Manu National Park Tour

Manu National Park Tour

Manu National Park Tour

Manu National Park Tour

Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Price: 1480 €
Highlights:

Scenic Andes Drive: Travel through eucalyptus groves and cultivated fields, entering the Manu Biosphere Reserve at 3,500 meters.
Cloud Forest Exploration: Discover mist-covered canopies, epiphytes, green ferns, bamboo, and observe the Cock-of-the-Rock and Woolly monkey.
Alto Madre de Dios River: Enjoy a boat trip downstream to Blanquillo, known for its large macaw clay lick.
Wildlife Observation: Watch parrots and parakeets at the macaw clay lick and spot tapirs at a mammal lick.
Casa Matsiguenka Stay: Interact with the Matsiguenka community and explore Lake Salvador by catamaran, searching for giant river otters.
Hot Springs: Relax in a hot spring and stay overnight at the Shintuya native community.
Jungle Walk: Enjoy walks in the jungle.

Ecotourism

Manu National Park Tour

Embark on an eight-day adventure through the stunning landscapes of Manu National Park, starting in Cusco and traveling through the Andes to the lush Amazon jungle. Begin with a scenic drive to the Manu Biosphere Reserve, passing through diverse ecosystems and descending into the cloud forest. Here, you will encounter a variety of wildlife, including Peru’s national bird, the Cock-of-the-Rock.

Travel down the Alto Madre de Dios River to Blanquillo, known for its large macaw clay lick. Observe hundreds of parrots and parakeets at the clay lick and explore the surrounding trails. Continue to Casa Matsiguenka, where you'll be introduced to the local Matsiguenka community and their way of life. Enjoy a catamaran ride on Lake Salvador, searching for giant river otters and other wildlife.

The return journey includes a stop at hot springs for a relaxing bath and an overnight stay in the Shintuya native community. End your journey with a final walk in the jungle before returning to Cusco, reflecting on the rich natural and cultural experiences of your trip.

Book now

Cock-of-the-Rock

Cock-of-the-Rock

Cock-of-the-Rock

Cock-of-the-Rock

Day 1 Cusco - Cloud forest

You wake up early to leave Cusco and begin a winding ascent into the Andes. The road eventually winds down to the town of Paucartambo Colonial Town, where you will stop briefly to stretch your legs. Leaving Paucartambo you begin your ascent through eucalyptus groves, cultivated fields, and remnant patches of native vegetation. Forty minutes from Paucartambo you reach Acjanaco at 3,500 meter atop the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. At this point you have entered the Manu Biosphere Reserve where you are above the clouds gazing below into the lush jungle of the Amazon. As you ascent down from Acjanaco, the baron Paramo starts to change to an elfin forest.

Here you will stop for lunch to admire the view. As you descend further into the cloud forest where the tree canopy covered by mist gives life to numerous epiphytes, moss, luscious green ferns and the kur-Kur (high land bamboo). This area is a natural playground for a vast number of birds. You make your way to an observation post where, with a little luck, you will be able to watch the fascinating dance of Peru’s National bird, the Cock-of-the-Rock and hopefully spot the Woolly monkey. We will spend the night in our lodge in Chontachaka.

Manu National Park

Manu National Park

Manu National Park

Manu National Park

Day 2: Cloud Forest – Atalaya - Pantiacolla Lodge

At daybreak we continue by bus to tropical lowland rainforest. Here at the small village Atalaya at 650 m, we change into a motorized canoe to navigate some 3 hours down the turbulent Alto Madre de Dios River. From here we get great views of the Andes.

At Pantiacolla Lodge, we join the people doing the 9-day tour. In the afternoon and evening we walk some of the many trails around the lodge, right at the foot of the Pantiacolla Mountain Range. You spend the night at Pantiacolla Lodge.

Day 3: Casa Matsiguenka

Once we have had breakfast, we board our boat in order to enter Manu Park, making a brief stop at the Limonal station to show our authorization giving us access to the park. We continue coasting down the river and enjoying everything that nature, always capricious, will show throughout the day.

Lunch will be served in the boat and in the afternoon we arrive at Casa Matsiguenka. On arrival we are greeted by the natives of this ethnic group. Here our guides for the following day will introduce themselves and brief you on the activities for the next day which will show all the richness of the area.

Manu National Park

Manu National Park

Manu National Park

Manu National Park

Day 4: Casa Matsiguenka

This day we cruise the Lake Salvador on a catamaran in search of giant river otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) and explore the forest of the Casa Matsiguenka trying to find the spider monkey (Athelas paniscus) or the bustling peccaries (Tayassu peccary). After a full day of enjoying all this region of the Amazon has to offer, we will overnight at Casa Matsiguenka.

Day 5: Lago Salvador - Macaw Lick

We return back down the Manu River early in the morning, which gives us a good chance to see one or more of Manu's rarer mammals. It could be a tapir or anteater or maybe one of the big cats, crossing the river or resting on its shores. Joining the Madre de Dios River, we arrive at Blanquillo, near the clay lick for macaws. We spend the following two nights in the jungle lodge Tambo Blanquillo.

Manu National Park

Manu National Park

Manu National Park

Manu National Park

Day 6: Casa Matsiguenka – Macaw Lick

At first light we head to the macaw lick to watch the dazzling spectacle of hundreds of parakeets, parrots and big macaws eating clay. In the afternoon we visit a 42-meter high canopy tower, giving us the opportunity to look at the forest from above.

We spend the night again in the jungle lodge Tambo Blanquillo.

Day 7: Blanquillo - Boca Colorado - Cusco

Back on the boat early in the morning, we head downstream to the small mining village Boca Colorado. Here and in Mazuco later on, you can see the negative effects of certain human activities on the delicate ecological balance of the rainforest. We take local transportation until crossing the Inambari River. On the other side, our bus is waiting to take you over a newly paved road, through beautiful cloud and elfin forest.

Near Cusco, you have stunning views of the Ausangate Mountain.

Cusco is reached in the early evening.