Manu Reserved Zone Tour - Manu National Park 6 Days

Manu Reserved Zone Tours – 6 days Tour

Our  Manu Reserved Zone Tour of 6 days will take you to the remoteness of the Manu National Park. This tour package is crafted for whoever is willing to access to the unspoiled and virgin areas in less than a week. This is the shortest version of our guided tours to explore the  Manu Reserved Zone via the classical overland journey from Cusco and the motorboat along the Madre de Dios river.

 Manu Reserved Zone vs Cultural Zone?

Here some differences between the reserved zone in contrast to the Cultural Zone of Manu. It would be worth to add a few days to your program to explore the best of  Manu in terms of wilderness.

• Reserve Zone tours are generally from 5 to 8 days, all tours start with overland transport from Cusco over the mountains and the cloud forest. The first night it’s mostly spent in a lodge at the base of the cloud forest or foothill forest in both options, however, some tours designed for the Manu reserved zone can skip the cloud forest and cultural zone on the first day of travel in order to put much more time in the reserved zone section. The lodges used in a tour to the Manu Reserved Zone are only reached by a motorboat and should pass by the Limonal Ranger Station Control.
• Short guided tours of 3, 4 and 5 days only go to the edge of the park or cultural zone. The journey is the same a transect from the Andes, Cloud forest to the tropical rainforest of 500 meters in elevation so you don’t get much a feel for the lowland rainforest on short tours.
• Mosquitos along the cultural Zone aren’t a big problem except during dusk and nighttime.  You have to deal much more with them if going into the Manu Reserved Zone.
• Weather conditions are similar in both areas, a temperature much warmer at the reserved zone at a lower elevation, the cultural zone it’s temperate forest due to its proximity of the cloud forest, the rainfall likely the same in both areas.
• More wildlife at the Reserved Zone, larger predators and surrounded by pristine forest. (Jaguar, Anaconda, Black caymans, giant river otters )
• Tours designed only for the Cultural Zone of Manu National Park, do not enter the Reserve area.
• Most of the Cultural Zone or Buffers Zone it’s adjacent to the park and supports most of the pressure from the human activities, literally is the shield that protects the park from outside pressure however the rainforest at the reserved zone it’s protected by the government so there is not much human intrusion from the outside world and forest its much healthier.
• Tours going to the reserved zone implies more staff operation so Tour guides, cook,  motorboat drivers, and assistances accompanied the group.
• Tours going into the Reserved Zone should be accompanied by a registered tour operator and licensed guide since the authorization and tickets are requested at the Limonal Ranger Station (entrances tickets to the Manu National Park are only sold to the licensed operator, not individually) however the Cultural Zone its easy to explore independently, not registration and ticket are requested in the entire zone, its advisable to hire a local guide to visit its attractions.

Activities on Manu Reserved Zone Tours (up 5 days)

The reserved zone it’s a term used to refer to the location inside the Manu Park, it comprises Limonal Ranger Station at lower Manu basin near to the confluence with the Alto Madre de Dios river towards Pakitza Ranger station. The following activities are exclusive of our reserved zone: The blue line traverses the Cultural Zone while the Orange goes along the Manu Reserved Zone (Touristic Zone)

• Salvador Oxbow lake

One of the most favorite spots for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, birders even for guides to explore this quiet environment by paddled catamarans (motorboat not allowed). The chances to observe giant river otters, large black caimans, aquatic birds, emperor tamarin even pygmy marmoset are good. Great location to catch views of the sunset and sunrise however the visits to the lake it is subject to schedule (around 2 hours for each group).  The tour guides request admittance while registering at the Limonal Ranger Station.

·         The Canopy tower at the Otorongo Oxbow Lake.

A metal tower aside from the lake, the canopy tower allows the amazing view of the wonderful section of the untouched rainforest. This is an experience that you never get while exploring the forest from the forest floor.  Exploring the trail network, dock and tower allow seeing: aquatic birds, caimans, giant river otters that are seen. The lake is not open to navigation.

·         Trails Exploration in pristine forest

At least 2 major types of the primary forest you will be able to explore from Varzea (known as the seasonally flooded forest on the high water period). Other trails will take you through Terra Firme Forest” forest which is the habitat for brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa). Each one holds a unique wildlife collection and forest contrast. The only human intrusion to this forest was during the rubber boom and could not last for much time, most of the forest remains intact.

·         Macaw Clay Licks

Nearby Casa Matsiguenka there are possibilities to visit a Macaw Clay Lick that attracts parakeets, parrots, and large macaws.   At any time during the morning parakeets congregate and start to gather to eat the clay, which they need on their diet, this activity is only available during the dry season and depends on few other factors. The second accessible clay licks its located in the vicinity of the Limonal ranger station. Both attract medium-sized macaws, parrots, and much more parakeets. The Maizal Clay lick it’s probably the best one in terms of large macaws and abundancy but currently lack of infrastructure. Its located in the Intangible Manu Area (further up of Pakitza) not allowed yet for tourists to explore that far.  Besides the mentioned clay lick the Blanquillo it’s fabled as the most visited but its located beyond the Park, in the lower Madre de Dios Basin.

·         Boat navigation along the Manu River

The navigation itself along the Manu River is one of the highlights of these excursions so most of the chances to see jaguars or other wildcats, big mammals (Tapirs, Capybaras), and large caimans are sighted on the river banks. More wildlife was reported during the dry season.

The weather also plays a key role to perform good wildlife sightings, recommend times to venture for navigation would be early in the morning or late in the afternoon. It’s also a good time for exploring the river after heavy rain at any time or when friajes (cold fronts) is gone.

• Tours hosted at the exclusive Casa Matsiguenka

Most of the tour designed programs that go and stay at Casa Matsiguenka (the core of the park) require a minimum of a week of traveling by ground from Cusco and river transport from Atalaya or Shipeteari Port.

The location of the Casa Matsiguenka plays an important role in achieving a real experience in the wilderness and accomplish in visiting the most natural attractions inside the Park. This  Lodge is privileged and well situated on the left side of the Manu River. Each bungalow has two beds with mosquito netting.  Bathroom facilities are shared in a separate building.  Electricity is provided by solar panels, and meals will be taken in a separate building with a kitchen and small dining room. On top of that, the Matsiguenka Native People are running this lodge which makes it different from the other lodge management in the Southern Amazon Rainforest.

• Larger Kapok Trees

Kapok trees are much larger in the whole Manu Basin.  There is one along the trail that goes to Otorongo Owbox Lake.  However, there are few giant trees in the vicinity of Machuwasy Lake (Cultural Zone)