Manu National Park Tours from Cusco (4 Days)

Manu National Park Tours from Cusco is one of our signature tours to explore the cultural zone of the Peruvian Amazon Jungle. We have designed this exclusive four day jungle trip to offer you an extensive insight into life in the Manu National Park, Peru.

Located at the meeting point of the tropical Andes and the Amazon in southeastern Peru, Manu National Park is one of the largest parks in South America.

Manu Biosphere Reserve is home to countless varieties of flora and fauna species, protecting over 2 million hectares of territory and the landscape diversity includes high Andean grasslands, cloud forests, and lowland tropical rainforests.

In 1987, Manu National Park got its recognition as a world heritage site. It soon became a protected area of major and global biodiversity conservation importance.

Manu National Park Tours from Cusco:

Our 4 days Manu Adventure Tour will take you to the Andes Mountain range and into the cloud forest. Our English speaking local naturalist tour guide will be accompanying you on a hike. You will have plenty of opportunity to spot the flora and fauna, trails and the indigenous culture and traditions.

To enhance your Amazonian Experience, we will be accommodating you in our ecological Jungle lodges nestled amidst the rainforest. Here you can take a refreshing dip in the natural hot springs. We will also be doing short night hikes to spot some nocturnal creatures in the pristine areas of a virgin amazon rainforest.

Why choose us for Manu National Park Tours from Cusco?

Palotoa Amazon Travel is a locally owned tour operator company  based in Cusco. We exclusively operate tours to the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. We support sustainable, responsible and ethical tourism.

Our Commitment to the Environment, We provide a real and unforgettable experience in the jungle, Our commitment is to support native communities

As locals, our licensed English speaking tour guides have years of experience guiding tours in the Amazon Jungle. They have an extensive knowledge about the flora and fauna, trails and the indigenous culture and traditions.

Want to witness the Macaws Clay Lick? Check out our six days Manu Reserved Zone Tour which offers a complete tour of the Manu National Park.

Do take a moment to see our guest reviews on Tripadvisor.

• Package / Tour: Manu Park 4D/3N
• Price 2024: USD $670.00 minimun 2 person, more than 4 person  USD 570.00
• Locations Visited: Manu National Park (cultural zone)
• Frequency: 6 Times of week
• Physical Grading: 1-2-3-4-5

OVERVIEW & ITINERARY

Start: Cusco
End: Cusco
Group size: Minimum 4 Maximum 10
Age Minimum: 05 to 15 years old with their parents, Adults up to 70 years of age
Style: Original and unique
Type: Adventure and biodiversity
Manu National Park Tours from Cusco Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Manu National Park Tours from Cusco Tour Route and altitude
Cusco (3,300m.s.n.m.) – Andes– (3830m.s.n.m.) Cloud Forest (1,500m.s.n.m.), Amazon Basin (350m.s.n.m.)
Manu National Park covers an area of  1716 292 22 million hectares, and is categorized as one of the most extensive parks in South America.

MANU NATIONAL PARK TOURS FROM CUSCO DETAILED PROGRAM

NOTE: The program involves several trips by bus and boat, and so given the uncontrollable forces of nature, the program may be subject to change at any time without notice.

Day 1: Cusco – Rain forest Lodge

Your epic four day Manu National Park Tours from Cusco begins with an early morning transfer (0500 AM) from your hotel in Cusco. In our private transport, we will be driving you to a small Andean town called Huancarani. We will be stopping here for a traditional breakfast.

After relishing a traditional breakfast, we will continue our journey to the colonial and folkloric town of Paucartambo.

Our local expert will be explaining the importance of this traditional town. You will understand its significance to the Incas and how the locals have retained their age old traditions and customs unblemished.

We will then drive you up the hill to Acjanaco Pass,  entrance to the manu national park.

This is the point where Manu National Park begins. We will hike to the view point, Balcon del Este. You will get to contemplate the panoramic view of the Amazon Basin and Manu National Park.

After soaking in the pristine views, we will start our down hill drive to San Pedro. This region is home to the Peruvian National Bird, El Gallito de Rocas or Andean Cock of the Rock. Accompanied by our local Amazonian expert tour guide we will be doing a short hike which will be your introduction to the Manu National Park Peru.

Once you have had your fill of the first views of Manu National Park, we will be driving you to our Rain fores Lodge. Here, we will be accommodating you in an ensuite lodge room for the night. The company staff will be serving delicious dinner.

Day 2: Rain forest Lodge –  Palotoa Ecological Reserve

We will be serving you a delicious breakfast to kickstart your day to explore the  rainforest of the Peruvian Amazon. We will be driving you to the boat pier in Atalaya. On our way, we will be stopping to see coca plantations. We will also visit an attraction center for hummingbirds, continuing with the journey We will also stop at a viewpoint to get a staggering view of the Madre  de Dios  River snaking through the jungle.

Our journey by car will come to an end in Atalaya Port. We will be embarking on a boat ride on the Alto Madre de Dios River to Aguas Calientes in Manu. As the name suggests, this small village is home to a hotsprings. Along the boat ride you will get to see more distinct species of birds and some mammals including the River otters.

Once in Aguas Calientes, you can spend the morning taking a refreshing dip in the natural thermal waters. Once you have had your fill, we will be continuing our boat ride further into the jungle at our signature lodge in Palotoa Ecological Reserve. We will be accommodating you in an ensuite room here.

Manu National Park Hike:

After relishing your first authentic Amazonian lunch prepared exclusively using ingredients from the jungle, we will set out on a hike to witness more of the Manu National Park. The trail that runs around the lodge is dotted with different species of birds, butterflies and countless plant species.

Our guide will be explaining to you about them in detail. Locals here depend on these plants to cure any sickness.

After an immersive tour and after witnessing the sunset in the Amazon Jungle, we will be returning to the lodge for dinner.

Later in the evening, we will do a night tour to spot some nocturnal creatures. This is an unmissable experience.

Day 3: Exploring the Palotoa Ecological Reserve​

The third day of your Manu National Park Tour from Cusco with an English speaking local tour guide is designed to offer you a much more deeper insight into the Amazon Jungle.

After relishing an Amazonian Breakfast, we will set out on a hike to explore the jungle. We recommend that you carry some snacks and water in a small day pack for this hike. We will be spotting plenty of animals including wild pigs, different species of monkeys, anteaters, and tapirs.

The region is also home to different species of butterflies. You will also see some iconic birds like harpy eagles, parrots and toucans.. We will also be introducing you to more medicinal plants, some giant trees and different types of Palm trees.

We will be unboxing our lunch amidst the jungle.

Hiking through the wetlands, we will be able to spot alligators. Our local expert will give you some lessons on survival. You will learn how to climb trees, how to recognise edible fruits and how to fetch water.

After getting an immersive tour of the jungle, we will be returning to our lodge for dinner. We will be setting up a bonfire.

Later in the evening, you will have the option of doing a nocturnal tour where you will be able to spot more distinct creatures and insects.

Day 4:  Palotoa Ecological Reserve –  Cusco​

Our last day of the four day Manu National Park Tour from Cusco begins with a delicious Amazonian breakfast. We will check out of the lodge and embark on a boat ride back to Atalaya port. Our driver will be waiting here with our transport for the ride back to Cusco.

Along the way, we will be having different stops so you can stretch your legs, use restrooms and have lunch.

We will be reaching Cusco City by 0600 PM.

IMAGES MANU NATIONAL PARK TOURS FROM CUSCO

MANU NATIONAL PARK TOUR INCLUDES

• All ground transfers as mentioned in the itineray
• Team of security
• Rubber boots.
• Lodge accommodation
• All camping equipment.(optional)
• Tent, sleeping bag and mats
• Mineral water.
• First aid kit.
• 3 meals per day vegetarian, option.
• Snack.
• Chef
• Entrance to hot spring, and Machuwasi lake.

YOU SHOULD BRING

• Shirt long sleeve and long pants
• Warm cloths (for misty morning on the river)
• Enough mosquitos repellent.
• Binocular.
• Camera with extra batteries.
• Flashlight with extra batteries.
• Sun lotion.
• Pocket money
• Daypack.
• Water bottle
• Sun hat.
• Sandals.
• Swim clothes.
• Toilet paper.
• Dark clothes.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Manu national Park located?

Located in the southeast of Peru, in the provinces of Paucartambo in Cusco and Manu in Madre de Dios.
It has an area of ​​1’717’295.22 hectares.

How to get to Manu National Park Peru?

Manu is at 130 kilometers from Cusco city  traveling by road, which interacts as a gateway to the Manu National Park . You can also get to Puerto Maldonado by land from Cusco or by air through Lima. From there you can ride the mother river of God by boat. and you can get to the manu reserve. but it is more far and expensive.

Manu National Park when to visit?

The best time to visit teh Peruvian Jungle is between April and November, during the dry season. The rainy season is from February to March, when access by road becomes more difficult and when the paths in the forest can be flooded.

What is the difference between the cultural zone and the reserved zone?

Manu National Park is divided into three parts: cultural zone or buffer zone, reserved zone or core zone and the intangible zone. The cultural zone and the reserved zone are for tourist use. The intangible zone is used exclusively for scientific studies and with special permits. More details see section Manu.

Do I need to be in good physical condition to travel?

It is not a requirement, but one must be able to walk a path of several kilometers to fully enjoy what Manu has to offer.

Do vaccines are needed for yellow fever, malaria and malaria?

In the Manu National Park there are no reports of cases of yellow fever, malaria and malaria however if you want to stay longer in tropical places it is better to consult with your doctor.

MANU NATIONAL PARK vs TAMBOPATA

How much does each one cost?

Manu is, a National park is bigger, the expensive region to visit, we often travel 3 or 5 times a week, more expensive than a trip to the Tambopata reserve.
For trips to Tambopata, you need a budget of US $ 300 for a 4-day trip,
For trips to Manu Park, you must budget between US $ 380 and 450 dollars for a 4-day trip.

The length of the trip

Due to the time it takes to access Manu National Park, trips to this region are generally a minimum of 4 days, but extended trips of 15 days or more are not uncommon. Tambopata on the other hand is more commercialized, and within easy access by air. Trips to this part of the jungle are usually 3 to 4 days at the most.

Group Sizes

The trips to the Manu National Park are in small groups, we travel with a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 10 people, usually we travel with small groups, of visitors as birdwatchers. naturalists, biodiversity enthusiasts, etc. In the Tambopata National Reserve, we travel with regular groups, with a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 12 visitors looking for this integral biodiversity and jungle adventure experience.

How much wildlife you can expect to see?

Your best chance of seeing a variety of wildlife is as part of a group led tour, with a professional guide. Excursions to oxbow lakes, macaw clay licks, night time hikes, canopy towers and nocturnal river rides offer the best chance of spotting the most common animals including: monkeys, red and green macaws, giant otters, black caiman, hoatzin, tamarin and capibara.
So for wildlife spotting which is better, Manu National Park vs Tambopata? Experts generally agree that due to its remoteness, slightly increased bio-diversity and microclimates, Manu is probably the better region to visit. However, both regions have their pros and cons, and both regions are some of the best in the world.

So to answer the question which is better, Manu National Park vs Tambopata Jungle? 

It really depends on what you are looking to achieve from your visit. If you are looking to experience the Amazon Jungle, with a reasonable level of adventure at an affordable price, Tambopata is for you. If you are looking to spend extended time in the jungle, you are prepared to pay a little more and like adventure then Manu should be your choice.