Itinerary
The cloud forest on the eastern slopes of the Andes is a mysterious environment, clad in elfin forest and mist hanging among the trees. This montane rainforest is a unique environment which is home to a huge number of species, especially birds, but also mammals, such as the Andean spectacled bear.
Day 1
Cusco-Cloud Forest
Leaving Cusco early in the morning, we begin an 8-hour journey over the Andes by bus, stopping for breakfast at the beautiful colonial village of Paucartambo. Continuing, we climb to the highpoint of the Manu Biosphere at about 4000m before descending to the cloud forest. In these green and moist surroundings, we take our first long walk. There are many bird species to be seen among which the beautiful paradise tanager, umbrella bird, and the golden-headed quetzal. Among its butterflies are clouded yellows and various skippers. The cloud forest has three monkey species: the woolly monkey plus the two capuchin monkeys of Manu. There are plenty of other mammal species, but they are more difficult to see. We end our walk at the lek of the strange looking cock-of-the-rock, to watch the dance and singing ‘performance’ of the males right under our eyes. We spend the night in the rustic lodge Posada San Pedro (appr. 1,600m).
Day 2
Lowland Forest
At daybreak we continue by bus to tropical lowland rainforest, stopping along the way to visit a cocoa plantation. Arriving at the small village Atalaya at 650m, we change into a motorized canoe to navigate some 40 minutes down the fast Alto Madre de Dios River. Then we take a 30-minute walk to one of the very few lakes on the Alto Madre de Dios River. You can go around this small lake on traditional balsa rafts and from there admire the enormous rainforest variety in aquatic birds, such as the muscovy duck, Neotropic cormorant, anhinga, the white-necked and capped herons and the prehistoric-looking hoatzin. Usually, the water is clean enough to be able to see many kinds of tropical fish which we may know from aquaria at home. It is common to see squirrel monkeys or others, in the trees around. In the late afternoon, we boat back up the Alto Madre de Dios River to Atalaya. Along the way back by bus to the cloud forest, we stop at an orchid garden, set up with much care and enthusiasm by a local inhabitant. The night is spent again at Posada San Pedro.
Day 3
Cloud forest – Cusco
Early in the morning, we have another walk through the forest; as always it is teeming with life and by now many birds, monkeys, insects, trees, and plants are familiar to us. We walk until our car picks us up to take us to Cusco, where we arrive in the late afternoon.
Rates in 2019
Cloud Forest - 3d/2n
fixed departure group tour- Based on double occupancy.
2019 Departures (Fridays):
- January 04 – 11 – 18 – 25
- February 01 – 08 – 15 – 22
- March 01 – 08 – 15 – 22 – 29
- April 05 – 12 – 19- 26
- May 03 – 10 – 17 – 24 – 31
- June 07 – 14 – 21 – 28
- July 05 – 12 – 19 – 26
- August 02 – 09 – 16 – 23 – 30
- September 06 – 13 – 20 – 27
- October 04 – 11 – 18 – 25
- November 01 – 08 – 15 – 22 – 29
- December 06 – 13 – 20 – 27
- Air tickets.
- Soft drinks and beer
- Personal expenses
- Good binoculars
- Camera gear
- Daypack
- re-sealable (ziplock) plastic bags (to keep things dry)
- Two or three pairs of long pants (including at least one pair that you don’t mind getting dirty. Fast drying type is recommended.)
- Absorbent cotton socks
- Rain suit or long poncho (100% waterproof – test before you leave home)
- Sweater, Fleece or light jacket
- Three or four long-sleeved cotton shirts
- T-shirts
- Bathing suit
- A bottle or canteen to carry water on outings
- Sunscreen lotion (high factor)
- A hat that will not come off in windy boat-rides
- One pair of shorts
- Sunglasses
- A pair of sneakers or sandals and a pair of hiking boots (with good gripping soles)
- Insect repellent (Skin-so-soft for the river, and 35% or more deet for forest)
- A photocopy of your passport
- A large, bright flashlight, spare bulb, and batteries
- Personal toiletries and medications
- Toilet paper
- Cash for souvenirs at the lodge stand, alcoholic beverages, etc
MAIN GOAL: EDUCATIONAL TOURISM
The company was set up to educate tourists and students about the complicated ecosystem of the Amazon rainforest. This education will raise awareness and understanding about the importance of conserving the rainforest.
RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION As a natural consequence of our wish to stop rainforest destruction through education, we also initiate and support research and conservation projects, both in the reserved zone and in the cultural zone of Manu. In the past, our projects focused on primate ecology (Monk Saki research) and the macaw dynamics at clay licks. Our present student projects include tree species reforestation at Pantiacolla Lodge.
INDIGENOUS AMAZON PEOPLES
Nevertheless, during the early years, it became clear that the rainforest can only have a chance to survive if the people who live there, can continue to do so in a sustainable way. In the past, indigenous people have established found ingenious techniques to survive, embedded in a specific world vision that enabled not only their long-term survival but necessarily also that of the rainforest. It is sad to have to say that all outside influence, from the missionaries up to the present-day mining and oil exploiters, has only eroded the traditional sustainable relationship that existed between indigenous people and their rainforest. Our company is determined to help find solutions for all involved, indigenous people and outsiders alike, to assure the survival of the Amazon rainforest.
Yine Project
Our determination has led to several projects. In 2000 we started with the far-reaching Yine Project in Manu´s Diamante Native Community. We built the Yine Lodge and designed a 3-day tourism program. The lodge was meant to be used as a “school environment” for the Yine to have a place to learn and practice their skills in eco-tourism services, while the 3-day circuit gave the Yine the opportunity to teach and share their knowledge and skills with their tourist visitors. Due to our long-term commitment, many essential differences between the western and the indigenous worldviews have come to light, and we work together to find satisfying and sustainable solutions. In April 2015, the Yine Lodge was handed over to the Yine community, in accordance with the initial agreement.
Oil Exploitation & Harakmbut
In 2009, the initiation of oil exploration by Hunt Oil Company in the reserve east of Manu, the Amarakaeri Indigenous Reserve, has led to the cooperation of some Harakmbut families of the Shintuya Community in our ecotourism programme, as a sustainable alternative for the economical offers of the oil company. The Harakmbut have a space of a couple of hours in some of our tours to show their magical dances, songs, stories and other techniques that helped them to survive for many centuries in the Amazon.