Our six days Manu Reserved Zone tour takes you deep into Manu National Park. It is the largest part of the renowned Amazon Rainforest that dominates South America. It is spread over 1,532,806 hectares (1.5 million hectares).
This is one of the most visited regions in the Peruvian Amazon. Not only because of its close proximity to Cusco – gateway to Machu Picchu, but also because Manu Park is home to countless varieties of flora and fauna.
Manu National Park rises from 290 metres above sea level to 4200 metres above sea level. It is divided into three zones – Manu Core Zone, Manu Reserved Zone, and Cultural Zone. Access to Manu Core Zone is restricted to scientists and researchers. UNESCO recognised Manu as one of the world heritage sites in 1987.
This six days Manu Reserved Zone Tour with our local crew takes you to the heart of the Peruvian jungle. You will be able to see the biodiversity that exists in the Amazon rainforest. The experience also includes many activities like birdwatching, jaguar spotting, night safaris, survival lessons, and more.
We are a family-owned local tour operator from the Palotoa community in Manu National Park. We take pride in employing locals from the community. They have extensive knowledge about the flora and fauna, trails, and the indigenous culture and traditions.
Do take a moment to see our guest reviews on Tripadvisor.
Early in the morning we will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco. Then in our private transport, we will be driving you from the Andes to Amazon. As it’s a long drive, we will be having a couple of stops at some interesting sites on our way.
Our first stop will be at a remote town called Nincamarca. It is home to pre-Incan funeral towers from the Lupacas civilization. Here our local expert will be giving you a guided tour of the site and will be explaining the prominence of the site.
We will then continue our drive to Paucartambo. It is a folkloric town where people are untouched by modernity. Most of them still continue to converse in Quechua.
From here we will be driving to Acjanaco Pass, the entrance to the Manu National Park, from where you will have a panoramic view of the Amazon basin. We will descend through the cloud forest of the Manu National Park.
We will have a brief stop here. The region is home to the Peruvian National Bird – Andean Cock of the Rock. Here you will also be able to spot different breeds of monkeys like the woolly monkey. Once you have had your fill of the first views of Manu National Park, we will be driving you to our Rainforest Lodge. Here, we will be accommodating you in an ensuite lodge for the night. The company staff will be serving a delicious dinner.
We will be waking you up to an authentic Amazonian breakfast. Then we will be driving you to the Atalaya port. On our way, we will be stopping at a viewpoint to get a panoramic view of the Peruvian Amazon and the Alto Madre de Dios river.
We will also be visiting a local farm where you will be able to see local farmers producing different types of tropical fruits. We will also visit a coca plantation.
Once at Atalaya port, we will be taking a boat on the Madre de Dios river. On this journey, you will be able to see different types of birds including parrots, vultures, and oropendolas. This region is also home to capybaras.
At around 05:00 PM, we will be reaching the serene Amazon Lodge. We will be accommodating you in an ensuite private room. After dinner, we will be doing a night safari to spot some nocturnal creatures like tarantulas, snakes, and scorpions.
Early in the morning, after breakfast we will be checking out of the Hummingbird Lodge. Leaving behind the clear waters of the Madre De Dios river, we will be entering the clay laden waters of Manu river.
We will be having a brief stop at Limonal Control where we will have to present the permits to the Park Rangers. We will then sail for five hours on Manu river. The beaches here are full of nesting birds, feeding herons, Orinoco and egrets. You will also be able to spot some black and white caimans.
Over a hundred sand coloured nightjars roost during the day on logs and beaches. Here you will also be able to spot Jaguars. This region is also home to red howler monkeys and squirrel monkeys. We will be stopping for lunch amidst the jungle.
Casa Matsiguenka lodge:
We will then reach the Casa Matsiguenka lodge that nestles on the shores of the Cocha Salvador Lake. The lodge is managed by the Matsiguenka community. There are many interesting trails around the lodge where Matsiguenkas, as locals, guide the tours.
We will be spending the afternoon exploring some interesting trails on this pristine Amazon rainforest area. Then we will be visiting the Cocha Otorongo lake which houses a 20 metres high observation tower in the rainforest canopy. You will have a panoramic view of the lake and the wildlife from here. You will also be able to see giant otters here.
Then we will return to the lodge for dinner. After dinner, we will have the option of experiencing the night tour of the jungle where you can spot more nocturnal creatures. We will be sailing on the boat for the night tour, so you will also have the opportunity of spotting black caimans, Olingos, ocelot etc.
After the tour of the lowland rainforest, we will return to the lodge.
We will be serving you a typical Amazonian breakfast, then we will be spending the rest of the morning at Lake Cocha Salvador. We will be canoeing on the lake and from the floating platform you will be able to spot wildlife of the Oxbow lake.
Here, we will also see Agami Heron or Sungrebe, brown capuchin monkeys and more. There are specially constructed stones that jot out into the lake.
From here you will get to see families of giant otters that inhabit here. These are the world’s largest freshwater carnivores remaining in Manu. Each of these animals consume between 4-5 kilos of fish a day. You will often spot them eating fishes on the lakeside.
We will be spending the rest of the day hiking on the trails and looking for the thirteen iconic species of monkeys. The region is also home to many medicinal plants.
After exploring Lake Salvador, we will have another beautiful activity. It consists of observing parrots and macaws on a cliff, which is called macaw clay lick. This activity is very preferred by bird-loving tourists, and bird watchers. There we will spend 2 hours in a hiding house to see these beautiful birds.
On this trail, we will also spot groups of Peccaries. They are a species of new world pigs. We will then see the sunset and return to Casa Matsiguenka lodge for dinner.
After breakfast, we will be checking out from Casa Matsiguenka Lodge and sail for four hours down the Boca Manu river. Often you will be able to spot many distinct animals on the shores. We will then continue on Madre de Dios river for five hours till we reach our own Palotoa Amazon Lodge.
The lodge nestles in the heart of the rainforest. The location makes it ideal for local conservation groups and bird watchers to set base and explore the rainforest. After dinner, we will be doing a night tour to spot some nocturnal creatures here.
After breakfast, we will take a boat to Atalaya port. Here, we will meet our private transport and drive back to Cusco, arriving around 07:30 PM.
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.
Manu is 130 kilometers from Cusco city traveling by road, which serves 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 Madre de Dios River by boat and reach the Manu Reserve, but this route is farther and more expensive.
The best time to visit is between April and November, during the dry season. The rainy season lasts from February to March, when access by road becomes more difficult, and forest paths may be flooded.
Manu National Park is divided into three parts: the cultural zone (buffer zone), the reserved zone (core zone), and the intangible zone. The cultural and reserved zones are open for tourist activities. The intangible zone is reserved for scientific studies and requires special permits.
It is not a strict requirement, but you should be able to walk several kilometers to fully enjoy what Manu has to offer.
There are no reported cases of yellow fever or malaria in Manu National Park. However, if you plan to stay longer in tropical areas, it is best to consult with your doctor regarding necessary vaccinations.
Spending six days deep in the Manu Biosphere Reserve was an unforgettable adventure! From the cloud forest to the heart of the Amazon, every moment was filled with incredible wildlife encounters—monkeys, caimans, macaws, and even a tapir! The boat rides, jungle hikes, and nights surrounded by the sounds of nature made this trip truly special. The guides were knowledgeable, the lodges were comfortable, and the whole experience felt like a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Passer six jours au cœur de la réserve de biosphère de Manu a été une aventure inoubliable ! De la forêt de nuages au cœur de l’Amazonie, chaque instant a été ponctué de rencontres incroyables avec la faune : singes, caïmans, aras et même un tapir ! Les promenades en bateau, les randonnées dans la jungle et les nuits bercées par les sons de la nature ont rendu ce voyage vraiment spécial. Les guides étaient compétents, les lodges confortables et l’expérience a été un voyage inoubliable.