Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime journey of Wildlife Discovery!
Manu Reserved Zone
6 Days
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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
- 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 Reserved Zone Express Tour
Discover the untouched wonders of the Amazon Rainforest in just under a week with our exclusive Manu Reserved Zone Express Tour—designed for adventurous travelers eager to explore some of the most pristine and remote areas of Manu National Park.
Your journey begins in Cusco, where you’ll embark on a scenic overland expedition, descending through cloud forests and into the heart of the jungle. From there, a thrilling motorboat ride along the Madre de Dios River whisks you deep into the rainforest, where biodiversity flourishes and time seems to stand still.
In the Manu Reserved Zone, you’ll experience:
- 🌿 Exceptional wildlife sightings in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions
- 🐒 Guided excursions with expert naturalists
- 🌄 Immersive rainforest trails and tranquil river journeys
Reserved Zone vs Cultural Zone
Understanding the difference between Manu’s Reserved Zone and Cultural Zone is key to planning your perfect adventure:
| Zone | Experience | Accessibility | Wildlife Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reserved Zone (Orange area) | Deep wilderness immersion; restricted access for environmental protection | Limited to authorized guides and tours | 🌟 Highest |
| Cultural Zone (Blue area) | Interaction with local communities; eco-lodges and cultural experiences | More open and flexible | Moderate |
Tip: If time allows, consider extending your itinerary to explore both zones—each offers a unique perspective of Manu’s stunning landscapes and rich ecosystems.
Manu Park Extended Programs
Featuring the Manu Reserved Zone
Delve into the heart of the Amazon with our Manu Reserved Zone Tour, a truly extraordinary journey into one of Earth’s most pristine ecological havens. Programs typically range from 5 to 8 days, designed for nature enthusiasts who wish to explore the Manu Reserved Zone in depth—where biodiversity thrives, human intrusion is minimal, and the wilderness remains untouched.
Journey Overview
- Begins with overland transportation from Cusco, traversing the Andean highlands and cloud forest.
- Guadalupe Lodge is your first stop, nestled at the base of the cloud forest.
- Select programs prioritize the Manu Reserved Zone, bypassing the Cultural Zone to maximize your time in the park’s most protected areas.
- Access to the Reserved Zone is strictly via motorboat, passing the Limonal Ranger Station Control.
Why Choose the Manu Reserved Zone Tours ?
The Manu Reserved Zone is celebrated for its exceptional wildlife density and ecological integrity:
- 🐆 Home to large predators like jaguars, black caimans, anacondas, and giant river otters
- 🌳 Enveloped by untouched rainforest, protected by Peru’s government with limited human presence
- 🔬 Scientific interest and conservation efforts are concentrated here, making it ideal for educational and wildlife-focused expeditions
Tour operations in the Reserved Zone are more logistically intensive, involving:
- Expert naturalist guides
- Dedicated support staff including cooks, boat operators, and assistants
- Lodging in remote eco-lodges accessible only by boat, such as the Casa Matsiguenka
Attractions & Activities in the Manu Reserved Zone
Salvador Oxbow Lake
A serene haven explored by paddle-powered catamarans only. Spot giant river otters, black caimans, emperor tamarins, and more in this tranquil setting. Entry is scheduled via the Limonal Ranger Station.
Canopy Tower at Otorongo Lake
Elevate your perspective from a metal canopy tower offering panoramic views of the rainforest. Ideal for birdwatching and spotting otters from above—an immersive canopy experience unlike any other.
Pristine Forest Trail Exploration
Discover two types of primary forest:
- Varzea Forest – seasonally flooded, rich in aquatic life
- Terra Firme Forest – home to majestic Brazil Nut trees
Trails are steeped in history, untouched since the Amazon Rubber Boom era, preserving rare flora and fauna.
Macaw Clay Licks
- Visit sites near Casa Matsiguenka and Limonal Station
- Observe parakeets, parrots, and macaws during seasonal clay feeding rituals
- Access to Maizal Clay Lick remains restricted due to its location in the Intangible Manu Area
Cruising along the Manu River reveals thriving wildlife:
- Potential encounters with tapirs, capybaras, and wildcats
- Prime observation periods: early mornings, late afternoons, and post-rainfall
- Dry season offers optimal visibility and sightings
Casa Matsiguenka Lodge
Situated deep within Manu National Park, Casa Matsiguenka offers an authentic, solar-powered Amazonian retreat managed by Matsiguenka Indigenous communities.
- Twin-bed bungalows with mosquito netting
- Shared facilities and rustic dining spaces
- A base for reaching the park’s core attractions
Forest Giants: Kapok Trees
Experience the majesty of towering Kapok trees, particularly along the trails to Otorongo Lake. These giants distinguish the Manu Reserved Zone from its surrounding ecosystems, such as Machuwasy Lake in the Cultural Zone.
Uncover the Real Amazon
This is your chance to experience the true Amazon, as few ever will. The Manu Reserved Zone Express Tour invites you to explore the wild frontiers of nature—encounter vibrant wildlife, navigate sacred rivers, and immerse yourself in landscapes that remain largely untouched by humanity.
Manu Cultural Zone Overview
Gateway to the Amazon: Buffering the Reserved Zone
While the Manu Reserved Zone offers unmatched immersion into untouched wilderness, the Manu Cultural Zone plays a vital and complementary role—serving as a buffer against external pressures and supporting sustainable tourism and community engagement.
Tours in the Cultural Zone of Manu National Park are designed to remain outside the strictly protected Reserved Zone, offering travelers accessibility, cultural insights, and ecological variety in shorter timeframes.
Accessibility and Tour Duration
- Wild Watch Peru offers short guided tours (2 to 4 days) that venture from Cusco through the Andes, cloud forests, and into the upper tropical rainforest (~500 meters elevation)
- These tours provide a visual transect of changing ecosystems, although they may not capture the full essence of lowland rainforest biodiversity
Ecological Role and Protection
- The Cultural Zone lies adjacent to Manu National Park and absorbs most of the external human activity, effectively safeguarding the deeper Reserved Zone
- This region is not subject to permits or registration, making it ideal for independent travelers—though hiring a knowledgeable local guide is highly recommended for deeper exploration
Comparison: Cultural Zone vs. Manu Reserved Zone
| Feature | Cultural Zone | Manu Reserved Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Open access; admission requested at Acjanacu Ranger Station | Restricted access; entry via Limonal Ranger Station |
| Exploration | Can be toured independently or with a guide | Must be accompanied by licensed operator and guide |
| Human Activity | Moderate; eco-lodges, communities | Minimal; strict conservation protocols |
| Wildlife | Moderate diversity | High-density sightings of rare species |
| Mosquito Presence | Mild except at dusk | More intense due to lower elevations and wetlands |
Attractions & Travel Notes
- Cultural Zone trails offer scenic views and birdwatching, with minimal mosquito activity during daytime
- Ideal for travelers seeking shorter, accessible adventures with cultural interactions and rainforest exposure
- Serves as the first glimpse into the Amazon’s layers before venturing into deeper, protected zones
Both zones offer unique perspectives of the Amazon—whether you’re seeking an introduction to rainforest ecosystems or an immersive journey through protected wilderness. If you’d like, I can help you create a side-by-side itinerary or map showcase that visually contrasts the zones and tour options.
If you’re short on time but still eager to experience the magic of Manu, we offer a selection of shorter tours that explore the Cultural Zone—a vibrant gateway to the Amazon. These itineraries range from 2 to 4 days, making them perfect for quick getaways or introductory rainforest adventures.
🌿 Interested in shorter tours into Manu? Follow this link to explore your options
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 6
Cusco - Guadalupe Lodge
Your Manu Road journey begins with a pickup in Cusco and a drive through dry inner-mountain valleys, offering a glimpse into local life. You'll stop to explore the pre-Inca tombs at Ninamarca and see the colonial bridge in the village of Paucartambo. As you ascend to the Acjanaco Pass, the gateway to Manu National Park, the landscape dramatically transforms from dry valleys to lush, misty cloud forests. This environment is ideal for birdwatching, and you'll have the chance to spot a variety of species, including the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and possibly woolly monkeys. The tour concludes with an overnight stay at Guadalupe Lodge. Here, you can take a trail through the swamp forest to look for capuchin and night monkeys and observe birds like macaws and woodpeckers at dusk.
Guadalupe Lodge - Boca Manu - Casa Matsiguenka
The tour starts with an early departure to the Atalaya port, where you'll board a roofed boat. You'll travel down the Alto Madre de Dios River, transitioning from mountainous scenery to the dense rainforest. Along the way, you'll have excellent opportunities to spot numerous colorful birds like macaws, toucans, and parrots, as well as wildlife such as capybaras and monkeys. After about five hours, you'll reach the confluence of the Manu River and check in at the Limonal ranger station. The journey up the Manu River will be for 4 hours (total about 9 hours navigation) that offers a rare chance to see a jaguar. As you continue, you'll be immersed in a highly active environment, with countless swallows and butterflies. The day ends at the Casa Matsigueka lodge, where you'll stay for two nights. Optional night walks are available.
Casa Matsiguenka (Lake Exploration , Trails , Macaw Clay Lick )
On this day, you will spend the better part of your time exploring the wilderness of Manu. The main activity is a visit to Salvador oxbow lake, famous for its population of Giant Otters. You'll use a floating catamaran to comfortably observe these playful animals, as well as a variety of lake-edge birds, including the unique Hoatzin, herons, and colorful macaws. In addition to the lake, you'll hike the forest trails around the lodge, looking for different species of monkeys, such as white-fronted capuchins and pygmy marmosets. During the midday, the tour includes a trek through a Terraza Forest, which is home to Brazil nut trees and other species, to reach a macaw clay lick where you can watch red and green macaws. The day concludes with an overnight stay at the Casa Machiguenga lodge. Note that the visit to the lake is subject to availability.
Casa Machiguenga– El Dorado Lodge
The morning begins with a boat trip down the Manu River. You'll stop to hike a trail for a closer look at the pristine forest, with the chance to see some of the area's largest kapok trees. The boat trip continues to be a great opportunity to spot wildlife, including various birds on sandbars, sunning turtles, and possibly the elusive Jaguar. After about four hours, you'll reach the Limonal ranger station for a brief stop. Lunch will be served on the boat, and you'll arrive at the Dorado Lodge in the mid-afternoon. This gives you time to explore the surroundings, with an optional night walk available depending on the group's wishes.
Please note, due to reports of uncontacted groups moving on the right side of the Manu River, you will not be visiting the Otorongo oxbow lake and tower to avoid any potential encounters.
El Dorado Lodge - Guadalupe Lodge
In the morning, you'll visit a Macaw Clay Lick near the lodge to watch parrots, parakeets, and medium-sized macaws consume minerals. Afterward, you'll begin the five-hour boat trip back to Atalaya Port on the Upper Madre de Dios River. This journey provides a final opportunity to spot capybaras and various raptors, vultures, and eagles. Upon reaching Atalaya, you'll take a one-hour overland trip to Guadalupe Lodge, where you'll have time for an optional night walk.
Guadalupe Lodge - Cusco
Your last morning begins with a pre-breakfast walk through the foothill forest, where you can look for Wooly and Capuchin monkeys and other emblematic birds like macaws and toucans. The loop trail also includes a visit to caves and canyons to see nocturnal animals such as spiders, scorpions, and bats (flashlights are needed). After the walk, you'll have breakfast, pack up, and begin the drive back to Cusco. The return journey offers more opportunities for wildlife sightings and impressive views of the cloud forest and its waterfalls. You are scheduled to arrive in Cusco around 4 p.m.
Travelicious Review
This tour has taken people into the remoteness of the Manu National Park. The tour is crafted for those wanting to access the unspoiled, and virgin areas and see the most emblematic wildlife in the neotropics.
More about this tour
Please find more information about this tour in the printable version:
- Download the Full Itinerary
- Download the Packing List
- Download the Manu National Park
User Reviews & Comments
Adam Kaplan
5/5 experience, made exemplary by our experienced guide Ricardo (Ricky). The 6 day trip to Manu Reserve zone, with 2 nights at Casa Matsiguenka (tourists can only spend a maximum of 2 nights within the park for conservation reasons), while it has significant travel times (which is well warned by the company), provides nature lovers a fantastic experience to visit a fairly untouched area of the Amazon basin, giving you a real feel for the jungle. The on ground team was incredibly helpful, prompt in their communications, and on arrival/payment in their office, I was given an in-depth run through of the plan and ample time to have any of my questions answered
28 October, 2024
Fiona D
We did the 5N/6D Manu reserved zone tour with the amazing Ricky as our guide. Long journeys involved but did lots of wildlife spotting from the boat. Two days inside reserved zone great for seeing the giant otters and many different monkeys and birds. Ricky was very knowledgeable about everything and able to impersonate many different animal and bird calls. He tailored the programme well. Accommodation all basic but comfortable and food plentiful.
30 November, 2023
Amir Singh D
A real, rustic, and raw experience of the Amazon. We experienced life and accommodation "local style" and saw a ton of wildlife. Ricky was highly knowledgeable, entertaining, and took brilliant care of us. He is an expert and his experiences and stories were good fun
21 November, 2023
Brenton Anthony
We did the 6-day Manu Reserved Zone tour. This experience was seriously 10/10. Our guide, Esau, was simply incredible. His English was perfect and he grew up in Manu so I think he knows literally every single animal, tree and sound in the jungle! I have no idea how he spotted some of the wildlife. We saw so much wildlife (see pics) thanks to Esau’s expert knowledge. It is quite a long journey to get deep into Manu (bus and then boat) but definitely worth getting to the reserved zone. A special mention to the food on the trip too - so good! We never went hungry and the quality was amazing considering the remoteness. There was always snacks too. I would highly recommend this as well as Esau as a guide.
13 April, 2023
Robert S
For a very reasonable price, my husband and I had a private tour of one of the most pristine ecosystems on the planet, the Manu Reserve. We saw caimans, sloths, 7 varieties of monkeys, the Cock-in-the-Rock, tapirs, macaws, more magnificent butterflies than you can imagine, and much more. Our tour guide, Esau, was remarkable - so knowledgeable and accommodating. Every question we asked - and we asked many - was answered and then some. The food was delicious and more than we could possibly eat. The journey to get into the Reserve is long but we thought of it as part of the adventure...even when our van got stuck in the mud. I was impressed with how our entire crew worked tirelessly. They catered to our every need. Be prepared for lots of bugs and heat, but it's worth the journey. Bring a good pair of binoculars, a camera, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and a hat. - written by Robert's wife
18 January, 2020
Jong Soo
We chose this tour because of Luis's more timely and kind response than other Manu tours. He even visited our hotel the day before the tour to make sure that we're properly prepared. Our main guide was Esaul (Apologize if my spelling is wrong. I'm not good at catching names). He's amazing at finding wildlife from large condors to very small insects. As a native in Manu, he's extremely knowledgeable in fauna and flora of the Manu area. I felt that the lodgings were a bit uncomfortable but this was mainly due to too humid weather and somewhat expected considering the remoteness of the area. However, staying at such a lodge actually made me feel I'm really away from civilization and more deeply appreciate the Amazon jungle. The transportation was very comfortable, and the staff made big efforts to accommodate our group despite of sudden heavy rain in one of the four days. I was really moved by their effort. The food made by Fernando was excellent. I never expected such good food quality in a jungle
18 January, 2020
Evelyn Melia
Wild Watch Peru's tour of 6 days Manu National Park was absolutely, without any doubt, my favourite time spent in Peru. Our guide Esauu was a pleasure from start to finish (along with our chef Fernando and our driver Sibastian). Throughout our 6 day tour, I felt very safe and had loads of fun with everyone. I cannot recommend our guides enough - these men took wonderful care of us.
18 January, 2020