Trips to Machu Picchu
About this trip
6-Day Manu National Park Reserved Zone Expedition: The Ultimate Peru Amazon Tour
Embark on an extraordinary 6-day expedition into the heart of the Manu National Park Reserved Zone, the most pristine and biodiverse region of the Peruvian Amazon. This journey takes you from the high Andes down through the misty Cloud Forest that is home to the vibrant Cock-of-the-Rock and deep into the primary lowland rainforest via a scenic boat ride along the Manu River.
Tour Highlights:
- Wildlife Encounters: Seek out the elusive jaguar, giant river otters, black caimans, and thirteen species of monkeys.
- Pristine Oxbow Lakes: Navigate the tranquil waters of Cocha Salvador and Cocha Otorongo by catamaran to observe rare aquatic life and prehistoric birds like the Hoatzin.
- Clay Licks: Witness the spectacular sight of hundreds of colorful macaws and parrots gathering at riverbanks for minerals.
- Immersive Lodging: Stay in eco-lodges nestled deep in the jungle, including indigenous-run lodges like Casa Matsiguenka, where you can learn about local ancestral knowledge.
- Guided Explorations: Experience the jungle at its most active during expert-led night walks and birdwatching sessions from 20-meter-high observation towers.
Perfect for wildlife photographers and nature enthusiasts, this 6-day adventure is a rare opportunity to witness an ecosystem virtually untouched by the modern world.
What’s included
Tour Guide
Experienced Tour Guide (English & Spanish) with Spotting Scope
Transport
Private Transportation (bus and boat)
Cook
Dedicated Cook
Meals
Three Delicious Meals Per Day
Water
Mineral Water
Accommodations
All Nights in Basic Comfortable Lodges
Tapir Clay Lick Night
One night in a blind to see tapirs (this is optional and you can spand the night at the lodge)
Snacks
Fresh Fruit & Snacks
Ponchos
Rain Poncho
Boots
Rubber Boots starting from the second day
Buffle Bag
30L Dry Duffle Bag
Entrance Fee
Entrance Fees to Manu National Park
LEK entrance Fee
We include a entrance fee to the Andean cock-of-the-rock Bird Lek (Peruvian National Bird)
Bird Garden entrance Fee
One time entrance fee on the send day
Hot Spring entrance Fee
One time entrance fee to the Hotspring in Manu Park
Aid Kit
First Aid Kit with poison extractor
What’s not included
Travel Insurance
we recommend travel insurance to cover these unpredictable weather conditions, as claims for compensation cannot be considered. The insurance should also cover cancellation of tours, cancellation of flights, accident, loss of personal luggage, hospitalization, etc. We do not accept responsibility for cancellation, loss, tropical medical problems, damage or injury to property or persons.
Meals
First day Breakfast and last dinner
Water
Please bring a bottle of water for the first day. Once finished, you can refill your bottle with the purified mineral water we provide throughout the rest of the journey.
Cash for Tips
Tips for our staff (entirely at your discretion, as our staff are well compensated)
Wildlife Sightings
While we hope to encounter local wildlife, please note that sightings depend on nature and cannot be guaranteed.
Very Important NOTE
there migh be additional costs or delays due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control (e.g., landslides, bad weather, itinerary modifications for safety, illness, government policy changes, political instability/strikes).
$900
Itinerary
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Destination: Manu National Park (Reserved Zone and Cultural Zone)
Start/Finish: Cusco / Cusco
Activity Level: Moderate (Jungle hiking, boat travel)
Best For: Wildlife photographers, nature lovers, birdwatchers.
Introduction
Experience the pinnacle of Amazonian biodiversity on an unforgettable 6-day, 5-night adventure into the Manu National Park Reserved Zone. This premium Peru jungle tour transitions from the misty Andean Cloud Forest to the lush Amazon lowlands. Designed for nature lovers and wildlife photographers, this itinerary offers the best chance to spot the "Amazonian Big Three": Jaguars, Giant River Otters, and Macaws.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Cloud Forest – Pona Lodge (Journey to the Jungle)
Your Manu jungle adventure begins with a scenic drive from Cusco through the majestic Andes.
- Morning: Visit the Pre-Inca tombs of Ninamarca and the colonial "Folkloric Capital" of Paucartambo.
- Afternoon: Enter the Manu National Park and descend into the Cloud Forest. We will visit a "lek" to witness the incredible courtship dance of the Cock of the Rock.
- Evening: Arrive at Pona Lodge. Enjoy a guided walk to spot endemic tanagers and monkeys.
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner.
Day 2: Manu Reserved Zone – Navigation to Casa Matsiguenka
Today, we head deep into the Amazon Reserved Zone, the most protected area of the park.
- River Expedition: Board our motorized boat on the Manu River. This is prime territory for Jaguar spotting on the riverbanks, as well as White Caimans and Side-necked Turtles.
- Oxbow Lake Exploration: Stop at Cocha Otorongo to climb a 20-meter observation tower for a panoramic view of the primary rainforest.
- Evening: Check into Casa Matsiguenka, an indigenous-run lodge. Optional night walk to find nocturnal Ocelots or Kinkajous.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3: Salvador Oxbow Lake – Giant Otters & Primary Forest
Experience the "Heart of Manu" with a silent catamaran cruise on Cocha Salvador.
- Wildlife Viewing: Search for a resident family of Giant River Otters (one of the world's most endangered mammals).
- Primates & Birds: Spot Spider Monkeys, Howler Monkeys, and the prehistoric-looking Hoatzin bird.
- Jungle Trek: Our expert naturalist guide will lead a hike to explain the complex medicinal uses of Amazonian plants.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4: Macaw Clay Lick – Spectacular Avian Display
Wake up early for one of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles: the Manu Macaw Clay Lick.
- The Show: Observe Scarlet, Red, and Green Macaws as they gather in the hundreds to consume mineral-rich clay.
- Photography: This is the ultimate opportunity for Amazon birdwatching and high-speed wildlife photography.
- Relaxation: Enjoy a free afternoon for forest bathing or additional photography at the lodge.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5: Reserved Zone – Papaya Lodge & Tapir Clay Lick
We begin our journey downstream, leaving the Reserved Zone but continuing our wildlife search.
- Boat Safari: Keep your binoculars ready for Capybaras and diverse raptor species along the river.
- The Tapir Experience: Spend the evening at a Mammal Clay Lick. We stay in a hidden "blind" (observation platform) to watch the South American Tapir—the largest land mammal in the Amazon—visit the salt lick under the cover of night.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6: Papaya Lodge – Return to Cusco
Our Amazon rainforest expedition concludes with a return journey to the Andes.
- Scenic Transit: Travel by boat to Atalaya and then by private transport back to Cusco.
- High Jungle Birding: Look for the resplendent Quetzal and Mountain Toucans during our final pass through the Cloud Forest.
- Arrival: We arrive in Cusco between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Location
Your Organizer
Trips to Machu Picchu
Trips to Machu Picchu by Manu Explorers Peru specializes in authentic tours to one of the world’s wonders. Our offerings include the Classic Inca Trail, Salkantay, Lares, and Choquequirao treks, alongside the high-adventure Inca Jungle Trek and scenic train tours to Machu Picchu. Looking for more adventure? We also provide expert-guided jungle expeditions to the Manu National Park Reserved Zone.
