5
nights From the Andes to the Amazon
From $1670 per person, double occupancy for 2009
All Lost World Adventures itineraries are
privately guided, and may be modified to suit personal
travel dates, interests and budgets.
Day 1 (Wed/Sat): cuzco - Cock-of-the-Rock
Lodge
You will be picked up at your Cuzco hotel and set off
for the cloud forest. You pass over two Andean ridges
of almost 13,100 feet elevation through a steppe-like
landscape, or Puna. On the way you pass stone Chullpas,
or burial chambers, of the Pre-Inca people and will hope
to catch sight of some of the bird species of the high
Andes, including the Giant Hummingbird and Mountain Caracara.
A boxed lunch is served in Ajanaco,
at the edge of the cloud forest, which if clear affords
views over the cloud forest and the vast sprawling expanse
of the lowland rain forest. From here the road suddenly
descends the eastern slope of the Andes. The road plunges
downward, past remnant patches of elfin forest, through
swirling mist and cloud, to emerge in a forest of stunted,
evergreen trees, festooned with mosses, lichens, bromeliads
and other epiphytes. Nestled in this forest within a 2-minute
walk of the road, and within earshot of a rushing mountain
stream, lies the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge. If time allows,
you will have a chance to briefly explore the surrounding
forest before dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 2: Cloud Forest - Pantiacolla
Lodge or Amazonia Lodge
You need to get up before sunrise to visit the lek of
the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. Next, you spend some hours
of the morning searching from the road looking for cloud
forest birds, and with luck, Common Woolly Monkeys. Then
continue by bus for Atalaya. After a 3-4 hour bus ride
you reach the Alto Madre de Dios River, where you may
have a box-lunch in Atalaya or choose to eat on the river.
From here you switch to a cargo canoe with a 55 hp or
65 hp outboard motor and continue for 1.5 - 2 hours on
the Alto Madre de Dios River to the Pantiacolla Lodge
(or Amazonia Lodge for Saturday arrivals). If there is
time before dark you will be able to start you exploration
of one of the 20 km of forest trails which surround the
lodge. (B,L, D)
Day 3: MANU
Wildlife Center
You can take a small hike on the lodge trails before an
early departure for Manu Wildlife Center. On the way you
have wildlife viewing possibilities throughout the morning
until you stop for a visit at an Indigenous Piro Indian
Village. Later after passing the entrance to the Manu
National Park, we take a break at Boca Manu. Now on the
River Madre de Dios, after traveling approximately 6 hours
by boat, you arrive at Manu Wildlife Center. A reception
and orientation are planned before unpacking in your private
bungalow and resting to escape the afternoon heat. Today,
at one of the top ten wildlife lodges in the world, you
begin your exploration through 48 kilometers, almost 30
miles, of diverse forest trails.
(B,L,D)
Day 4: MANU
Wildlife Center
Rising before dawn, you take a 25 minute 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.
After lunch at the Center you continue
to explore the forest trails surrounding the lodge, and
plan to spend the late afternoon up a 34-meter canopy
platform. Here, you watch the last frantic activity in
the rainforest canopy, or rush hour, before night settles.
You can return for
dinner back at the Center, or pack a meal for the leisurely
hike about 60-75 minutes through the night forest to the
Amazon's largest known Tapir clay lick. Here you climb
a 17 by 17 foot observation platform perched almost 20
feet above the lick itself where you wait for the lumbering
Tapirs to arrive. Then, using powerful flashlights you
may be able to observe and photograph them in action.
Scientific reports reveal that tapirs usually visit the
clay lick between 9:00 pm and midnight; however, their
activity continues until dawn. (B,L,D)
Please note:
The clay lick activity reaches its best from August to
October and decreases during the months of May and June.
During the dry season (June-September) the water level
on the river does not always allow for a floating blind
and it will then be sitting on the ground.
Day 5: MANU
Wildlife Center
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 experience
this expanse of rainforest habitats on your own. This
evening, from the late afternoon until after dinner, you
have the opportunity to search for caiman and other nocturnal
life along the riverbank by boat.
(B,L,D)
Day 6: Manu
Wildlife Center - Cuzco
After early breakfast, you leave near dawn by motor canoe
for the two-hour return trip to the Manu landing strip,
taking advantage of valuable early morning wildlife activity
along the river. From here you fly to Cuzco, where your
jungle adventure ends. Cuzco Airport reception and transfer
to your hotel. (B).
Contact
us for a customized itinerary of travel in Peru.
