This tour goes from Cusco over the eastern range of the Andes and down through the cloud forest to the lowland rainforest of the Manu region, with two nights at a lodge in the forest. It takes place in the area known as the Manu Cultural Zone: the buffer zone of Manu National Park, in the valley of the Alto Madre de Dios River, where…
This tour goes from Cusco over the eastern range of the Andes and down through the cloud forest to the lowland rainforest of the Manu region, with two nights at a lodge in the forest. It takes place in the area known as the Manu Cultural Zone: the buffer zone of Manu National Park, in the valley of the Alto Madre de Dios River, where the lodges, the cloud-forest birding and Machuwasi lake are. The national park itself, created in 1973, protects 1,716,295 ha from the high puna down to the Amazon lowlands, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
On day 1 we drive through Paucartambo and the cloud forest to Pilcopata. On day 2 we continue to the river port of Atalaya and travel by boat to our lodge, with an evening at a platform over a mammal clay lick. Day 3 is a full day of guided walks in the forest around Machuwasi. On day 4 we return by boat to Atalaya and drive back to Cusco, arriving at about 6:00 pm.
A naturalist guide in English and Spanish is with you the whole trip. The transport, the boat, the lodges, the meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 4 and the entrance fees are included. Southern Peru Explorers is a local operator based in Cusco since 2009.
In four days you see the whole descent from the Andes to the Amazon, which a flight to the lowlands skips: puna, cloud forest and lowland rainforest, each with its own wildlife. Want to go further? The Manu National Park…
In four days you see the whole descent from the Andes to the Amazon, which a flight to the lowlands skips: puna, cloud forest and lowland rainforest, each with its own wildlife.
Want to go further? The Manu National Park Tour 5 Days adds a day on the river and hot springs, and the Manu Expedition 7 Days reaches Cocha Salvador in the Manu Reserved 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. In the late afternoon we arrive in Pilcopata, a small town at the edge of the lowlands, where we have dinner and spend the night at an inn.
Facts and figures
After breakfast we drive to the river port of Atalaya, on the Alto Madre de Dios River, through forest full of birds. There we board a motorboat for the river journey to our lodge, deep in the forest. Herons, egrets, kingfishers and king vultures are often seen along the banks.
In the evening you can rest at the lodge or wait with your guide on a raised platform over a mammal clay lick, where tapirs sometimes come at night to eat the mineral-rich soil. After dark the forest fills with the sound of frogs and insects.
Facts and figures
This is the core of the trip: a full day in the forest around Machuwasi, a lake in the buffer zone of Manu National Park. After breakfast we set off on a guided walk. Walking slowly and quietly gives the best sightings: look for several kinds of monkeys, peccaries and deer, and for macaws and parrots flying over the treetops. Your guide helps you read sounds, tracks and small movements.
The forest itself is impressive, with giant ficus trees and, in the layers below, bamboo, ferns, orchids and colorful fungi. In the afternoon we return to the lodge to rest and have dinner.
Facts and figures
We leave the lodge early after breakfast and travel by boat back to Atalaya, with one more chance to see animals, which are most active in the morning. From Atalaya our vehicle takes us back up through the cloud forest and over the Andes near Paucartambo to Cusco, where we arrive at about 6:00 pm.
Facts and figures
Complete transparency for all equipment, meals, transport, and admissions.
Recommended gear and apparel checklist from our mountain guides.
Manu National Park is regarded as one of the most biodiverse places in the world. In order to enjoy your adventure without risking being uncomfortable, it is important to be properly equipped for your tropical rainforest exploration trip. In contrast to the mountain tours, there are specific factors you should consider when packing, such as high humidity, tropical rainfalls and a rich life of insects in the area. With the right personal equipment you can enjoy the wildlife and landscapes comfortably.
Thank you for choosing our Manu Experience, one of the most exciting Amazon adventures in Peru. Traveling through the cultural zone of Manu and rainforest in Peru will be an amazing combination of wildlife watching, river travels, jungle walks and lodge accommodations in one of the most diverse regions in the world.
4 photos from this tour.
Early-morning pick-up at your hotel in Cusco on day 1.
Back in Cusco at about 6:00 pm on day 4.
1 night at an inn near Pilcopata and 2 nights at an eco-lodge in the forest.
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 tour, 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.
Not in the strict sense. Like most short Manu tours, it takes place in the area known as the Manu Cultural Zone, which is the buffer zone of the national park, in the Alto Madre de Dios valley; it is part of the Manu Biosphere Reserve. The park's tourist area on the Manu River, with Cocha Salvador and Cocha Otorongo, is farther away and needs more days: see the Manu Expedition 7 Days.
In the cloud forest, birds such as trogons, tanagers and, with luck, the Andean cock-of-the-rock. In the lowlands, monkeys, peccaries, macaws, parrots, herons and king vultures, caimans on the riverbanks and, sometimes, tapirs at the clay lick at night. Sightings depend on the season and on luck, and none can be guaranteed.
About 7 hours from Cusco to Pilcopata on day 1, with stops for the Ninamarca towers and the cloud forest, and about 8 hours back to Cusco on day 4, arriving at about 6:00 pm.
The road crosses the eastern range of the Andes at up to 3,800 m (12,467 ft), so the start and the end of the trip are cold, while the lowlands are hot and humid. Dress in layers.
Yes. It is rated easy: most of the trip is by vehicle and boat, and the walks are guided and slow. The long drives on days 1 and 4 are the most tiring part, so tell us the ages of any children when you book.
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.
You do not need to arrange anything yourself. The entrance fees for the Manu Cultural Zone and Machuwasi are included, and we register you with the passport details you send us when you book.
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.
The 4-day tour is the shortest way to see the cloud forest and the Manu lowlands. The 5-day tour adds a day on the river, hot springs and Machuwasi lake, for USD 600. The 7-day expedition goes past Boca Manu to the Blanquillo macaw clay lick and the oxbow lakes of the Manu Reserved Zone, for USD 1,450.
Electricity at the lodges may only work for a few hours a day, and phone signal and internet are limited or absent. Bring a power bank and a headlamp, and tell your family you will be offline for a few days.
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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 DaysThis tour | 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 Zone | 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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