7-Day Manu Reserved Zone Expedition
Discover the Ultimate Manu Experience
Embark on an extraordinary 7-day expedition into the core of Manu National Park, one of the most biodiverse and untouched wilderness areas on the planet.
Untamed Wilderness
Designed for nature enthusiasts and active travelers, this immersive journey spans high-Andean passes, mist-shrouded Cloud Forests, and the remote lowland Amazon basin. Enjoy unique eco-lodge accommodations at the elevated Amazon Treehouse and the indigenous-managed Casa Matsiguenka Lodge.
Expedition Itinerary
Cusco – Paucartambo – Cloud Forest – Atalaya Port – Amazon Treehouse
- Morning (05:00 AM): Private hotel pick-up in Cusco. Begin your journey toward Manu National Park with a scenic drive through the high Andes, stopping in the historic town of Paucartambo for breakfast. Ascend to Paso de Acjanaco (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), the high-altitude entry point to the Manu Biosphere Reserve, offering sweeping panoramic views of the Amazon Basin.
- Afternoon: Descend into the pristine Manu Cloud Forest. Take a guided field hike to observe Peru’s national bird, the vibrant Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), along with Woolly monkeys and Capuchins. Enjoy lunch at the Hummingbird Garden before continuing to Atalaya Port. Board a motorized riverboat down the Alto Madre de Dios River, then transfer to a specialized shallow-draft peke-peke boat to travel upstream along the Palotoa River.
- Evening: Arrive at the Amazon Treehouse Lodge by sunset for a welcome dinner and an expedition briefing.
Macaw Clay Lick – Botanical Walk – Cocha Exploration & Night Safari
- Dawn: Early departure to witness the morning natural spectacle at the Parrot & Macaw Clay Lick (collpa), where hundreds of colorful psittacines gather to consume mineral-rich clay.
- Morning: Return to the lodge for a hearty jungle breakfast, followed by an ethnobotanical trail walk focused on medicinal plants, ancient trees, and tracking rainforest species such as sloths, anteaters, and tropical insects.
- Afternoon: Savor a traditional local buffet lunch prepared by the Amazon Treehouse team. After a brief rest, explore a nearby oxbow lake (cocha) to photograph White Caimans, aquatic birds, and reptiles.
- Night: Embark on a guided Night Safari along the Amazon Treehouse trail network to observe nocturnal wildlife, arachnids, and tree frogs.
Amazon Treehouse – Manu River Navigation – Casa Matsiguenka Lodge
- Morning: Early embarkation to navigate toward the heart of the core Manu Reserved Zone. Enjoy breakfast served on board at sunrise as we travel down the Alto Madre de Dios River and enter the Manu River basin.
- Midday: Deep river navigation upstream along the winding Manu River. This pristine corridor provides world-class wildlife viewing opportunities, including Jaguars (Panthera onca), Capybaras, Black Caimans, and side-necked turtles resting along the riverbanks.
- Afternoon: Check-in at Casa Matsiguenka Lodge, an authentic eco-lodge managed directly by the indigenous Matsigenka community inside Manu National Park. Take a short introductory forest walk prior to dinner.
Casa Matsiguenka – Salvador Oxbow Lake – Macaw Lick & Night Navigation
- Dawn: Board our boat toward the crown jewel of the Reserved Zone: Cocha Salvador. Enjoy an exclusive catamaran exploration across the oxbow lake. Silent paddling provides ideal conditions to photograph the resident family of Giant River Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis), Black Caimans, prehistoric Hoatzin birds, and several monkey species in the canopy.
- Midday: Visit a secondary macaw clay lick before returning to Casa Matsiguenka for lunch.
- Afternoon: Join a guided hike through primary rainforest filled with ancient giant trees, focusing on tracking wildlife and rare bird species.
- Night: Experience an exciting Nocturnal Boat River Navigation along the Manu River to spot caimans, tapirs, owls, and nocturnal mammals along the banks.
Casa Matsiguenka – Palotoa River – Amazon Treehouse
- Epic Dawn (05:00 AM): Depart early and navigate downstream along the Manu River during prime wildlife activity hours, maximizing our chances of spotting Jaguars, Tapirs, and Sloths at the water’s edge. Breakfast is served on board.
- Midday: Navigate upstream on the Alto Madre de Dios River to the mouth of the Palotoa River, where our peke-peke boat awaits to take us back to the Amazon Treehouse Lodge.
- Night: Free time to relax, unwind, and enjoy dinner at our elevated treehouse accommodation.
Secondary Clay Lick – Piranha Fishing – River Tubing
- Dawn: Second visit to the local clay lick for additional birding and photography opportunities.
- Morning: Primary forest hike to a secluded jungle lagoon for traditional catch-and-release Piranha fishing.
- Midday: The kitchen team will treat you to a classic jungle delicacy—Juane (seasoned rice and chicken wrapped in bijao leaves)—paired with a cold Peruvian beer.
- Afternoon: Cool off with an adventurous River Tubing session, floating down the crystal-clear waters of the Palotoa River.
- Night: Final Nocturnal Jungle Expedition exploring the rich biodiversity of the Palotoa basin after dark.
Amazon Treehouse – Atalaya Port – Paucartambo – Cusco
- Morning: Farewell breakfast at the lodge. Take a final boat transfer down the Palotoa River back to Atalaya Port.
- Afternoon: Private ground transfer back through the Cloud Forest, stopping in Paucartambo for lunch.
- Evening: Estimated arrival at your hotel in Cusco around 17:00 hrs, concluding your expedition through Manu National Park.
What’s Included
Our activities Manu jungle reserved zone:
- Visit to Hummingbird Garden
- Observation of colorful macaws, parrots, and parakeets at the clay lick
- Guided day and night jungle safaris led by certified native naturalist guides
- In-depth Reserved Zone rainforest wildlife observation and tracking
- Tubing on the Palotoa River
- Visit to Otorongo oxbow
- Exploration Salvador Oxbow
- Nocturnal Boat River Navigation
- Private (van) and river (motorized boat) transportation
- Rubber boots for trail walks
- Certified bilingual native naturalist guide with professional equipment
- Purified mineral drinking water & Complete first aid kit
- Freshly prepared meals per day cooked by a private professional chef
- Accommodation entrance fees & Official Manu National Park entrance ticket
What’s Not Included
- First breakfast on Day 1 (stop made in Paucartambo)
- Final dinner on Day 6
- Alcoholic beverages & soft drinks
- Personal snacks
- Souvenirs and personal expenses
What to Pack for Your Manu Jungle Tour?
Be prepared for the rainforest environment with these essential items.
- Insect Repellent: Minimum 30% DEET concentration.
- Binoculars: Recommended for canopy wildlife and birdwatching (Vortex 10×42 or similar).
- Camera Equipment: Camera with extra fully charged batteries and memory cards.
- Lighting: Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries.
- Sun Protection: Broad-spectrum sunscreen and a wide-brimmed sun hat.
- Clothing: Lightweight, quick-drying, dark-colored long-sleeve shirts and pants to protect against mosquitoes.
- Swimwear & Footwear: Swimsuit, river sandals, or flip-flops.
- Personal Essentials: Reusable water bottle, small daypack, toilet paper, and local cash (PEN) for minor expenses or snacks.
Useful Items
- Dry Storage: Plastic bags or zip-lock bags to separate wet/dirty clothes and protect cameras, phones, and electronics from moisture.
Personal Toiletries
- Eco-Friendly Soap: Biodegradable or organic soap and shampoo (easily purchased in Cusco prior to departure).
Jungle Highlights
Frequently Asked Questions
The Amazon Treehouse Lodge offers a unique combination of elevated comfort, natural immersion, and authentic jungle living located along the Palotoa River in the Manu rainforest buffer zone. Designed specifically to harmonize with the surrounding canopy, it provides a peaceful and secure sanctuary after a day of deep jungle tracking.
Rooms are fitted with comfortable real beds, clean linens, and private, full-coverage mosquito netting so you can sleep peacefully while listening to the nocturnal sounds of the Amazon.
Private Bathrooms: Unlike many remote jungle camps, cabins feature private in suite bathroom facilities equipped with flush toilets and washbasins.
Hot Showers: Guests enjoy the comfort of hot water showers—a welcome after a humid trek through the rainforest. Equipped with solar panels and wifi around the dining room.
Wildlife Sightings in Manu National Park:
- Iconic Mammals: Giant river otters, tapirs, capybaras, sloths, anteaters, and—with a bit of luck—the majestic jaguar basking along the riverbanks.
- Primates: Diverse monkey species in their natural habitat, including woolly monkeys, capuchins, squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, and the tiny pygmy marmoset.
- Reptiles & Aquatic Life: Black caimans, white caimans, and side-necked river turtles.
- Birds & Psittacines: Macaws, parrots, and parakeets at the clay licks, the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Peru’s national bird), toucans, herons, and the prehistoric hoatzin.
Casa Matsiguenka Lodge, a traditional ecolodge run by indigenous people, is located in the heart of the Manu Reserved Zone within Manu National Park, Peru. one of the most biodiverse wildlife sanctuaries on the planet.
Bathroom options: Rooms have private or shared bathrooms with toilet and shower.
The lodge uses solar energy to power basic lighting in common areas and rooms at night, as well as charging stations for cameras, phones, and batteries.
Wi-Fi access: Limited internet access is provided.
The dry season (mid-April to October) offers optimal trail conditions. However, wildlife can be spotted year-round, and the green season brings lush Rainforest scenery.
The Manu Reserved Zone is undisputedly one of the finest destinations on Earth to experience the Amazon rainforest in its purest state, delivering extraordinary wildlife viewing opportunities throughout your entire expedition.
Aboard a catamaran across tranquil (Salvador Oxbow Lake) to observe resident families of endangered giant river otters, prehistoric Amazon rainforest black caimans.
As you navigate the calm waters of the Manu River, watch for capybaras (the world’s largest rodent), tapirs, and herds of peccaries gathering along exposed riverbanks and mineral-rich clay deposits.
The Realm of the Wild Jaguar: Park Manu is world-renowned for wild jaguar sightings. Our early morning riverboat safaris provide the ultimate opportunity to spot a jaguar basking on sunny sandbanks at dawn.
You can safely leave your main suitcases in the free luggage storage room (luggage storage) of your hotel or hostel in Cusco. We recommend packing only a small duffel bag or backpack (max 30–40 kg) for the jungle.
Yes, full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) is included. Vegetarian, vegan, and special dietary options are available upon advance request.