Explore the Best of Manu

We’ll depart from Cusco in the morning in our private minivan, traversing the Andes eastward. The mountain landscapes will give way to subtropical valleys. Our first stop is Paucartambo, a charming colonial town steeped in tradition, where we’ll take a brief walk through its cobbled streets and admire its famous colonial bridge. We’ll continue our ascent towards the Acjanaco Pass, the gateway to Manu National Park. From this point, the scenery transforms dramatically: we’ll leave the high Andean grasslands behind to enter the dwarf forest and then the cloud forest, a vibrant ecosystem brimming with life. During our walk in the cloud forest, we’ll delve into a magical environment of giant ferns, bromeliads, and wild orchids. Here, with patience and silence, we’ll observe the impressive courtship ritual of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola Peruviana), Peru’s national bird. It’s also possible to spot quetzals, toucans, woolly monkeys, and other species native to the cloud forest. Late in the afternoon, we’ll arrive at the cozy Bamboo Lodge, surrounded by nature, where we’ll spend the night and prepare for the Amazonian adventure that continues the next day.

After breakfast, we’ll resume our journey in our private minivan, heading to the port of Atalaya, a key entry point to Manu’s lowland rainforest. Along the way, we’ll stop to visit a coca leaf plantation, learning about its cultivation process, ancestral use, and cultural value in Amazonian communities. We’ll also make a brief stop at a natural viewpoint, offering a spectacular view of the valley and the river we’ll navigate later. From Atalaya, we’ll embark on a motorized boat and navigate the Alto Madre de Dios River. During the journey, we’ll likely observe a wide variety of riverside birds, such as herons, kingfishers, and jungle vultures, while enjoying the immense jungle landscape. Mid-journey, we’ll make a stop at Aguas Calientes, where you can relax in its natural hot springs, an ideal spot to unwind amidst nature. In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at Papaya Lodge, from where we’ll begin a walk towards our camouflaged hide. This special refuge in the middle of the jungle is where large and small animals come to feed on the minerals from the saline clay. Here, in the quiet of the jungle, we’ll have the opportunity to closely observe tapirs, deer, and other animals in their nocturnal ritual of eating the clay that provides them with essential nutrients. During the night, we’ll stay at the Camouflaged Hide, taking turns to observe the nocturnal fauna approaching the clay lick, including the mysterious creatures of the tropical rainforest.

We’ll depart very early from the Papaya Lodge and continue our journey by motorized boat downstream, entering the Restricted Zone via the Manu River. Our first stop will be at the Limonal Checkpoint, where we’ll complete the mandatory registrations. Mid-journey, we’ll make a special stop at Cocha Otorongo, an Amazonian lagoon surrounded by dense vegetation. We’ll ascend its observation tower, from where you can admire the ecosystem from above and, with some luck, spot giant otters, birds, and other animals that frequent this oxbow lake. The boat trip continues, offering constant opportunities to see capybaras, peccaries, monkeys, caimans, and a wide variety of birds. If luck is on our side, we might even spot a jaguar resting on the riverbanks. In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at Casa Matsiguenka Lodge, which is managed by native communities. We’ll settle in here for the night, surrounded by the vibrant sounds of the jungle. Optionally, a night walk can be taken to observe nocturnal fauna.

Very early in the morning, we’ll head to Cocha Salvador, a tranquil lake surrounded by virgin jungle. Aboard a rustic catamaran, we’ll navigate silently over its calm waters while observing species like spider monkeys, herons, and, with luck, the impressive giant otters actively fishing. The spectacle of macaws at the clay lick is also one of the most vibrant moments of the day. After this unique experience, we’ll return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll set out to explore the less-traveled trails of the primary forest, attentive to the movements of monkeys, birds, and perhaps a group of peccaries crossing the forest. Our guide will accompany us, interpreting every detail of the surroundings: fresh tracks of tapirs, deer, or armadillos marked in the mud, sounds among the leaves, imposing trees that have witnessed generations of wildlife and hold stories in their bark. We’ll end the day with a sunset, enjoying a unique landscape of the jungle illuminated by the last rays of the sun before returning to Casa Matsiguenka Lodge for the night.

After an early breakfast, we’ll begin our return journey, navigating the Manu River, enjoying the opportunity to spot jaguars, capybaras, caimans, and various birds along the riverbanks once more. We’ll make a brief stop at the Limonal Checkpoint to register our departure from the Restricted Zone. Taking advantage of the location, we’ll visit the nearby observation tower, which offers a privileged view of the Amazonian canopy, where we can observe large birds such as macaws, toucans, and falcons, as well as monkeys moving among the treetops. After this experience, we’ll continue navigating upstream on the Alto Madre de Dios River until we reach Papaya Lodge, where we’ll have time to rest. As night falls, we’ll embark on a guided night walk, a fascinating opportunity to discover the hidden world of the jungle: tarantulas, tree frogs, bioluminescent insects, owls, and sounds that only awaken under the moonlight.

We’ll begin our return to Atalaya by motorized boat, navigating the Madre de Dios River while enjoying the final landscapes of the Amazon. From Atalaya, our private transport will take us back to Cusco, traversing the cloud forest and passing through the picturesque town of Paucartambo. This journey offers a last opportunity to admire the tropical landscapes and the contrast with the Andean valleys before arriving back in the imperial city. We’ll arrive in Cusco in the afternoon.