open air platform "San Pedro" (1,700m.a.s.l. - 5, 100 feet)
    Tambo San Pedro, accommodates groups of less to 25 people in comfortable beds with mosquito nets. It is limited to this number to prevent detrimental effects to the surrounding forest. There is no electricity. Kerosene lanterns and torches provide all artificial illumination. Facilities are rustic; there is also a screen in dinning room, kitchen and bathrooms. Most used by serious bird watchers and groups wishing to visit more isolated and less disturbed areas of the cloud forest. But also is used by all of our fixed departure groups for one night on the way in.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     


    Erika Lodge (600 m.a.s.l. to 1,150 m.a.s.l)
    Erika Lodge is located on the Alto Madre Dios River and is backed by the Piсi Piсi Mountains in a transition zone between high and low jungle encompassing different habitats. This altitude range explains the high diversity of wildlife found around this lodge. The lodge owns 90 hectares of forest declared private reserve in 1992.
    Erika first opened in 1970 and became the first tourist lodge in the Manu area. In the past was also used by those searching for the Paititi (the lost gold city of the Incas), visitors to the Petrogliphs of Pusharo and the Paratoari Pyramids.
    The private reserve of Erika accommodates groups of less to 32 people in single, double and triple rooms.

    There is no electricity. Facilities are rustic but comfortable, accommodation is in mosquito proof rooms with beds, sheets and blankets, there is also a screened dining room, a nice overview site with hammocks, kitchen and bathrooms.
    This wonderful place is used by birdwatchers but also by all of our fixed departure groups for one night on the way in to the Reserved Zone
    There are a series of approximately 15km. of unmarked trails that interlace through the forest at Erika Lodge. Guests are asked to use these trails only while accompanied by a guide.


    Erika’s forest and river are home to many plants and animals, some in endangered species and the forest is a source of seeds and seedlings for reforestation projects
    It is possible to see a wide variety of birds and animals including macaws,     parrots, toucans, peccaries, tapir, jaguar and at least 5 different species of monkeys including the endangered Common Wooly Monkey, but it’s nature we can’t promise you see them. Nearby streams are home to the endangered Steam caiman
    In the river shore in front to the “    Collpa” parrot lick     it is possible to observe quietly and with the help of a telescope the various parrots feeding on the clay for mineral and salt supplements to their diet of seeds and fruits. The most common species are: the blue-headed parrot  and the dusky-headed
     


    • Health:

    Manu National Park is not an endemic area for malaria or yellow fever, but is recommended to use insect repellent. The river water is not recommended for drinking. Purified water will be provided at the lodge. There is radio communication available at the lodge.
     

    Transportation

    For our land transportation needs, Manu Ecological Adventures has two full equipped and comfortable overland trucks and four 4WD vehicles. They are permanently under maintenance and are assigned only to one driver.

    River transportation.-
    Six motorized boats with a roof, comfortable seats and spare motor. They are permanently under maintenance by their crew.

    Rafts.
    Full equipped rafts. We provide life vests, helmets and paddles