Join the Crees team at the Manu Learning Centre, a research and education hub in the remote Peruvian Amazon. In this programme you will live and work with a group of like-minded people from across the world, sharing their passion to protect the Manu rainforest.
Discover what it takes to save this rainforest by learning about the social, economic and political challenges Manu is facing, but actively working on it, by supporting our community team as they empower local people through improved livelihoods and living standards.
Become part of the solution, spending every day exploring the rainforest and meeting its wild creatures, while carrying out tropical ecology surveys to collect data that is used in scientific publications.
You wake up at 6 am to the calls of charismatic macaws and mischievous monkeys. After a typical Peruvian breakfast, you set out with your team leader into the rainforest to survey the immense diversity of Amazonian butterflies.
You learn to handle, identify and record the butterflies’ data collaborating with our researchers to better understand the health of the ecosystem (it’s amazing what you can learn from these beautiful creatures)
After a busy day trekking through the rainforest to complete the surveys, it's time to head back to camp and catch up on the day's gossip over a communal dinner before an early night.
You hop on the early morning boat to travel over to the small town of Salvación to help families with their bio gardens from fixing roofs, to planting saplings.
Many children in this town suffer from malnutrition due to a lack of fresh vegetables so the biogardens are essential for improving their health and are also a source of alternative income as many families have begun selling their produce to improve their livelihoods.
After a hot and sweaty day of work, you relax over a cold beer in the evening and feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that you and your team have helped a local family that really needs your support.
After a morning in the bio gardens, you catch the boat back to camp to enjoy a communal lunch with everyone in the team. You spend the afternoon working with our researchers to identify species and record data, or help the kitchen and housekeeping staff around camp and enjoy getting to know the team better.
After a hearty evening meal, you spend a fun-filled evening practising Spanish with our Peruvian staff – sharing stories to learn about different cultures and experiences that will surely expand your understanding and horizons.
You wake up before dawn and catch the boat down to the beach as the sun begins to rise over the Amazon rainforest and the distant snow-capped mountains, a spectacular way to start the day.
Flocks of macaws and parrots begin to arrive at the Mascoitania clay lick by the beach, where they socialise and replenish minerals needed in their diet. You will learn how to identify different species and record various data, so that our researchers can better understand how these threatened species are being impacted by tourism and habitat loss.
You hop back on the boat for breakfast and have a day of trekking in the forest to complete researching surveys, having the opportunity to see even more wildlife during the day.
You spend the day at camp helping out the team on their projects or working in the biogarden. Tonight you will head out on a survey after dark, hunting for amphibians and reptiles.
Herpetofauna are a really understudied group, but they can tell us a lot about the health of their environment. Whether you find snakes or colourful tree frogs, you bring them back to camp to identify and record data to help expand knowledge on these species. After a long day, you enjoy a hot shower and bed.
You spend the day trekking through the rainforest and enjoy getting to know the vast diversity of plants and wildlife by chatting to your knowledgeable team leader, as you work together to complete surveys and record data.
You get back to camp for a hot shower and dinner, just before Saturday Night Fun kicks off. Every week, this is when the whole team lets loose with quirky home-grown entertainment. Over a few beers and a lot of laughter, you will start building friendships for life.
You relax with a good book, play football with the team, go for a dip in the streams, or just enjoy a good gossip with other guests. It's your Sunday in the remote Amazon rainforest: bask in the awe-inspiring beauty of your surroundings and simply enjoy every moment of it. It's a once in a lifetime experience.
By visiting the Manu Rainforest with Crees you will be actively supporting our conservation and community projects in the Amazon protecting nature and empowering local people.
The best time to visit Manu is during the dry season from April to October. That said, we take educational tours to Manu all year round, even in the rainy season because there are always fascinating things to see and experiences to experience any day of the year!
Dry season is from April to the end of October and the Wet season is from November to end of March.
We do not include flights in the price of your programme, but all local transportation, accommodation, meals and professional training and instruction is included from pick up to drop off at the airport in Cusco. The only extras would be alcoholic drinks or snacks that can be bought at the MLC.
Flights need to be booked on the start date and the end date.
For vaccinations please see the health section below, but we are not in a malarial zone.
The difference in programme lengths is purely just on time spent in the jungle. The more time you spend with us the more you will learn about our projects to get a deeper understanding of our conservation and community work. The more days spent with us offers the chance of seeing even more wildlife and making lifelong friendships.
There is no set time you need to book in advance. However, once you choose the date for your visit then you can start booking to avoid the start dates being booked when you want to go especially during the summer months.
It is very simple! Once you would like to book we send you a link to our booking form so we have all your information. And after you have paid your deposit, we then send you an invoice as confirmation of your booking and you are all set.
A Crees' representative will meet you the night before to advise on timings for pick up so make sure you tell us where you are staying in Cusco prior to departure if you haven't booked directly with us. Normally it is an early start to head down to Manu, departing Cusco from around 6am.
A Crees' representative will be there to pick you up from the airport. They will be holding up a sign with Crees written and your names.
No, we provide drinking water for all our guests.
Yes. We provide the link plus a secure zone to transfer payments.
You must be 18 years of age at the start of your programme to book on.
The best time to visit Manu is during the dry season from April to October. That said, we take educational tours to Manu all year round, even in the rainy season because there are always fascinating things to see and experiences to experience any day of the year!
Dry season is from April to the end of October and the Wet season is from November to end of March.
Your guide will meet you the night before to advise on timings for pick up so make sure you tell us where you are staying in Cusco prior to departure. Normally it is an early start to head down to Manu, departing Cusco from around 6am.
This is totally at your discretion, however we give a guide as $10 per person per day. Don’t forget the drivers who may have shown extreme skill on difficult roads in many cases, but they should be tipped lower than the guides in general terms.
We advise you to arrive a day early for your tour. However, if you do happen to arrive in Cusco on the day of your tour, your guide will be there to pick you up from the airport. They will be holding up a sign that says “Crees” and your names.
No, we provide drinking water for all our guests.
Yes. We provide a secure space for payment.
Yes. We can pick up and drop off in the Sacred Valley if you let us know prior to the tour where you are staying. We do charge an extra $40 USD for the guide to give the pre-departure briefing in the Sacred Valley the night before your tour.
We recommend you take the last departing from Puerto Maldonado back to Cusco or Lima.
Yes, we welcome children from 6 years old and above. The jungle is a wonderful place for them to explore and learn about the natural world.
Simple! Once you decide to book with us, we send you a link to our booking form so we have all your information and when you have paid your deposit then we send you an invoice as confirmation of your booking and you are all set.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Our love and care for Peru is the driving force behind our operating tours and tourism to Manu. For this reason we are extremely concerned to ensure that our impact is always positive and never damaging.
We aim to bring benefit to local communities and to help sustain a healthy environment where both people and nature can thrive. To aid this process, we would like to encourage you to understand and respect local cultures and customs, get involved with local communities, buy locally and support local businesses.
THE MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE
It is located at the furthest tip of the Upper Amazon River, in the remote south-eastern region of Peru. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest tropical rainforest biosphere reserve on earth, protecting 4,646,564 acres (1,881,200 hectares) of land; an area almost half the size of Switzerland.
This area is situated within the Amazon River basin and protects almost the entire watershed of the River Manu and most of the tributaries of the River Alto Madre de Dios. The Manu Learning Centre is situated within a regenerating secondary forest, ideally placed for studies of regeneration of habitats after disturbance.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The Manu Biosphere Reserve’s biological diversity is one of the greatest on Earth, and it is home for some exotic species they have never been named. The Puna is home to tassel-eared llamas and alpacas; the cloud forests are inhabited by brilliant red Cock of the Rocks, spectacled Bears and scores of dripping tree ferns.
The lowland rainforest is inhabited by the giant Black Caiman, Giant Otter, 13 species of monkeys and over 1000 species of birds and of course the majestic Jaguar.
Whilst flora of Manu is vastly under-researched, it is thought that over 15 000 species of plant species have been identified in the park, and it is likely that the number of species to be found within the park is well over this figure.
CLIMATE
The Amazon climate is generally hot and humid, around 30 degrees. The dry season is from Apr-Oct and the wet season is from Nov-Apr. The wet season is characterised by a few hours of rain each day and temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees.
February is a time of heavy rains and roads can be inaccessible during this period. Then, in May there is often a layer of low cloud over the rainforest. The Manu National Park is closed in February so crees tours to Romero Rainforest Lodge do not operate but the Manu Learning Centre is open all year round.
HEALTH AND VACCINES
The Amazon is well known for its huge biodiversity and the wealth of different ecosystems it supports. In each one of these there are always dangers that face visitors, which preparation is key.
Rainforest excursions lead people into the heart of the rainforest on an adventure that will consequently expose them to its raw nature. In order to be prepared please talk to your doctor about their recommendations.
See section below for specific inoculations that are recommended. Due to mosquito related diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis and even pesky bites, we recommend purchasing an effective repellent and also wear long sleeve shirts and trousers at all times.
General safety and sanitary standards in Peru are often not as high as other countries. Public health facilities are available, but It is essential that you take out fully comprehensive insurance before travelling.
In isolated places such as the Peruvian Amazon there are few facilities available so it is advisable to take a well-equipped first aid kit.
Pharmacies in Peru are well stocked and most products, even antibiotics, can be bought over the counter. Check validity dates on packaging, and there is an important distinction between a recommendation (advice) and a requirement (you may be refused entry to the country without proof of vaccination).
Manu as such is not a malarial area but if you are travelling onwards from any of our tours, please make sure you have the requirements needed. Please consult your GP or health centre for accurate details of malarial areas within the region.
If you have doubts about Covid-19, please click here to be redirected to our Covid-19 latest information tab.
MONEY
Cash
It is sensible to take cash as much as your insurance will allow, which can be exchanged locally. The currency in Peru is the Sol. The value varies but it is around 3 to 4 soles to the dollar and 5 to 6 soles to the pound.
We recommend taking US dollars with you for your arrival as it is normal to pay for hotels and tourist services in dollars throughout Peru. All other day to day expenses are paid for in soles. One dollar bills can be useful for tipping and paying fees on borders if you are going outside Peru before/after your trip with crees. Do not take money from your own home country as it can be difficult to exchange.
Credit and Debit cards
Credit cards are widely accepted and are valid as proof of funds at borders. Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted, and American Express not so much. Using cash points locally is a great way to get cash out and the rate of exchange is often the most favourable. It may be worthwhile advising your bank of where you are going as often some banks detect irregular spending abroad and freeze the account which can take days to sort out.
Money at Crees lodges
You need to bring cash to make purchases in the nearby towns at the rainforest and for your bar/shop bill at the Manu Learning Centre and/or Romero Rainforest Lodge – we do not take card payments.
Tipping
The Spanish word for tipping is propina, and we cannot express enough that tipping is a personal choice and one should not feel obliged to give one if you are unsatisfied with the service.
With regards to guides it is advisable to tip $5.00 per couple per half day but of course if you have been particularly satisfied by all means give more!
For naturalist guides, the convention is more like $10 per person per day. Don’t forget the drivers who in many cases may have shown extreme skill on difficult roads but in general terms should be tipped lower than the guides.
VISAS
If you are from the UK, USA, Canada, or Australia you do not require a visa to come through Peru as a tourist.
INSURANCE
We recommend that you buy comprehensive travel insurance for your trip. It is important to check that you are covered for trekking activities above 2500m (both Cusco and the Inca trail are higher than this), repatriation, a minimum medical cover of $50000 and an emergency medical evacuation minimum of at least $10,000,000 for emergency medical transport.
PASSPORTS
Your passport must have at least six months before it expires from the date you intend to return at the end of your trip. It should also have a few unused pages for the necessary visas and stamps that you will accumulate on your travels. If your flight goes via the USA then your passport will need to be one that can be read electronically or they will not let you through, and you will also need to register on the US government’s new visa waiver list. Please see http://www.unitedstatesvisas.us/ for more information.
E-mail: info@crees-manu.org
Cellphone: +51 984 108 241
WhatsApp: +51 984 108 241
Address: Urb. Los Andenes B-6 – Cusco, Perú.