Premium Manu Cultural Zone 4D/3N

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Premium Manu Cultural Zone 4D/3N

The Manu National Park is a protected natural space located in the southeast of Peru, partially located in the departments of Madre de Dios and Cusco, in the provinces of Manu and Paucartambo.

If Machu Picchu is the jewel in the crown of the Andean country in terms of Inca culture, Manu National Park is number one in the category of jungle and wild nature. It is a magical place, isolated and one of the last bastions of this fragile ecosystem that still remains practically intact.

The Manu Biosphere Reserve is divided into several areas that should be understood so as not to lead to misunderstandings. These are the Manu National Park and the Manu Cultural Zone.

Manu National Park is the largest area with 100% protection and in turn it is also divided into two more zones.

The intangible zone is where the “uncontacted” tribes live in voluntary isolation and where one of the world renowned biological stations, called Cocha Cashu, is located. As a tourist you are not allowed to access this area since it is dedicated only to research and a special permit is required. It is located from the Pakitza checkpoint, from the Manu river and from the left bank onwards from the Alto Madre de Dios river.

The reserved area or buffer zone where tourism has access only through the 8 agencies that have special permission. It goes from the confluence of the Alto Madre de Dios and Manu rivers, called Boca Manu to the Pakitza checkpoint.

Manu cultural zone, it is located on the right bank of the Alto Madre de Dios and some of its tributaries. Matsiguenka communities live here and the level of protection is not as high as in the National Park área.

Highlights of our Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone

To provide you with a great experience in the cultural zone of the Manu National Park in just 4 days we selected the lodges (basic rustic accomodation but clean) that are located in areas that we believe are the best ones to spot more wildlife.

“Incas Path”. It is an innovative travel agency that has professional guides accredited by DIRCETUR and are very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the area and love sharing their passion for nature.

In addition to all of the above we will visit the Wayqecha biological station where we will observe orchids and birds from the amazing cloud forest, we will also visit the machuwasi oxbow lake and trails to observe capybara, peccarie, agutí paca, hoatzins, cormorans, herons, oropéndolas, frogs, snakes, lizzards and a lot of extrange insects ( the chances to see bigger mammals such as jaguar, tapir, puma and caimans or anacondas are almost impossible due that in the cultural zone the protection is not as high as in the reserved zone, in additon people has a lot of livestock of this areas so they keep destroying the environment to those big predators).

Trip overview of our Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone

Trek Type: Connection with nature, animal watching, typical jungle food and walks in the jungle.
Good for: those in moderate shape or better
Difficulty: moderate to rigorous; you need to understand that it is not about comfort but in exchange you get to leave everything behind and live an amazing experience in the forest
Consideration: Consideration: not hot showers and not electricity in lodges (basic accomodation but clean) and always keep in mind that you are going to the jungle and you will be in direct contact with many types of insects (thick presence of mosquitoes) and animals, the wheater is hot and humid, the paths are usually muddy due the humidity of the amazon forest and to see animals we need a little bit of luck and to keep our eyes up.

In addition to all of the above, we have a unique itinerary of just 4 days that will take you into the depths of the cultural zone of the Manu National Park, one of the most biodiverse places in the world and least explored by tourists due to its remoteness; Keep in mind that there are many hours where we will be sitting in the car or on the boat observing wildlife.

Season: April to Octuber

DAY 01: Cusco- Cloud Forest- Wayqecha Biological Station.

Activities: Orchid observation, canopy walk to observe birds and night walk.
Lodge altitude: 2900 meters above sea level
Considered: 4 hour car drive
Weather: warm during the morning and it gets cold in the afternoon and at night

To start with this manu cultural jungle trip we pick you up from your hotels at 5:00 am, on a 4 hour car trip to our lodge in the wayqecha biological station, after an hour and a half we will make a stop to visit the Chullpas of Ninamarca (Pre-Inka cemetery ); in this place we will also enjoy our packed breakfast.

Then we will descend for 30 minutes through inter-Andean valleys to the town of Paucartambo, a place with a lot of history and known as the Folkloric capital of Peru located at 2900 m.a.s.l., after making a small stop in this beautiful town, we headed for an hour to Acjanaco located at 3560 m.a.s.l.; Acjanaco is the entry point to the Manu National Park, from this place we descend through the cloud forest for one hour to the biological station: after leaving our belongings in our rooms we will take a two hour walk to recognize at least 200 types of orchids in a 400 meter stretchand then we will return to enjoy our delicious lunch.

Following with our manu cultural jungle trip, in the afternoon we will do a walking activity on a net bridge standing on the top of the trees wrapped in the sounds of the forest and from a great spot to observe birds and the landscape.

At night, after dinner we will do a night walk to recognize spiders, tarantulas and frogs of cloud forest.

** Fantastic day to be enchanted by the creatures of the cloud forest.

DAY 02: Wayqecha Biological Station– Alto Madre de Dios River- Soga de Oro Lodge- Machuwasi Oxbow Lake.

Activities: Machuwasi oxbow lake, night excursión at the lake
Lodge altitude: 500 meters above sea level
Considered: 4 hours drive
Weather: hot and humid with mosquitoes

To start our manu cultural jungle trip we will have delicious and energetical breakfast and then we will drive for three and a half towards Atalaya where we will ride a motorized boat for 20 minutes to our lodge; Upon our arrival to our lodge we will delight our lunch, take a shower and then we will walk for one hour to the Machuwasi oxbow lake where we will paddle a wooden catamaran to watch birds such as hoatzins, oropendolas, chachalacas and to see small mammals such as capybara, aguti paca and peccaries; we will also wait to be enchanted by an amazing sunset here and at dark we will look for snakes, frogs and lizzards.

We will come back to our lodge to delight our rewarding dinner after a beautiful day in the manu cultural jungle trip.

** Great day inside the manu jungle trip to cross from the cloud forest to the mouth of lowland forest.

DAY 3: Soga de Oro Lodge- Parrot Clay Lick- Jungle Exporation- Fishing.

Activities: parrot clay lick, observation of wildlife walking, swimming, fishing.
Lodge altitude: 300 meters above sea level
Considered: fantastic day to delight jungle creatures
Weather: hot and humid with mosquitoes

To start with our manu jungle trip we will wake up before sunrise at 4:30 am and head a parrot clay lick; as soon as the sun rises over century old trees, an explosion of life and color will burst in front of our eyes with hundreds of parrots and with a bit of luck macaws that will eat clay in order to get their right PH balance leveled.

Here also we will have our box breakfast while we enjoy an incredible display of colors and why not mention that we can see predators of these birds such as great black hawks and eagles.

Continuing with our manu jungle trip, we will hike for 4 hours more or less into the forest to look for squirrels monkeys, brown capuchin monkeys and howler monkeyy and also birds such as eagles, woodpeckers, toucans, flycatchers, herons and in addition giant kapok tree, brazilian nut tree, rubber tree and a lot of medicinal plants.

Then we will return to our lodge to enjoy a typical manu jungle dishes, take a little rest and then take walk to the river to take a bath; later in the afternoon we will go fishing on the Madre de Dios river.

We will come back at night to our lodge to enjoy our tea time while our guide share jungle tales, finally we will enjoy our delicios dinner and rest after a long day in the manu jungle trip.

** Wonderful manu jungle day to be in connection with the creatures of our mother earth.

DAY 4: Soga de Oro Lodge- Monkey Observation.

Activities: We will visit the dos loritos animal center
Lodge altitude: 280 meters above sea level
Considered: fantastic day to see jaguar with a bit of luck
Weather: hot and humid with mosquitoes

Our last day in the manu jungle trip, we will have a rewarding breakfast and then we will catch our boat for 20 minutos to the Atalaya port where we will catch our van to be driven for 30 minutos to the ¨ dos loritos animal center¨ where we will enjoy animals in open areas and in their environment, the animals that we will see are a tapir, capybara, peccari, macaws, parrots, monkeys, coaties and alligators.

Continuing with our last day in the manu jungle trip we will catch our car for 3 hours to a nice viewpoint where we will enjoy an outdoor lunch; then we will continue driving for 3 hours to Cusco, where we will arrive around 6 pm.

** Our service is the door of your hotel to the manu jungle trip and then back to the door of your hotel again.

Included on the Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone

Professional local english speaker Guides: all our super tour guides grewp up in Madre de Dios region and studied tourism for five years at university, they are friendly, funny charming, knowledgeable, professional and will care your safety into our manu jungle trip.

Permits: As soon as we get your details and deposit, we will purchase your permits for the manu jungle trip..

Briefing: The night before your trip, you will come to our office for your informative meeting; you will receive your duffle bag to you bring essential items for this manu jungle trip.

Lodge: This manu jungle trip includes three night in basic lodges in Manu National Park; the lodge we book will be listed on your invoice. Be aware that there is not hot showers in the lodge and electricity just works for two hours at night if you want charge any device.

Transportation: Incas Path will be providing all transportation for this manu jungle trip. You will be picked up from your hotel at 5 am and brought to the peruvian amazon jungle; we also include all boat and car transportation that we will need on this 4 day jungle trip.

Food: Our manu jungle trip.includes expert chefs who will cook delicious meals that many previous tourist have loved. We honor all food restrictions, so be sure to add any that you have on your booking form and let us know. Food is typically all served as buffet.

Water: From the first lunch to the end of our manu jungle trip.we include water. You must bring personal water bottles and or a camelback, we advice you to bring a bottle or camelback of 1.5 litters, as being well hydrated is the key to feeling great in the amazon jungle.

Details: we profess that it is the attention to small details that separates us from other travel agencies. Each tourist receives wellington boots

First Aid: Every guide has got training in first aid from a clinic and firemen. We elaborate mandatory training sessions every February on the Manu National Park, which every Incas Path tour guide must attend. Your tour leader is going to have always a first-aid kit for basic medical problems.

Not Included on the Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone

Due to the remote location of the Manu National Park and the lodges some ítems listed below are not included:

Daypack: We suggest you to use a daypack that not exceed 25L to carry passport, water, sunhat, sunglasses, suncream, bug spray and a rain jacket
Binocular
Hot Shower
Electricity
Snacks
Flight tickets or bus tickets
Gratuities for our staff: Incas Path ensures all staff are fairly paid and therefore gratuities are optional and at your own discretion
Travel Insurance: Highly recommended for all tourist

Prices

We would love to tour this manu jungle trip with you and your loved ones and take care of immortalizing your visit to the peruvian jungle. We can leave any day from April to Octuber as it is the dry season in the Manu National Park

Group Price (2020):

$400 per person

Private Tour:

Private tours are available and priced by party size.

2 Tourist: $980 per person
3 Tourist: $925 per person
4 Tourist: $870 per person
5 Tourist: $815 per person
6 Tourist: $760 per person
7 Tourist: $705 per person
8 or more Tourist: $650 per person

Please send everything to incaspath@hotmail.com

Packing list

We suggest you to carry lightweight daypack that the is key to feeling good during this manu jungle trip.

Essentials:

Original Passport,
Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
Bug spray; 100 DEET
Good daypack
Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelbaks are encouraged – but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
Comfortable hiking shoes (lightweight with good soles)

** we provide wellington boots

For Your Duffel: we will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items

04 long-sleeved shirts: (al least for the days you will be in the excursion and avoid black colors as they atract easily the flyes and mosquitoes)
03 tank top, for the nights as there is not air conditiong but there is mosquito nets in the beds.
02 quick dry full-length pants
05 Socks: you should have comfortable hiking style socks that are mid to long length.
Sunhat
Rain jacket and plastic poncho
Fleece
Rain jacket
Camera
Power bank
Headlamp
Binoculars
Swimming suit
Flip flops or sandals
Music (IPhone)
Handsanitizer
Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
Personal medication
Sunscreen
Face Wipes: the humidity will cause you to sweat
Deodorant, you will use more than normal due to the sweat
ziplocks or resealable plastic storage bags
Anti-Itch Cream

Journey Info

Arriving to Cusco

The airport in Cusco at the present time is only for domestic flights, so all international travelers by plane must disembark in Lima and go through Customs. Even if your flight to Cusco is the same day by the same airline carrier, you must grab your bags in Lima and then check them back in.

The best way to arrive to Cusco is by air and there are several options in airlines. LATAM tends to be the most expensive, but has the most options and flights.

Expect delays or flight cancellations; due to the high altitude of the andes, it tends to be difficult to land and any weather inconvenience will stop air traffic.

Bus travel is always available and while the trip can be long, especially from Lima, the buses company such as Cruz del Sur or Oltursa are very well maintained and comfortable; this option is strongly encouraged if coming from a city closer to Cusco like Arequipa or Puno.

Luggage Storage

Any extra luggage you have with you, can be left safely in Cusco at either your hotel or with us at the Incas Path deposit while you enjoy your tour: We will grab the extra luggage from you the morning of your tour and return once you are back in Cusco.

Make sure your suitcase have some kind of identification on them so they are easy to locate.

Weather

Of course weather is unpredictable. Typically the dry season in the Manu National Park is from April through October, but this does not stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December, just be prepared; no matter what month you are doing the manu jungle trip, please make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants and plastic ponchos.

Travel Insurance

To protect your journey investment, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance; acquiring travel insurance before you leave home, is strongly encouraged and very easy.

These are the most used vaccines to travel to the Jungle

In this post we cite the vaccines to travel to the Peruvian jungle, according to the activity that the traveler will perform in these jungle areas. In addition, the information was consulted from important sources such as the websites of the Ministry of Health of Peru and also of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States. Keep informing yourself!

Although at the Jorge Chavez Airport you will not be asked about your vaccination status; in some countries they do require a vaccination certificate, therefore it is better to be prevented and to inform yourself in the authorized International Vaccination Center of your country about what you should apply before traveling.

Remember that vaccines avoid possible infectious problems during the trip and also to keep your immunizations up to date.

What animal could infect it in the jungle?

Well, mosquitoes are the bearers of the fearsome diseases causing deaths on the planet. We are talking about insect bites infected with Malaria, Yellow Fever and even Dengue.

It is probably the most dangerous animal in the Amazon rainforest, even more so than piranhas, anacondas or fierce jaguars.

Without vaccination even the bite of an infected mosquito could ruin your vacation.

What do the authorities tell us about getting vaccinated?

According to the website of the Ministry of Health of Peru (MINSA), the risks of contracting Malaria is latent in many areas of Peru, with the exception of the departments of Arequipa, Moquegua, Puno, Tacna and Lima in its surroundings, nor in the coastal area South of Lima, also in the high tourist areas: Cuzco, Machu Pichu and Lake Titicaca. Likewise, Puerto Maldonado and the Manu National Park and other endemic geographical areas of Peru are mentioned as a risk zone.

If you travel to the Peruvian jungle it is better to consult the doctor who keeps your health history, at least 4 weeks before making the trip. So that the doctor explains you about the type of vaccine that you should apply and with enough anticipation for them to take effect in the body.

In the case of the Peruvian Ministry of Health, the Yellow Fever vaccine and Malaria prophylaxis in risk areas is recommended.

On the other hand, on the website of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (or CDC), it recommends to travelers that they will visit Peru, some important vaccines depending on particular cases.

For example, considering the type of tourism to be made, travel time or direct contact with animals or people due to visits for study or scientific purposes.

THESE ARE THE VACCINES TO TRAVEL TO THE JUNGLE OF PERU

Under this order of ideas, these are the vaccines referred by the CDC:

Hepatitis A: Vaccination is recommended to all travelers to Peru.

Hepatitis B: Vaccination is recommended to all people traveling to Peru, especially those who may have exposure to blood or body fluids through the granting or receipt of medical care, drug injections, tattoos or sexual contact with the local population.

Typhoid Fever: Vaccination is recommended to all visitors to tropical areas of South America. Especially for those who remain in rural areas where exposure could occur due to the consumption of contaminated food or water.

Yellow Fever: The vaccine against this viral infection is highly recommended for trips to the Amazon and the southern Amazon basin. The vaccination should be administered at least 10 days before your arrival and at 10-year intervals, if you decide to stay.

Rabies: Vaccination is only recommended for individuals with a higher risk of exposure in the performance of their work, which often develops for prolonged periods in areas considered high risk for this disease.

Let us mention the case of veterinarians or wildlife researchers, whose occupation requires them to have direct contact with bats, dogs, stray cats, or other mammals.

Where to get vaccinated in Lima?

The International Vaccination Center, located in the city of Lima, Avenida del ejército, block 17, San Isidro district.