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DAY
01 CUSCO / TAMBO BLANQUILLO
Meeting at Cusco airport for flight to Boca Manu in small
aircraft - Transfer from Boca Manu airstrip by a motorized
canoe in the Madre de Dios River to Tambo Blanquillo lodge
to arrive after 2 2½ h - Lunch - A 10 minutes ride
downstream in a motorized canoe takes us to Cocha Camungo,
an oxbow lake formed after the meandering Madre de Dios River
changed its course several years ago. A trail starts on the
border of the riverbank and after 20 minutes walk it arrives
to the lake - In the way to the lake, we will encounter a
130 feet observation tower, by far the tallest and most spectacular
in the Manu area, next to a magnificent kapok tree. During
the climb it is possible to see squirrel monkeys, white-fronted
and brown capuchins and howler monkeys - If time permits,
we will continue to the Oxbow Lake, where a small catamaran
is boarded and passengers are encouraged to help with the
rowing to visit the lake opposite shore, where the horned
screamer called "Camungo" that gives its name to
this lake, is found - At 17:00 the return to Tambo Blanquillo
starts and arrival is expected at 17:30 - Dinner and overnight.
DAY
02 TAMBO BLANQUILLO
Early wake up (05:30)
to be transferred to our blind or catamaran on the Madre de
Dios River that serves as a floating observation platform
to watch the activities at the ccollpa Blanquillo (clay lick)
that is located on the riverbank about 10 minutes downstream
from the lodge - Breakfast will be served at the blind and
there is a toilette facility aboard if needed - A typical
day at the collpa (weather permitting) will start around 06:00
am when the first pairs of parrots
fly in to land in the treetops above the lick. They are followed
by hundreds who screech and squawk until the first ones (generally
blue-headed parrots) descend on to the clay. Around 08:00
the first of the larger macaws arrive in family groups and
perch in the treetops. The most common are red and greens,
the scarlet and the blue and yellow macaws. Macaws continue
to arrive throughout the morning. The exact arrival time of
each species may vary slightly, but the order seems surprisingly
fixed. Not until 10:30
am (by which time, between 40 and 200 macaws will have gathered)
do the birds begin their descent to the clay. The birds apparently
relaxed remain alert for eagles. If one is spotted, between
50 and 100 macaws often of different species, will circle
and mob it, generally succeeding in chasing it from the area.
We will return
to Tambo Blanquillo around 11:30
AM - Lunch - A motorized canoe
is boarded for a 40 minutes upstream ride to Cocha Blanco,
which is an oxbow lake (formerly a part of the Madre de Dios
River). After 10 minutes walk from the riverbank, there is
a small catamaran that is boarded and passengers are encouraged
to help with the rowing to visit different parts of the lake.
In this lake, hoatzins, wild turkey and herons are easily
seen also there is a family of giant river otters, which frequently
make appearances not to far from the catamaran - Around 17:00,
the motorized canoe will be boarded for the return trip -
Dinner and overnight.
DAY 03
TAMBO BLANQUILLO / CUSCO
Early transfer (05:00 am) to Boca Manu airstrip via motorized
canoe. Snack breakfast will be served aboard - Flight to Cusco
in a small aircraft
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Good binoculars - Bottle or canteen for water - Hay, preferably
with a cord - Long cotton pants - Hiking boots or sneakers
- Small flash light and one larger for night walks - Insect
repellent - Camera gear, plenty of film and batteries - Sunglasses
- Rain suit or rain poncho - T-shirts - Long sleeved cotton
shirts - Suncreen lotion - Socks absorbent type - Bandana
- Personal toiletries and medication.
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