Cloud Forest to Low Rainforest - Manu & Tambopata Testimonial

Anne, from Edegem in Belgium, originally contacted PeruNorth in January 2023 with a desire to see macaw clay licks (kollpas) at the time of year that they are busiest. After a good deal of back-and-forth, we finally settled upon an August/September 2024 itinerary with nine nights in Manu, staying at four different lodges, and descending over 3,000m, by private vehicle and motorboat, to end in the low-jungle city of Puerto Maldonado.

After a night here, Anne was then off to another lodge, Chuncho, to enjoy its nearby kollpa on three separate mornings, before a final two nights beside Lake Sandoval.

Here is a pictorial diary of her epic Amazonian experience:

Chullpas de Ninamarca

On the way from Cusco to Paucartambo, Anne stopped at the enigmatic funerary towers of Ninamarca, constructed by a pre-Inca civilisation at 3,600m above sea level.

Andean Ladies in Traditional Garb

Taken in Paucartambo, on way from Cusco to Manu.

Andean Potoo

Seen in cloud forest near Pachayoq Waterfall, during lunch on the first day.

Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge

Anne's first night in Manu was spent at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, surrounded by cloud forest.

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

Peru's beautiful national bird.

Nefi, Manu Guide

Photographed attaching a camera trap.

Brown Capuchin Monkeys

Seen near Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge on Day 2.

Squirrel Cuckoo

Seen near Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.

Manu Learning Centre

Anne's second and third nights were spent at this lodge, located in a 643 hectare private reserve in Manu Biosphere Reserve, buffer zone of Manu National Park.

Burrowing Owl

Seen beside Madre de Dios River on the way to Cocha Machuwasi on Day 3.

Jaguar (Panthera onca)

Spotted beside Manu River, between Lake Salvador & Romero Lodge on Day 5 of Anne's itinerary.

Murphy Butterfly

Abundant insect life can be found throughout Manu ... with butterflies being the most striking.

Romero Rainforest Lodge

Located within Manu National Park, Anne spent her fourth, fifth and sixth nights here.

Puma (Puma concolor)

Seen on Manu River near Romero Lodge.

Cocha Salvador

On Day 5, Anne visited Lake Salvador, using a catamaran pontoon to observe the abundant flora and fauna.

Hoatzin

These pre-historic birds, with claws on their wings, inhabit the trees surrounding Cocha Salvador.

Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodiles)

Also known as the White Caiman, this is the commonest crocodilian in the waters of the Peruvian Amazon.

Manu Wildlife Center

Anne spent her 7th, 8th and 9th nights at this lodge, set in a private, 16,190-hectare reserve adjacent to the Amarakaeri Reserved Zone in the Manu Lowlands.

Blue-Headed Parrots

Seen at Tambo Blanquillo clay lick which Anne visited on both Day 8 and 9 of her itinerary ... in order to maximise the possibilities of bird sightings.

Red-and-Green Macaws

Tambo Blanquillo clay lick also attracts a few species of macaws.

Cocha Blanco

An oxbow lake, teeming with wildlife, near Manu Wildlife Center.

Boca Colorado

This is a ramshackle town with a road connection to Puerto Maldonado ... and the place where Anne said goodbye to her Manu crew on Day 10 of her itinerary.

Chuncho Lodge

After a night in Puerto Maldonado, Anne travelled up the Tambopata River to Chuncho Lodge.

Canopy Tower

Chuncho Lodge has a 38m (125 ft) high canopy tower for magnificent jungle views. Anne's guide, Gabriel, looks pensive!

Blue-and-Yellow Macaws

Chuncho Lodge is named after a nearby clay lick, which Anne visited on three occasions. These macaws were photographed on a palm tree not far from the kollpa.

Brown-Throated Sloth

Seen near Chuncho Clay Lick.

Lake Sandoval

Anne's last two nights were spent at Casa Sandoval, next to the cocha of the same name, which she describes as 'a very atmospheric lake where we saw the giant otters, monkeys and a wide range of birds'.