Depart London and fly to Cusco via Lima

On arrival in Cusco the group will be met by one of our team and taken to the hotel. Depending on flight times there maybe some time to have a stroll around the Plaza de Armas before taking a traditional Peruvian meal at one of the local restaurants. Overnight in Cusco (Hotel) Meals: dinner

Early in the morning the journey begins. The bus will leave the city and travel out of the valley up to Ninamarca, a small complex of circular tombs. Here everyone can explore the tombs before continuing upward to Paucartambo, once the center of ancient Inca trading routes of the Incas. Your tour leader will take the time to teach the group about the history of the Andean communities. The highest point of the journey is the Ranger's Station (3500m) which marks the entrance to Manu National Park. If the weather is good you will be able to look out over one of the largest National Parks in South America. The road then winds down to San Pedro where the group will take lunch before continuing to our Cloud Forest Lodge. Overnight in Manu cloud forest (Lodge) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Before brekafast the group will take a ten minute walk through the jungle to a lek - a kind of 'mating arena' for the beautiful Cock of the Rock. This splenid bird has become a symbol of Manu National Park, the male dances for the female in a wonderful courtship display at the lek and our hide will allow the students to witness it at close range. On the walk back you may be lucky enough to see monkeys foraging for their breakfast. After the group has taken their breakfast they will continue the journey through the cloud forest. There will be a stop at a coca plantation where your tour leader will give a brief guided tour and explain the importance of coca in the history of Peru. 

On arrival at the port town of Atalaya everyone will help unload the bus and transfer to the motorised canoe for a wonderful journey on the red waters of the Alto Madre de Dios River, one of the most southerly tribuataries of the mighty Amazon. It will take about one hour to reach the Manu Learning Centre and the staff will be waiting with a delicious lunch and a warm welcome. In the afternoon your naturalist guide will take everyone on one of the jungle trails and introduce you to some of the wonders of the Amazon Rainforest. Overnight at Manu Learning Centre (Lodge) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today there will be a full day of activities around the Manu Learning Centre starting with a visit to the collpa or clay lick. Early in the morning hundreds of parrot species come here to feed on the clay and the array of colours is a spectacular sight. After breakfast there will be a walk on one of the fantastic jungle trails looking out for monkey and other animals.

After lunch one of the resident naturalists will talk to the students about the work that is being carried out at the learning centre, the importance of rainforest conservation and how the research work is carried out. The students will then get the chance to see one of the research transects and have a go at a species count. If the sky is clear at night there maybe chance for some star gazing or simply to relax in the dinning room after a busy day. Overnight at Manu Learning Centre (Lodge) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

After an early breakfast, our boat will take the group on a two-hour trip to the hot springs of Aguas Calientes (a different one!) Here among the trees the students will love the natural hot pools and cool waters of the creek. The boat ride will then continue through the territories of the native communities of Shintuya, Shipetiari and Diamante, leaving behind the mountain ranges of Piñi Piñi and Pantiacolla, where the legend places El Dorado, the city of gold. Your destination is our lodge at Boca Manu situated at the confluence of the Alto Madre de Dios and the Madre de Dios rivers. Overnight at Boca Manu (Lodge) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast the group will travel still further into the lowland forest. Travelling up the Manu River you will now be entering some of the most pristine forest in Peru. Access to this region is strictly controlled and the group must register at Limonal Ranger Station before continuing. From here the river trip is simply amazing, your naturalist guides will help spot wildlife from the boat. In the trees you may see troops of squirrel monkeys or red howlers foraging on leaves, the beaches offer ideal habitats for nesting water birds, there is even a chance someone might spot the elusive jaguar! Finally you will arrive at Casa Matsiguenka, the little lodge built and run by the native Matsiguenkas. This local community will guide the group on the trails and make them feel welcome in their home. Your first night here will be an unforgettable experience as you fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle in one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth. Overnight in Casa Matsiguenka. (Lodge) Meals: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner

Today the students will have the opportunity to visit two incredible ox-bow lakes. The first is Cocha Salvador where the group can observe activity on the lake from the floating observation platform. We are so lucky to have here a resident population of Giant Otters. These beautiful creatures were hunted to the brink of extinction and to see a family of otters playing and fishing is a once in a life time experience. After lunch at Casa Matsiguenka there will be a boat ride to the second lake. At Cocha Otorongo the students can climb the lofty, 20 meter observation tower to get a 'monkey's eye view' of the canopy. After dinner there is the option to take part in a night walk in the jungle to try and find some of the shy nocurnal animals. Overnight in Casa Matsiguenka (Lodge) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

This morning the group will say goodbye to their new found friends and head back along the waterways to the Manu Learning Centre. It will be a long day on the river but a great opportunity to practice newly learnt spotting and identification skills. There will be a chance to vist the viewing platform at the Rangers Station at Limonal on the return journey. The staff at the centre will be waiting to welcome you all back from your adventure with a hot dinner. Overnight at Manu Learning Centre (Lodge) Meals: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner

Early in the morning there will be a visit to the 'macaw collpa' to see what species can be spotted coming in to feed on the clay. In the afternoon there will be a walk on one of the longer jungle trails that takes in some spectacular scenery and great wildlife viewing opportunities. Alternatively the students can make use of the canopy tower to watch the parrots coming in to roost. In the evening, after dark, there is the opportunity to go in search of tapirs at the mammal clay lick, we have a well positioned hide from where close range viewing is possible. Overnight in Manu Learning Centre (Lodge) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast the group will begin the return journey to Cusco. The winding road journeys though lush tropical rainforest, then cloud forest and up to the misty pass at Tres Cruces. From here the road passes through the Andean Puna and back into the Valley of the Incas. Overnight in Cusco (Hotel) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

(An alternative is to take the small propeller plane from the airstrip back to Cusco, there is an additional cost for the flight though it will allow more time at the Learning Centre)

No trip to Peru would be complete without a visit to the awe inspiring Machu Picchu. On the last day of the tour we have included a full day excursion to the lost city of the Incas. The group will travel from Cusco on the magical train journey that follows the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes. From here they will take the bus up to the ruins. A guided tour will help unravel the mysteries of the Incas, the way they lived and their remarkable building skills as well as explaining the purpose of Machu Picchu and the plight of the Incas. There will be free time to wander through the ruins before returning to Cusco for a farewell dinner (guinneapig is optional!) Overnight in Cusco (Hotel) Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today the tour ends in Cusco, a transfer will be provided to the airport for your homebound flight via Lima. Meals: breakfast