Cultural Zone Manu Program, south Peru from Cusco 4 days program Outside reserve zone (sleeping in lodge)

Fixed Departures: Daily departures (previous coordination and availability – Minima 4 persons)

FREE OPTIONAL
* 1 Option – Rafting: In Pilcopata will have 90 minutes of rafting (grade I & II) on the Koñeq and/or Madre de Dios Rivers. You can enjoy the beautiful landscape and have a swim in the refreshing wáter.
* 2 Option – Canopy Zip Line: In Erika our guests can glide from tree to tree and from platform to platform with a harness on a horizontal cable rail system at high speeds above the trees in the incredible amazon jungle. You then rappel from a height of 15m back to the jungle floor.

Also available as 3 or 5 day programs and special bird watching program.

This tour departs every day with a minimum of 4 persons . You’ll discover the beauty and variety of fauna and flora, in this tour you don’t observe as many animals as in the national reserve, but you get the real jungle feeling, its a 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 on 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 1. – Cusco (3,300m.s.n.m.) – Andes- (3650m.s.n.m.) Cloud Forest (1,700m.s.n.m.)
We leave Cusco early in the morning in one of our vehicles. We will pass through interesting valleys and picturesque communities. We will visit pre Incan tombs and then we will stop in Paucartambo, a beautiful colonial town. Here we will visit a very interesting museum. We will have a packed lunch en route. We continue to the cloud forest, an area rich with endemic species like the Spectacled Bear, the Cock of The Rock, a variety of orchids, bromeliads and ferns etc. Take in the beautiful nature as we make our way to San Pedro de Orquideas Lodge where we will spend our first night in our comfortable accommodation.

DAY 2. –Cloud Forest – Erika Lodge (400m.s.n.m.)
Very early we will go in search of the Cock of the Rock, the National bird of Peru, that has a very unique courtship dance. After breakfast we will continue to the small town of Pilcopata*, then to the Port of Atalaya, which is located on the shores of the Madre de Dios River (700 m.s.n.m). Here we will take a boat to our Private Reserve of “Erika”*. From the boat we will be able to see an enormous diversity of bird species such as Herons, vultures and cormorants etc. We will walk along the interesting trails that are in the transistion zone between high and low jungle and your guide will point out and explain the interesting diversity of wild life that surrounds you. We will have the chance for a night walk to catch a glimpse of insects and amphibians. We overnight in our Erika Lodge.

* 1 Free Option – Rafting: In Pilcopata you will have 90 minutes of rafting (grade I & II) on the Koñeq and/or Madre de Dios Rivers. You can enjoy the beautiful landscape and have a swim in the refreshing wáter.

DAY 3. –Erika Lodge
During the morning walk, the guide will point out and explain the interesting variety of wildlife around you. We board our boat to cross the river and follow a trail for 30 minutes and observe the interesting flora such as the sensitive plants, heliconias, fruit, etc. We walk until we reach lake Machuwasi where we paddle rafts to observe the birds like the primitive Hoatzin, alligators, monkeys and capybaras with luck. We will have a night walk around our lodge to catch a glimpse of a variety of insects and amphibians.

* 2 Free Option – Canopy Zip Line: In Erika our guests can glide from tree to tree and from platform to platform with a harness on a horizontal cable rail system at high speeds above the trees in the incredible amazon jungle. You then rappel from a height of 15m back to the jungle floor.

DAY 4. –Erika Lodge – Cusco
Very early we board our boat and make our way to Collpa, a clay wall by the river where a variety of parrots such as the blue headed parrot, the White eyed parakeet, possibly the Maracana Macaw and others come every morning to subsitute their diet with minerals and salts. After this activity we return to Erika for breakfast. After breakfast we pack up and take our boat back to Atalaya Port where our vehicle will be waiting to take us back to Cusco. We have lunch en route to Cusco and arrive early evening. END OF OUR SERVICES

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.

Not included:
*The breakfast and mineral water on the first day.
*Certain kinds of drinks such as beers or sodas.
*Tips and the last dinner.

What do you have to bring with you?
*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 high boots and sandals.
*Flashlight.
*Enough batteries (alkaline).
*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 light. Facilities are rustic; there is also a screen in the dinning room, kitchen and bathrooms. Mostly 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 containing 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 than 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 interlock 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 are 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, jaguars and at least 5 different species of monkeys including the endangered Common Wooly Monkey, but we can’t promise you will 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 parrot.

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 to only one driver.

River transportation:
Six motorized boats with roofs, comfortable seats and spare motors. They are permanently under maintenance by their crew.

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