This is our longest Manu trip and the only one that goes deep into Manu National Park itself. After the road from Cusco through the cloud forest, we travel by boat down the Alto Madre de Dios River past Boca Manu, where it meets the Manu River, and up the Manu into the area still known as the Manu Reserved Zone. Since 2002 it has…
This is our longest Manu trip and the only one that goes deep into Manu National Park itself. After the road from Cusco through the cloud forest, we travel by boat down the Alto Madre de Dios River past Boca Manu, where it meets the Manu River, and up the Manu into the area still known as the Manu Reserved Zone. Since 2002 it has been part of the national park, and its oxbow lakes, Cocha Salvador and Cocha Otorongo, can only be visited in guided groups registered with the park authority.
Manu National Park was created in 1973 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. It protects 1,716,295 ha, from the puna to the lowlands at about 300 m, with more than 1,000 bird species according to SERNANP and 13 species of primates according to UNESCO. The giant river otters of its lakes are counted every year: in 2022 the park recorded 57 of them, in 9 family groups.
On the way we stay at Tambo Blanquillo Lodge, near the Blanquillo macaw clay lick, and at Casa Machiguenga, a lodge owned by the Matsigenka communities of Tayakome and Yomibato. A naturalist guide in English and Spanish is with you the whole trip, and the transport, boats, lodges, meals and entrance fees are included. Southern Peru Explorers is a local operator based in Cusco since 2009.
The extra days take you to places the shorter tours cannot reach: the Blanquillo macaw clay lick and the oxbow lakes of the Manu River, where giant river otters live. Sightings always depend on luck. Less time? The Manu National…
The extra days take you to places the shorter tours cannot reach: the Blanquillo macaw clay lick and the oxbow lakes of the Manu River, where giant river otters live. Sightings always depend on luck.
Less time? The Manu National Park Tour 5 Days and the 4-day tour stay in the Manu Cultural Zone. Compare all our Peru Amazon tours.
Daily trail breakdown, key milestones, altitudes, and campsites.
We leave Cusco early in the morning for Manu. The road climbs through the Andes of Paucartambo province, and on the way we stop at the Chullpas of Ninamarca, pre-Inca burial towers beside the road. Beyond Paucartambo, a colonial town about 110 km from Cusco, the road crosses the eastern range of the Andes, at up to 3,800 m, and begins a long descent into the cloud forest.
The cloud forest is one of the best places in Peru for birds. Look for trogons and tanagers and, with luck, the Andean cock-of-the-rock, Peru's national bird, with its bright red-orange feathers; the spectacled bear also lives here, but it is rarely seen. As we go down, the air becomes warmer and more humid. By mid-afternoon we reach Pilcopata, a small town at the edge of the lowlands, and check into our lodge, with showers and toilets.
Facts and figures
After breakfast a short drive takes us to the river, where we board our boat and travel down the Alto Madre de Dios River into the lowlands. Herons, egrets and kingfishers hunt along the banks and king vultures soar overhead, while your guide explains how the rivers are the roads of this region.
By mid-afternoon we reach Boca Manu, a small village where the Manu River meets the Alto Madre de Dios, at about 300 m above sea level. After a short break we continue to Tambo Blanquillo Lodge, near the Blanquillo clay lick, where macaws and parrots gather on the clay bank. Night at the lodge, with showers and toilets.
Facts and figures
We travel back to Boca Manu and turn up the Manu River into the national park. Turtles rest on fallen logs, capybaras feed at the water's edge and, with great luck, a jaguar walks along a beach.
Our destination is Cocha Otorongo, an oxbow lake left behind by an old bend of the river. From its 18 m observation tower we watch for giant river otters, caimans, turtles and birds. Then we continue to Casa Machiguenga, our lodge for the next two nights, owned by the Matsigenka communities of Tayakome and Yomibato; rooms have large mosquito nets and basic facilities.
Facts and figures
After an early breakfast we return to the trails and the tower of Cocha Otorongo, when giant river otters, reptiles and birds are most active. Your guide helps you identify the species and explains how these lakes form and why they matter to the forest.
Later we go to Cocha Salvador, another oxbow lake nearby. Visitors explore it on a catamaran, at set times, so the animals are not disturbed. Look for giant river otters, turtles, caimans and wetland birds. In the afternoon we return to the lodge to rest.
Facts and figures
After a very early breakfast we board the boat and travel upstream, against the current, watching the banks for birds, monkeys and other animals of the forest.
On the way there is the option to stop at natural hot springs and relax in the forest. In the afternoon we arrive at Amazon Manu Lodge, where we spend the night.
Facts and figures
After breakfast we explore another part of the forest with your guide, who explains the medicinal plants used by the native communities of the Madre de Dios and Manu rivers. Look for howler monkeys and forest birds along the trails and the riverbanks.
After lunch you can rest in a hammock or swim in the river, and in the evening we gather around a campfire at Paititi Lodge.
Facts and figures
Early in the morning we board the boat for the last time and travel upriver to Atalaya, with more chances to see red howler monkeys in the canopy. At Atalaya our driver is waiting for the drive back up through the cloud forest and over the Andes. We arrive in Cusco in the evening.
Facts and figures
Complete transparency for all equipment, meals, transport, and admissions.
Recommended gear and apparel checklist from our mountain guides.
Exploring the Manu Reserved Zone is a true wilderness safari experience. As you spend significant time in the heart of the park (including Cocha Salvador and Blanquillo), you will encounter humidity levels exceeding 90%. Your clothing must be technical and quick-drying, and your observation gear should be top-tier to ensure you don't miss sightings of jaguars, giant river otters, or rare macaws.
Southern Peru Explorers Note: This tour is a total immersion. We recommend leaving your heavy luggage at our office in Cusco and traveling only with essentials in a medium-sized duffel or flexible bag. Remember that on Day 7, we cross back over the Andes, so keep a warm sweater handy for the return to high altitude
7 photos from this tour.
Early-morning pick-up at your hotel in Cusco on day 1.
Back in Cusco in the evening of day 7.
Pilcopata, Tambo Blanquillo Lodge, Casa Machiguenga (2 nights), Amazon Manu Lodge and Paititi Lodge; all rooms have mosquito nets.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free and other diets, and food allergies, are catered for if you tell us when you book.
Manu can be visited all year. The drier months, from May to October, have less rain, lower rivers and easier travel on the road and the rivers. From November to April showers are more frequent and the rivers rise. From June to August cold fronts from the south, called friaje, can bring a few cool days to the lowlands; the road over the Andes, at up to 3,800 m, is cold all year.
Booking information for this tour.
For each traveler we need the details exactly as they appear in the passport: full name, passport number, nationality and date of birth, and a copy of the passport. We use them to register you at the protected-area checkpoints, so any difference can cause problems on the way. Please also send us the name and address of your hotel in Cusco for the pick-up.
To confirm your Manu expedition, pay through our secure link: Contact us to confirm availability and request a payment link. As soon as we receive the payment we book the lodges, the boats and the entrance fees for your dates. Lodge space in Manu is limited, so early booking is recommended.
After the payment you receive an email with the schedule, the packing list and the final instructions. Our team in Cusco is available before, during and after the trip.
Answers to the most common questions regarding trail preparation and logistics.
It is the name still used for the lower Manu River, created as a reserved zone in 1980 and part of Manu National Park since 2002. Today it is the park's tourism and recreation zone, with the oxbow lakes Cocha Salvador and Cocha Otorongo. Most of the rest of the park is strictly protected and closed to tourism.
No. The park rules do not allow independent visits to the Manu River sector: you go in a guided group, registered with the park before you leave Cusco. That is why it is visited on organized expeditions like this one.
There is a good chance at Cocha Salvador and Cocha Otorongo, where the park monitors them: in 2022 it counted 57 giant river otters in 9 family groups. They are wild animals, though, and no sighting can be guaranteed.
A clay bank near Boca Manu where macaws and parrots gather to eat the mineral-rich soil. We stay at Tambo Blanquillo Lodge, near the clay lick, on night 2.
Easy to moderate. There are no long hikes, but the days by boat are long, the road from Cusco takes about 7 hours each way, and the heat and humidity are tiring. It suits anyone in normal health who is happy with basic lodges.
One night in Pilcopata, one at Tambo Blanquillo Lodge, two at Casa Machiguenga, a lodge owned by the Matsigenka communities of Tayakome and Yomibato, one at Amazon Manu Lodge and one at Paititi Lodge. All rooms have mosquito nets.
You can go all year. The drier months, from May to October, have less rain, lower rivers and easier trails. From November to April it rains more often and the rivers rise, but the forest is at its greenest. From June to August a cold front from the south, the friaje, can bring a few cool days to the lowlands, and the road over the Andes is cold at any time of year.
It is not required to enter Peru, but the US CDC recommends it for travelers aged 9 months or older going below 2,300 m in the Cusco region and Madre de Dios, which covers the Manu lowlands. Get it at least 10 days before the trip. The CDC also lists a malaria risk in the lowlands east of the Andes, so ask your doctor about prevention and use repellent.
Mostly not. Beyond Pilcopata there is little or no signal, and the lodges have limited electricity. Bring a power bank, a headlamp and spare camera batteries.
Tambopata is closer and quicker: a short flight to Puerto Maldonado and a lodge near Lake Sandoval, in 3 or 4 days. Manu is reached overland through the cloud forest, and on this 7-day expedition you reach the oxbow lakes of the Manu River, the most remote part of the park open to visitors. See Manu and Tambopata compared.
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Compare this tour with similar ones: duration, altitude, difficulty and price.
| Tour | Duration | Distance | Max altitude | Difficulty | Group | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tambopata Jungle Adventure: 3 Days | 3 Days / 2 Nights | – | – | Easy to Moderate | – | $540 |
| Tambopata National Reserve Tour: 4 Days | 4 Days / 3 Nights | – | – | Easy to Moderate | – | $690 |
| Manu National Park Tour: 4 Days | 4 Days / 3 Nights | 160 km | 3,800 m | Easy | – | $450 |
| Manu National Park Tour: 5 Days | 5 Days / 4 Nights | 25 km | 3,800 m | Easy to Moderate | Minimum 2 travelers | $600 |
| Manu Expedition: 7 Days in the Reserved ZoneThis tour | 7 Days / 6 Nights | 30 km | 3,800 m | Easy to Moderate | Minimum 2 travelers | $1,450 |
| Amazon and Machu Picchu Experience: 10 Days | 10 Days / 9 Nights | 45 km | 4,300 m | Moderate | – | $1,850 |
Travel guides from our team in Cusco to help you prepare.
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