The trip from Cusco to Manu National Park in Peru is truly one of a kind. Manu National Park is one of South America’s hidden treasures and is located in the Amazon Basin. It covers a whopping area of around 2 million hectares or 4.9 million acres, which is an ideal landscape for its outstanding natural beauty as well as biodiversity.
As you travel from Cuzco, imagine hiking through a cultural zone laden with history. You can see the stunning Oxcart Road, which beautiful Paucartambo town and Cuzco are distinctively linked to. It is a glimpse of the astonishing Manu National Park.
Now, dive deeper into the Manu National Park in Peru and be greeted with an explosion of different types of plants and animals in the warm embrace of this wonderful area. Here, cloud forests transition into lowland jungles, giving way to a flourishing blend of life.
The area has several peaceful and calm Oxbow lakes that add charm to the beauty of the nature reserve. Further steps into this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve deepen the magic and truth of the serene protected area.
A variety of mammal and bird species find the park’s boundaries home. As you hike along the trail, a family of Giant River Otters frolicking in the water comes into view. Unique bird species are also seen in the treetops. Such wildlife diversity proves the park’s importance as a biodiversity hotspot in the Amazon Basin.
Here at Bio Manu Expeditions, we desire to make your tour of Manu National Park fun and informative. Our friendly guides conduct jungle tours in the Manu Reserved Zone, which is the least spoiled by human activity.
Are you passionate about birds and mammals? Or perhaps nature is something you are deeply fascinated by?
Whatever your passion, our tours encompass all aspects and elegantly capture one of the planet’s most biodiverse areas.
Manu National Park in Peru awaits you. What choice will you make?
Cusco City
05:00 AM
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Cusco, Peru, , boarded our private vehicle, and drove to the office for the beginning of your tour to Manu National Park, Peru. We will be leaving the hotel on the side of the Andes mountains so that we can enter the Amazon rainforest region. On the way, well-fed with a local breakfast, our guide explained all the ancient customs this fantastic town of Paucartambo had to offer. The first place to visit is the historical town of Paucartambo, located at 2906 meters (9534 ft) above sea level. The purpose of going to Paucartambo is to try their special breakfast, their traditional meals are some of the best in Peru.
After breakfast, we will continue driving towards the city of Paucartambo with a side stop at Tres Cruces/Acjano. This is the highest point on the Manu National Park tour from Cusco. The view from 3900 meters (12795 ft) above sea level offers vast portions of the Amazon basin.
Next, we will begin our drive downhill to the Manu Cloud Forest. This area is full of exotic wildlife, including colourful orchid farms. Be on the lookout for the Andean cock of the rock, Peru’s National Bird. There are also cappuccino monkeys and woolly monkeys.
Following your Indigenous lunch, we will take you to Atalaya Port, our next destination. We will then head out in a motorboat on the Madre de Dios River toward Machuwasi Lake. While on the journey, we will see more wildlife and birds, like the stunning harpy eagle.
Before reaching Manu Rainforest Lodge, we will stop at the lake for a short time and then continue with the two-hour boat trip. The lodge is located in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon.
You will be served a native dinner once you check in. After dinner, if you’re up for it, we’ll go on a short night hike for nocturnal animals.
On the second day at Manu National Park, Peru, you will enjoy a local breakfast. After the meal, we will take a boat called Peke, which derives its name from the sound of its motor. We will then head towards the Manu River and later the Palotoa River.
The venue is situated at the deep end of Manu Jungle in Peru. This boat ride offers breathtaking views of cloud forests and lowland wilderness. The clear sight of mammals and rodents, especially the notably huge Capybara, will not disappoint.
You will now be checked into The Treehouse Inn, a unique lodge strictly reserved for our guests. This hike will take you through the jungle, where you can see a variety of birds and local fauna and flora, including huge trees.
Along with your guide, you will also get to see the medicinal plants.
After this walk, we will have lunch to re-energize us. Next, we will take a somewhat longer, more profound path into the Manu Jungle. You will get a chance to see colourful native birds like Macaws, parrots, hummingbirds, and woodpeckers.
After witnessing a breathtaking sunset in the jungle, we will make our way to the lodge for dinner. After dinner, we’ll take a nighttime stroll for those who are up to it. Some of the animals we may come across during the night include howler monkeys, Kolinski rats, pygmy owls, tarantulas, and snakes.
Please bring your flashlight, as it will be very useful when we explore the jungle at night.
At the Treehouse INN, we will get a good night’s sleep while listening to the sounds of the Amazon Rainforest.
For Day 3 of the Manu National Tour, we will wake up before dawn to get to our target location, the Parrots and Macaws Clay Lick, which is the highlight of Manu National Park.
Observe hundreds of colourful macaws and parrots as they swarm the cliff’s ledge to feed on clay. The clay helps the birds filter some toxins. After this fantastic display, we will head back to the Treehouse INN for breakfast.
After breakfast, we will set out on our next hike. The path goes around town and features many local medicinal plants. The guide will explain how these plants are used as we go.
We will try to find wild jaguars, pumas, anteaters, sloths, and tapirs further down the path. They will be observing us, so we will have to keep our distance.
Now, we would like you to relax for the rest of the day after all the explorations and discoveries you made in the morning. We will return to the lodge, where you can enjoy a hearty lunch.
Later in the afternoon, you can unwind and do some river tubing in the gorgeous aquamarine waters of the Palotoa River. In the evening, we will have dinner and then go out into the jungle to spot some wildlife.
To begin day 4, we’ll have breakfast at the Treehouse INN. We will then board our boat for a return trip to the Atalaya pier. We leave you at the Atalaya pier so that our crew, with private transport, can take you to the city of Cusco.
While on the drive, we will stop in Paucartambo again so you can enjoy a wonderful lunch. Our goal is to get you back in Cusco by 06:00 PM. This will mark the end of a memorable tour of the Manu National Park.
Your tour of Manu National Park in Peru ends here, but the images of birds, plants, and animals will undoubtedly stay fresh in your memories. The cloud forest and lowland sights will forever be unforgettable.
Bio Manu Expeditions strives to make every adventure unique and unforgettable.
Manu National Park in Peru is best visited during the dry season, which stretches from June to October. The trails are dry and not that difficult to walk on during these months.
The trip to Manu National Park usually begins with a car ride to Atalaya or Shintuya from Cusco; then, you take a boat for the rest of the trip. It usually takes about eight to nine hours to arrive in the park from Cusco.
Manu National Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including giant otters, jaguars, several monkey species, and a vast number of bird species. The biodiversity is incredible, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts.
Yes, it is generally safe to visit Manu National Park. However, as with any wildlife expedition, it is important to follow the guidelines provided by the tour operators and respect the local wildlife and environment.
Yes, you do. The park is quite large, and the jungle can be complex at first. Having an experienced guide is not only suitable for your safety but also enriches the experience by explaining the features of plants and animals around you.
Lightweight and breathable clothing, a good pair of hiking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars for wildlife viewing, and a good camera are recommended. Remember, the weather can be changeable, so waterproof clothing is also a good idea.
It’s advised to be up-to-date with routine vaccinations. Vaccines for diseases like Yellow Fever and medications for Malaria prophylaxis may be recommended depending on current health advisories. Also, considering the high altitudes in Cusco, some travelers might want to bring along medication to alleviate altitude sickness. Always consult with a healthcare provider before your travel.
Bio Manu Expeditions curated an absolutely unforgettable journey from Cusco to Manu National Park Peru. Their attention to detail and expertise really shone through every step of the way. The transition from the towering heights of Machu Picchu to the unique biodiversity in Manu National Park was seamless and deeply educational. A trip of a lifetime, highly recommended!
