Finally, after two days and nights of traveling by air, three nights in Cusco Peru, including a side trip to Machu Picchu, we headed off to the Amazon River Basin and the Manu River. The route, by tourist van, was up and over the Andes and down through the Manu Cloud Forest were we spent the night at the Cock-of-the-rock Lodge – mosquito netting included. This was another 6 hour trip along a winding and increasingly complicated road. Somewhere along the way, we were at 15,000 feet and in the clouds. When I say complicated road, you might notice the “Washout” image, by Francis Kessler, documenting a huge ravine of mountain side which has slipped away, threating to take out the seemingly precarious bridge which we crossed while holding our breath and saying our prayers. I recall lifting my feet off the floor as we crossed the bridge, thinking this would somehow help. As Francis noted, “This is no Disney Cruise!”
The Manu Cloud Forest is protected by conservation organizations in Peru for its sheer biodiversity. According to PeruPeru.com: “The reserve protects the world’s biggest display ground of the blazing red Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, two species of Quetzales, Mountain Toucans, Amazonian Umbrellabirds, myriad species of tanagers and hummingbirds, orchids (including two species new for science first discovered by Selva Sur researchers), Tree Ferns, cascading waterfalls, Torrent Ducks, Andean Dippers, and much more.”
As we descended down the slopes of the forest, I felt like I was in a time machine. In my estimation, the Manu Cloud Forest can best be described as magical, mysterious, primitive, exotic and otherworldly. And little did I know it was about to get even more primitive.
Click on photo to enlarge
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