Introduction
Manu Wildlife Center (MWC) is located in the remote and wild Manu Wilderness
of Southeastern Peru. Amidst spectacular forest and incredible scenery, the density and
diversity of animal and plant species reach a peak in the extreme western Amazon, near the
foot of the Andes. A 35-minute flight from Cusco to the mouth of the Manu River and a 90
minute motorcanoe ride down the Madre de Dios River brings you to the single best wildlife
destination in the entire Amazon: Manu Wildlife Center. MWC is incredibly remote and wild.
Wildlife enthusiasts, birders, and nature photographers find Manu worth the extra effort
and travelling time. The Manu Wildlife Center offers more wildlife sightings and a higher
level of comfort, at a lower price than any other lodge in the the Manu region.
Two fixed departure programs are offered, of 04 days/03 nights, or 05 days/04 nights.
Explore 40 miles of scientifically-designed forest trails surrounding the Manu Wildlife
Center. Areas surrounding MWC are free from hunting pressure. Lowland deer, tapirs,
monkeys, and the occasional Jaguar inhabit the forest trails. Caimans, piranhas, and
anacondas live in the rivers and lakes surrounding Manu Wildlife Center.
View
monkeys and colorful canopy birds from a strategically located canopy platform atop a
120-foot high spiral staircase. From the Center's observation tower numerous canopy birds
can be sighted such as Sclater's Antwren, White-shouldered, Masked, and Paradise tanagers,
and Green and Black-faced dacnis.
Visit the only accessible Macaw and Parrot Lick in the Manu area just minutes from our
lodge. From a silent, floating catamaran blind pioneered by our macaw researchers, we
marvel at the emerald green and electric blue parrots and the gaudy Red-and-Green Macaws
that arrive by the hundreds to gobble down the clay. This mobile blind allows us to
approach within 20-30 yards (18-27 m) of the 25-foot-tall (8-m-tall) clay bank for
excellent photo opportunities. No other Macaw Lick in the world currently permits such
close-up, comfortable viewing of this spectacle of nature.
Visit
the world's largest known Tapir Clay Lick. From the comfort and safety of a house blind
elevated 13 feet above the lick, observe and photograph these wiggled-nosed, 550-pound
beasts: the largest land animals in South America.
Accommodation at Manu Wildlife Center
Set in the splendors of the incomparable lowland Amazon, a visit to the Manu Wildlife
Center offers a unique experience of primary rain forest and jungle rivers. Experience an
adventure that will truly last a lifetime.
Manu Wildlife Center:
• 22 fully screened double-occupancy bungalows with large living area and private
tiled bathrooms with hot water showers.
• Screened dining room.
• Activities building with fully stocked bar and reading room.
• A professional staff and safe, comfortable accommodations await your visit to the
internationally famous Manu Wildlife Center.
Programs (sample itinerary for 4D/3N)
Day One
Early
morning our representative will pick you up from your hotel to transfer to Cusco airport.
A thirty-five minute flight in a radar-equipped plane takes you to Boca Manu. Here you
take a motorized canoe for the 90 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios River to Manu
Wildlife Center to arrive for lunch. The afternoon will be spent exploring some of the 30
miles of clean forest trails that surround the lodge. On these trails you have an
excellent chance to encounter some of the 12 species of monkeys, which include the Monk
Saki and Emperor Tamarin, which inhabit the surrounding forest. After dinner you will have
a short night excursion to explore nocturnal life in the rainforest.
Day Two
Rising before dawn, we boat for 25 minutes downriver to the only large accessible
parrot and macaw clay lick in the Manu area. From a floating catamaran blind pioneered by
our macaw researchers we enjoy excellent views and photo opportunities as first hundreds
of medium-sized and large parrots, mostly Blue-headed Pionus and Mealy Amazons with a
smattering of Orange-cheeked Parrots (Pionopsitta barrabandi), and then the large
Red-and-Green Macaws (Green-winged, or Ara chloroptera) arrive to eat the clay. Please
note that although the clay lick is active year round, usually the best months for viewing
and 
photography
are July through November, when the birds tend to come in larger numbers and rain tends to
be rare. After lunch at the Center we continue to explore the forest trails surrounding
the lodge, and plan to spend the late afternoon up a 34 meter canopy platform. Here, we
watch the last frantic activity in the rainforest canopy, or rush hour, before night
settles. We can return for dinner back at the Center, or pack our meal for the leisurely
hike about 60-75 minutes through the night forest to the Amazon's largest known Tapir clay
lick. Here we climb a 17 by 17 foot observation platform perched almost 20 feet above the
lick itself where we wait for the lumbering Tapirs to arrive. Then, using powerful
flashlights we hope to observe and photograph them in action.
Day Three
After another early morning departure by boat and short hike from the river, you have what
promises to be an exciting visit to Blanco Oxbow Lake. This lake has populations of a
variety of aquatic life and water birds, including the prehistoric-looking hoatzin and the
possibility to see the resident family of giant otters. After returning for lunch at the
Center your guide is available to further explore the forest trails for more wildlife
encounters. Alternatively, time is available to independently practice your abilities and
experience this expanse of rainforest habitats on your own. This evening, from the late
afternoon until after Dinner, we offer an opportunity to search for caiman and other
nocturnal life along the riverbank by boat.
Day Four
On the last morning, you eat breakfast at dawn and board our motorcanoe for the
two-hour return trip to Manu airstrip, from which you fly to Cusco, where your jungle
adventure ends.
Please note that the program may vary slightly so as to maximize your wildlife sightings, depending on the reports of our researchers and native guides based at the lodge.
| Program | 2-4 Passengers | 5+ Passengers |
| 4 Days / 3 Nights |
$950 Single Supplement: $150 |
$875 Single Supplement: $150 |
 |
||
| 5 Days / 4 Nights |
$1090 Single Supplement: $200 |
$990 Single Supplement: $200 |
|
||
Fixed departures:
4D/3N: Mon - Thu, Wed-Sat, Fri-Mon
5D/4N: Thu - Mon, Sat-Wed
Fixed departures include: airport pick-up in Cusco; roundtrip airfare to Boca Manu;
private rivercanoe transportation to Manu Wildlife Center; private bungalow with private
bath; all meals; naturalist guides, trip to the Blanquillo Macaw Lick; visit to our Tapir
Blind, camain watching, and excursions by catamaran viewing Giant Otters, and use of the
Center's 120 foot high canopy tower and miles of nature trails.
