Available for Groups and Private Mode
Exploring Manu´s Wilderness
8 days
- Information
- Tour Plan
- Route
- Gallery
- Reviews
- Download Info
- Similar Tours
What's included
- Activities Listed in the Program
- Box Lunch
- Casa Matsiguenka Lodge Night
- Duffel Bags for Repacking
- El Dorado Lodge Night
- English Speaking Guide
- First Aid Kit (Antivenom)
- Free Storage Room in Cusco
- Macaw Clay Lick Ticket
- Meals (according the itinerary)
- Park Entrance Tickets
- Purified Water to Refill
- Rubber Boots
- Snacks (Fresh Fruits, Cookies Juices )
- Transfer in City, Airport, Bus Station
- Transport (Air Conditioned Minivan or SUV)
- Alcoholic Drinks
- Binoculars (Available to rent)
- First Day Breakfast
- Single Supplement Upgrade
Manu Biosphere Reserve
8 Days Tour
If you are a nature lover and an avid bird watcher, then an 8-day tour in Manu Park is the perfect choice for you. As one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, Manu Park offers a unique opportunity to experience incredible wildlife, stunning landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.
Manu National Park is located in the Amazon Rainforest in Peru, spanning over 1.5 million hectares. It is home to over 800 species of birds, including rare and emblematic species like the Andean cock-of-the-rock and the Harpy Eagles. With an experienced birding guide, you will have the chance to spot these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
Manu Park is also a haven for other wildlife such as jaguars, giant otters, capybaras, and thousands of insect species. You can embark on exciting jungle treks, river cruises, and night walks to observe these amazing creatures up close.
Apart from the wildlife, Manu Park is also a place of cultural significance. The park is home to indigenous communities like the Machiguenga and the Yine, who have inhabited the region for centuries.
You will have the opportunity to learn about their traditional customs, and practices, and even participate in their daily activities. Immerse yourself in their way of life and gain a deeper understanding of their connection to the land and nature.
During your 8-day tour in Manu Park, you will stay in comfortable lodges or campsites, strategically located within the park to maximize your wildlife and birding experiences.
Expert guides will lead you on educational tours, providing valuable insights and knowledge about the park’s ecology, wildlife, and cultural heritage.
A typical day in Manu Park may involve early morning birding excursions, followed by leisurely hikes through the dense rainforest, and afternoon river cruises. You will have plenty of opportunities to capture breathtaking photographs and create lasting memories.
The Experiences
So why choose an 8-day tour in Manu Park? Not only will you have the chance to see some of the rarest bird species in the world, but you will also witness the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest. Additionally, the cultural immersion aspect of the tour will give you a more holistic experience, connecting you to the people and traditions of this remarkable region.
- What about paddling at Catamaran searching for Giant river otters?
- Exploring trails and the pristine network of trails to encounter majestic Giant Kapok Trees that reach over 195 Ft.
- While being surrounded by curious monkeys in the jungle rainforest.
- Observe on the boat, the aquatic birds and reptiles along the shores.
- Also, if you’re feeling brave. Grab your torches for night walks to observe the most bizarre living creatures that dwell in the darkness; praying mantis, millipedes, grasshoppers, colorful frogs, and slender and patterned arboreal snakes.
- Another wild watch opportunity. Walk up to the canopy tower and viewing platforms that overlook the Otorongo Oxbow lakes, where top predators can be seen Large Black caimans, Giant River otters, and Harpy eagles.
- The riverboat excursions are a lifetime experience to keep your eyes open to find the most interesting wildlife such as black caimans if lucky enough anacondas or jaguars.
- Our Experienced Local Guides and their knowledge of the rainforest will make wildlife spotting more than possible. Making this one of the most memorable trips of a lifetime.
Extreme Biodiversity
The wildlife of Manu National Park is one most diverse places in the world. Why not see for yourself? Below are some charts to see just what inhabits this exquisite National Park;
- 1025 SPECIES OF BIRD (Aves)
- 221 SPECIES OF MAMMALS (mamíferos )
- 1307 SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES (Mariposas)
- 8 SPECIES OF WILDCATS (Felinos Silvestres)
- 15 SPECIES OF PRIMATES (Monos)
- 27 SPECIES OF MACAWS (Guacamayos)
- 132 SPECIES OF REPTILES (Reptiles)
- 155 SPECIES OF AMPHIBIANS (Anfibios)
- 300 SPECIES OF ANTS (Hormigas)
- 650 SPECIES OF BEETLES (Escarabajos)
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Cusco - Guadalupe Lodge
After Picking you up in Cusco, the beginning of the Manu Road passes through numerous dry inner-mountain valleys and picturesque villages. This gives you a quick overview of locals’ lifestyles and colorful clothes. A brief stop at Ninamarca burials will give you the possibility to explore the pre-Incas tombs within this well-archaeological site. The road includes various stops, so you can enjoy seeing the surrounding landscapes varying from high mountains to humid forests. The next stop will occur in the village of Paucartambo which features a beautiful arched colonial bridge. From Paucartambo the altitude will keep on increasing and the setting gradually gets enveloped by a cloudy mist. The road leads you to Acjanaco Pass consisting of the main gateway to Manu National Park. Once across Acjanaco Pass (3550 m / 11.647 ft) the environment dramatically changes from dry to wet valleys. Do not miss the splendid view when looking down toward the lowlands! The lush and misty cloud forest surrounded by massive rocks and waterfalls is perhaps the most fragile and threatened type of rainforest. In such an environment filled with lichens and moss-carpeted soil, spotting birds will be the main target. You will get the chance to stare at a large variety of birds ranging from the Peruvian national bird, the brightly red Andean Cock-of-the-Rock if lucky the wooly monkeys. The road will head down to the Guadalupe Lodge (560 m./1837 ft). Upon arrival at Guadalupe Lodge, you will be able to explore a loop trail that traverses the swamp forest in search of the capuchin and night monkeys and encounter interesting bird activities before dusk such as the blue and yellow macaws, woodpeckers, oropendolas among others. We can also explore the caves and canyons to see animals that only live in darkness, spider scorpions, and different species of bats * flashlights are needed. Overnight at Guadalupe Lodge (Private Toilets, Hot Showers, WIFI).
Guadalupe Lodge
In the morning, we will explore the foothill forest and palm forest is also an ideal spot to observe blue and yellow macaws as well as other interesting parrots and the Capuchin Monkeys. You will head back to the lodge where a delightful breakfast awaits you full of fresh tropical fruits. From then, you will be guided through the garden and will learn about the different medicinal and traditional plants such as coca leaf, cacao, bamboo water, annatto, etc. As this time of the day, put on your swimsuits and enjoy a dip in the Guadalupe River. This crystalline and unpolluted current flows downstream from the core of the park. In the afternoon, depending on the group’s wishes, there is a possibility of discovering a fascinating canyon and its caves which house some rare species of bats, spiders, and scorpions. Ultimately, a walk within the bamboo forest will enable you to spot some monkeys. The day is ending with a night walk
Guadalupe Lodge - El Dorado Lodge
Enjoy waking up and taking breakfast with the singing of Amazonian birds. By mid-morning you will be transferred to the Atalaya port where you can appreciate the view of myriads of colorful birds and rich wildlife. At the river’s dock, embark in a motor boat and navigate down this crystalline river of Madre de Dios. After 5 hours, you will reach the Dorado Lodge, this boat journey will be exciting to look for some aquatic wildlife; capybaras, birds, and caimans basking along the river bank. In the mid-afternoon, you will ramble through the primary forest searching for some families of monkeys, and peccaries, in the meantime, you will have the opportunity to visit the mammals' clay lick. Overnight at Pankotsi Lodge
Dorado Lodge - Casa Matsiguenka
Early morning breakfast and departure, we embark on a motorboat and navigate down the crystalline river of Madre de Dios. We will reach the confluence with the Manu River, we stop briefly at the Limonal ranger station for check-in then, we travel upriver we’ll search diligently for any signs of Jaguar, still, only a slim chance but this river is perhaps the best location to find this magnificent mammal. Just a few curves up the river the environment will change, there will be orders of magnitude more to look at, from hundreds if not thousands of swallows and butterflies, to every single sandbar being occupied by something interesting. We will keep a close watch for wildcats. We continue navigating to reach the Casa Machiguenga lodge which it´s set aside a short distance from the Rio Manu in the heart of Manu National Park and stay the following nights at this peaceful place with pristine surroundings. * Night walks are optional and depend on travelers' desires.
Casa Matsiguenka
We will have the better part to enjoy Manu´s Wilderness, in the morning, we will explore the Salvador oxbow lake famous for its population of Giant River Otters which usually breed there. They can be seen at different times of the day, and this gregarious and playful carnivorous spend a good deal of their time fishing or playing by any side of the lake or just taking a sunbath on their favorite dead logs. We’ll have access to a floating catamaran (two large canoes connected by wooden planks) with chairs set up for bird and wildlife viewing (which makes paddling around the lake easy and comfortable. Apart from looking for the giant river otters, we’ll have the chance for many of the lake edge species, including the fabulous Hoatzin, Agami, and herons, interesting raptors, colorful macaws oropendolas, and caciques. Just floating around the lake will be one of the joys of the trip, In the forest around the lake we’ll also search for more species of monkeys such as white-fronted capuchin, and pygmy marmoset. Apart from the lake, the forest around Salvador Lake and the lodge are some of the best Amazonian rainforests we have seen, and a nice network of trails allows us to leisurely stroll on flat trails the rest of the day. During midday we will explore the terra Firme, the route takes you through Terraza Forest” forest which is the habitat for Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) among other species of trees as you move deep into the heart of the forest is also an excellent place to run into troops of monkeys. We will reach the Macaw Clay Lick that attracts the red and green macaws visiting this clay lick is also always a big highlight of the trip. Overnight: Casa Machiguenga Lodge. (Please notice that the time to visit the Salvador lagoon on this day is subject to availability)
Casa Matsiguenka - Dorado Lodge
This morning we’ll board our boat and begin the journey down the Rio Manu. On the way, we will pass by the trailhead of the Otorongo Oxbow Lake, where we will be able to walk inside pristine and have an impression of how the forest looks like it inside, there is a trail network that allows visiting a canopy tower that overlooks the lake and swamps and few other wooden platforms to observe some aquatic wildlife and alligators. This forest section also harbors one of the largest kapok trees, visitors can walk nearby its root system to see its enormous size. We’ll also have access and briefly see the untouched rainforest. Returning to the boat trip will be again very exciting with lots of bird activity on the many sandbars as well as side-necked turtles sunning on the logs. This will be again another opportunity for catching a glimpse of the magnificent Jaguar. After about four hours we will reach the Limonal ranger station to register and brief stop for toilets. Lunch will be served on the boat and we arrive at Dorado Lodge by mid-afternoon to have enough time to explore the surroundings and learn more about the Matsiguenka Culture. Night walks are available depending on the wishes of the group.
Dorado Lodge - Guadalupe Lodge
This morning we will have the opportunity to explore much deeper the trails and later we will boat up the fast-flowing braided and clear water upper Madre de Dios in the morning as we start our five hours back journey to Atalaya. This is the last chance to spot the capybara, the world’s largest rodent. We’ll keep a close watch for raptors, as we have seen numerous Kites, as well as fun birds such as Vultures, and eagles. We’ll continue navigating the upper Alto Madre de Dios River and our re-introduction into civilization at Atalaya Port, after one hour of overland transportation, we reach the Guadalupe Lodge and have time for a night walk around the area.
Guadalupe Lodge - Cusco
An optional morning walk to see the blue and yellow macaws overflying the palm forest, we may be able to see other colorful birds such as; Toucans, Woodpeckers, etc. Upon your return, your tasty breakfast will be ready, then you will need to pack and start hitting the road again to Cusco. The way back will give you more opportunities to glimpse some more animals and discover the wildlife of the cloud forest and have impressive views of the exuberant cloud forest with waterfalls, and cascades. The arrival in Cusco should be around 4 pm.
*IMPORTANT. Please bear in mind that there is road construction and improvement in Manu Cloud Forest some delays are expected due to traffic time being limited to certain hours. Apologies for any inconvenience in advance.
Travelicious Review
Exploring the Wonders of the Amazon Rainforest in Peru, " What the Travelers says"
User Reviews & Comments
Nancy B
We took a trip to Manù Park reserve and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in being immersed in the heart of the jungle. Esau was our excellent guide - knowledgeable, passionate, and personable. Fernando provided us with wonderful food. Given all the logistics of traveling by van, jeep, and boat, and staying at two lodges, the trip ran remarkably smoothly. Thank you for a very special experience!
20 September, 2022
_lhoythuffman
Our 8-day Manu Reserve excursion with Wild Watch Peru was a plunge into the wonder of the jungle. We were struck by the beauty and mystery of the vast array of life we saw from the riverboat and during hikes. We were amazed by the vividly colored birds, insects, flowers and also by the incredible mimicry and camouflage used by caymans, turtles and countless other critters. Our guide and naturalist, Esau, is highly skilled with deep knowledge of all things Manu. As he taught us about the flora and fauna, his passion for the land and the life it supports enhanced the richness of our experience. We would have missed most of the animal sightings without his patient guidance. And his warmth and humor were much appreciated. The rest of the crew was top-notch as well, providing us with excellent meals, skillful road and river navigation, and ongoing assistance in many ways. I highly recommend this tour and Wild Watch Peru.
20 September, 2018
Terri W
had preconceived notions of what a tour through the jungle would be like, and I think they were pretty close. Dense foliage, high temps and humidity, a large variety of sounds that changed depending on the time of day, and lots of animals and insects. What I didn't expect was the vast amount of knowledge of our Wild Watch Peru guide, Esau. As an experienced naturalist, he knew every plant, animal, and insect in detail. Not only was he an expert in all things related to the rain forest, he was personable, fun, and funny. We saw many bird varieties, several different monkeys, capybara, caiman, turtles, giant otters, and one sloth in addition to different spiders, butterflies, moths, and more. How Esau could spot them was beyond me. He often first heard them but he also knew when a far-off dark shape was an animal and not a shadow of leaves. The boat crew were also very helpful in spotting animals. Our van driver and the boat crew were exceptional, spending the long days of travel navigating the rough, dirt roads and the river shallows...all with a sense of responsibility and a sense of humor. Our cook. Wow, he was good. I asked for vegetarian meals and he delivered lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, and pasta. Our mornings started with an early breakfast, a snack of a fruit and something sweet around 10, lunch around 1, and dinner around 7 when we returned from our late afternoon walk into the jungle. We were never hungry. Wild Watch Peru provided the experience I had hoped for; in fact, they exceeded my expectations.
20 September, 2018
Kathleen552017
This is the only company to choose if you are visiting Manu!! The entire experience with the company was over the top. Great communications - very easy booking and payment and the whole experience exceeded our expectations. Esau- our guide is nothing short of Amazing- his intimate knowledge of the Flora and Fauna as well as the birds was incredible! Plus he is very personable and truly from the heart. He is the GUIDE for the Manu. Our chef Fernando created amazing dishes every day including a Birthday cake for me while staying at the Mastigena Lodge! His talent was much appreciated as well as his birding skills. He is a genuine person. The lodges were incredible and we loved them all, very unique, welcoming, and in beautiful settings - Our driver Jonathon was awesome and very safe and professional. Nicholas the boatman is the Best in the Region with an innate knowledge of both of the rivers. I would recommend his boating skills highly. We felt blessed to have spent 8 days with this incredible team of men who knew everything about the region and created a Trip of a Lifetime for us. Thank you again. I would highly recommend this company and if I am able to return would only use Wild Watch Peru!!
20 June, 2018