Manu Reserved Zone Tours of seven days is one of our signature tours to the heart of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. The experience 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 is home to countless species of birds, animals, and plants.
Manu National Park rises from 150 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 seven days Manu Reserved Zone Tours with our local crew takes you to the protected areas of the Amazon 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.
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We will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco quite early in the morning. Then we will embark on a long drive from the Andes to Amazon in our private transport. We will have a couple of stops on our way.
Our first stop will be in a small town called Nincamarca. It is home to pre-Incan funeral towers from the Lupacas civilization. We will be giving you a guided tour of the site.
We will then continue to Paucartambo, a folkloric town. People here have maintained their age-old traditions and customs. They still continue to converse in the native language, Quechua.
From here we will be driving up the hill to the viewpoint of Tres Cruces, from where you will have a panoramic view of the Amazon basin. Then we will descend through the cloud forest of the Manu National Park.
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 and distinct breeds of Monkeys like the woolly monkey. Our local expert will be giving you a detailed tour.
Later in the evening, we will drive you to Rainforest Lodge, where we will accommodate you in an ensuite room.
At 06:30 in the morning, after breakfast, we will be checking out from the lodge. 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 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 be visiting a center of hummingbirds, where we can observe more than 20 species of hummingbirds and other species of birds.
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 bird species including parrots, vultures, oropendolas, and others. This region is also home to capybaras. They are massive jungle rodents.
At around 4:00pm, 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 scorpios.
This is one of the best days of the Manu Reserved Zone Tours. Early in the morning, after breakfast, we will be checking out of the Amazon 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 have 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, Orinocos, and egrets. You will also be able to spot some black and white caimans.
Over a hundred sand-colored 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 in this pristine Amazon rainforest area. Then we will be visiting the Cocha Otorongo lake, which houses a 20-meter-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, kinkajous, ocelots, etc.
After a full day 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 in the Salvador Oxbow lake.
Here, we will also see Agami Heron, brown capuchin monkeys, and more. There are specially constructed stones that jut out into the lake.
From here, you will get to see families of giant river otters that inhabit here. These are the world’s largest freshwater carnivores remaining in Manu. Each of these animals consumes between 4-5 kgs of fish a day. You will often spot them eating fish 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. Our guide will be explaining its uses in detail.
Here, we will also spot groups of peccaries. They are a species of new world pigs. After sunset, we will return to Casa Matsiguenka lodge for dinner.
We will be taking the motor boat quite early in the morning to Cocha Brascho Lagoon. On this boat ride, you will be able to spot many animals that inhabit the shores of Manu River. Once at Cocha Brascho Lagoon, we will change to a catamaran to explore the Lagoon.
Cocha Brascho Lagoon is home to the world’s largest snake – the Anaconda. There are many other species of snakes here.
Later that evening, we will be reaching Amazon Lodge, where you will be accommodated for the night.
After breakfast, we will be leaving Amazon Lodge and will be sailing on the Madre de Dios river for five hours to our Palotoa Eco Lodge.
We will spend a relaxed afternoon amidst the beautiful jungle setting. In the evening, we will hike to the pristine areas of the jungle to a viewpoint on a cliff. From here, you will have a beautiful view of roosting flights of parrots and macaws at sunset.
We will then return to the lodge for dinner. After dinner, we will do a night tour in the reserve to spot some nocturnal creatures.
After breakfast, we will take the boat to Atalaya port. Here, we will meet our private transportation and will drive back to Cusco. We will be reaching Cusco at 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. However, this route is farther and more expensive.
The best time to visit the 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 the 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 use. The intangible zone is exclusively for scientific studies and requires special permits. More details can be found in the Manu section.
It is not a requirement, but you should be able to walk several kilometers to fully enjoy what Manu has to offer.
There are no reports of 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.
The Manu Reserved Zone tour was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! This area of the Amazon feels untouched, like stepping into the wild, raw beauty of nature. From seeing rare wildlife like giant river otters and jaguars to exploring the pristine rainforest, it was an immersion into the heart of the jungle. The guides were fantastic, sharing deep knowledge of the ecosystem. If you’re looking for an authentic, off-the-beaten-path adventure, this tour is a must.
La visite de la zone réservée de Manu a été une expérience inoubliable ! Cette région de l’Amazonie semble intacte, comme une plongée dans la beauté sauvage et brute de la nature. De l’observation d’animaux rares comme les loutres de rivière géantes et les jaguars à l’exploration de la forêt tropicale vierge, ce fut une véritable immersion au cœur de la jungle. Les guides étaient fantastiques, partageant une connaissance approfondie de l’écosystème. Si vous recherchez une aventure authentique et hors des sentiers battus, cette excursion est incontournable.
