Manu cultural zone “The most important request for the development of the ecotourism is the sustainable use and the conservation of nature.” We, are a company with conservation in mind, aware of the changes that have occurred on our planet because of human activity, we see ecotourism as a mean of preserving nature by providing sustainable development for the communities that live surrounding natural habitats like Manu National Park.
Direct contact with pristine nature provide tourists love for conservation. Hopefully, people will return home with this feeling and share it with friends and family. If so, then ecotourism has an additional value as a source of environmental education that can be passed along to later generations. Peru, like other countries, observes ecotourism as an invaluable form of sustainable development.
Our company has participated in ecotourism development as part of a National Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity. the security of our passengers is our first priority. Our staff and our equipment ensure safety, making possible to enjoy a natural and adventurous trip, along with comfort in a tropical jungle setting. Do not miss the opportunity that Inka Challenge Peru offers yo
Manu Cultural Zone trip availability “only in private service, daily departures”.
06:00 hrs
We leave Cusco early in the morning in our specialized overland vehicles. Approximately mid-morning we visit the interesting Pre- Inca tombs of Ninamarca, commonly known as “Chullpas”. We continue to Paucartambo, a picturesque Spanish colonial town, and then to the Acjanacu pass, which marks the beginning of the Cultural Zone of Manu Biosphere Reserve.
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, Spectacled Bear, Orchids, Tree Ferns (one of the oldest living plants), mosses and lichens.
This cloud forest exists between 2000 and 3500 meters above sea level and at least 50% of the plant species found here are endemic to this region. Overnight in our Orchids lodge “San Pedro”
Today we wake up very early to observe the Cock-of-the-Rockb (Rupicola peruvianab), Peru’s national bird. The male birds are a vibrant reddish orange and about 5:00am. as many as several dozen come together for an exhibition of a ritual mating dance in a comfortably installed on an observation platform called “Lek”. The males display their crest, showing off and posturing for the females.
The females, fewer in number, watch to select the most suitable males. After breakfast we continue by bike down the narrow road between waterfalls and canyons toward Pilcopata town (*1) for 2 hours approximately (*2). A 30 minutes bus ride to the port of Atalaya where we will board our covered outboard motor boat and head down the alto Madre de Dios River for approximately 30 minutes toward our private reserve of “Erika Lodge”.
Here we will spend the next two nights. Short walk around the lodge
(*1) Optional (only for experienced people): Descend with mountain bikes from the Cloud Forest (1,700 m.a.s.l.) – to Pilcopata town (700 m.a.s.l.).
(*2) Optional: At Pilcopata town we will make the final settings for a 1 hour tropical jungle river rafting down the KosñipataRiver having the opportunity for a dip and of course enjoy the spectacular view of the KoñeqCanyon.
Erika Lodge is located in a transition zone between high and low jungle (600 m.a.s.l. to 1,150 m.a.s.l), encompassing different habitats. This altitude range explains the high diversity of wildlife found around this lodge, so immediately after breakfast, we will start walking near the riverbanks, during the hike our guide will talk about insects, medicinal plants, trees, reptiles, mammals, etc.
This afternoon we board our boat, and after five minutes, we will walk for another 30 minutes approximately though a very nice trail to observe and talk about the interesting flora fond such as sensitive plants, heliconias, fruit plantations, etc. until we arrive to Machuwasi Lake where with the help of a telescope we can observe great egrets, tucanets, carpenters, Keskadees, cardinals, etc.
Short night walk to observe American bullfrogs, horned frogs, tree frogs and an incredible variety of insects. New!!!Canopy tour: Our guests traverse from tree to tree and platform to platform using pulleys on horizontal traverse cables, as they sail through the treetops of the tropical rainforest canopy, and over the trails far below.
Expert guides assist you in this exciting journey through the different layers of the virgin rainforests and explain what’s going on around you, from the time you leave the ground, until you rappel back down to the forest floor.
This day we will get up very early to board our boat again for only five minutes down river to a Parrot clay Lick called “Collpa” on the riverbanks, where many species of parrots such as the blue headed parrot, white-eyed parakeet, feed for mineral and salt supplements to their diet of seeds and fruits.
Immediately after we continue to Atalaya Port where the bus will drive us to Cusco city, arriving late in the night where our manu cultural zone tour ends.
