From Cusco this lodge is only 35 minutes by air and 90 minutes by river. No other lodge in Manu offers all the major wildlife attractions in one spot: 1) the world's largest tapir lick; 2) the most photogenic large macaw lick; 3) miles of monkey-rich trails through mature rain forest; 4) two 120-foot-tall (35-m) canopy platforms; 5) two mature lakes complete with Hoatzins and Giant Otters.

The Wildlife Center is located in a private, 40,000-acre rain forest reserve adjacent to the 1 million acre protected area named the "Amarakaeri Reserved Zone". The Center is the only lodge in the Manu lowlands with roomy, private bungalows, each of which has en suite private bathrooms complete with tiled, hot water showers.

Five fixed departures each week at a special discounted price and almost daily private departures. Activities include a visit to Manu's only accessible macaw clay lick, a visit to the world's largest Tapir clay lick, oxbow lakes with Giant Otters and unlimited access to our unique spiral staircase to a large canopy observation platform. Accommodation, full board, transportation and airfare Cuzco/Boca Manu/Cuzco.

Manu Wildlife Center is located east of the Manu River on the north bank of the Madre de Dios River and is reached by a 35-minute light-plane flight from Cusco. It offers the Amazon's finest short, in-depth wildlife safari. The lodge contains 22 double-occupancy fully-screened bungalows with private bath with hot shower, a large fully screened dining room, and a bar with hammocks for relaxing.

Two 5-day fixed departure programs per week: Thursday and Saturday.

Day 1: Cusco - Boca Manu

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 twin engine 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 2:

Rising before dawn, we take a 25 minutes boat journey downstream to the only large parrot and macaw clay lick in the Manu area. From a floating catamaran blind we are afforded excellent views and photo opportunities of hundreds of medium-sized and large parrots arriving first at the lick, followed by the large Red-and-Green Macaws arriving to eat the clay. Please note that the clay lick is not as active in May, June and July.

After lunch at the Center we continue to explore the miles of forest trails surrounding the lodge, and spend the late afternoon up a 34 meter canopy platform. Here we watch the last frantic activity in the rainforest canopy before night settles.

We return for dinner back at the center and then leisurely hike for 60-75 minutes through the night forest to the Amazon's largest known Tapir clay lick. We climb up a 17 foot by 17 foot observation platform perched 17 feet above the lick itself where we wait for the lumbering Tapirs to arrive, then using powerful flashlights we observe and photograph them in action. (L/B/D)

Day 3:

Rising at dawn you will board the motor-canoe to visit the Camungo Oxbow Lake. In addition to touring the lake by catamaran to look for the resident family of giant otters and other lakeside fauna, we will explore the forest trail and visit the 40 meter high canopy platform. This canopy platform provides a beautiful view of the camungo lake as well as the forest canopy. And on very clear days it is possible to look over the rainforest to the Andes.

After lunch at the Center we will explore the forest trails with the emphasis on visiting the fruiting trees that our experienced naturalist guides have been monitoring. Here we will hope to encounter more monkey species as well as numerous species of birds.

After supper, those explorers still with enough energy will have a chance for a final visit to the Tapir clay lick. (B,L,D,)

Day 4:

In the early morning you will spend the morning visiting the nearby blanco oxbow Lake. This lake has populations of a variety of aquatic life and water birds, including the prehistoric-looking Hoatzin and a family of giant otters.

After lunch at the Center your guide is available to further explore the forest trails for more wildlife encounters. Alternatively time is available to independently explore the forest trails.

After dinner there is an opportunity to see caiman and other nocturnal life along the riverbank by boat. (B/L/D).

Day 5:

After a dawn breakfast you will board the motor canoe for the two hours return trip to the Manu landing strip, from which you fly to Cusco, where your jungle adventure ends. Arrival, reception and transfer to the your hotel. (B)

MANU WILDLIFE CENTER - UK STERLING RATES 2008

Rates may fluctuate in accordance with current exchange rates.

Please note that the program may vary slightly so as to maximize your wildlife sightings, depending on the reports of our researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the lodge.

For further information of booking inquiries please contact Sacred Earth.