Enjoy an awesome adventure in the heart of the Amazon jungle’s untouched nature and incredible biodiversity with the Manu National Park tour (4 days). This UNESCO World Heritage Site covers over 1.7 million hectares, making it an unmatched ecological paradise and a must-visit for nature lovers and thrill-seekers alike.
We’ll leave Cusco early in the morning in one of our vehicles. We’ll pass through fascinating valleys between the Andes mountains and picturesque rural communities. We’ll visit the pre-Inca tombs of the Lupaca culture and then stop in Paucartambo, a beautiful colonial town, to check out the interesting city museum. On the way, we’ll have lunch in the cloud forest.
We’ll continue our descent through the cloud forest, a place rich in endemic species like the spectacled bear and the Andean cock-of-the-rock, Peru’s national bird, known for its unique courtship ritual. We’ll also see orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and more. We’ll keep taking in the spectacular nature along our journey until we reach our lodge, Pilcopata Inn, where we’ll spend our first night.
We’ll have breakfast very early, and then we’ll go for a hike where we can spot forest wildlife like monkeys and birds. After that, we’ll visit a coca plantation and a wildlife rescue center. Next, we’ll travel to Puerto Atalaya, located along the shores of the Alto Madre de Dios River, 500 meters above sea level.
There, we’ll start our boat descent to observe the incredible diversity of bird species, such as herons, vultures, cormorants, and more, until we reach the Amazon Manu Lodge. We’ll swim in the river and have lunch there. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Lake Machuwasi, where we’ll explore on rafts to watch birds like the prehistoric hoatzin and, if we’re lucky, other animals like monkeys and capybaras. We’ll spend the night at the lodge.
Early in the morning, we’ll hop on our boat and head to the macaw clay lick, a wall along the riverbank where different species of parrots, like the blue-headed parrot, white-eyed parakeet, and chestnut-fronted macaw, gather every morning. Here, they eat clay, which is rich in minerals and helps them digest and eliminate toxins from their bodies. Afterward, we’ll head back to our lodge for a delicious breakfast.
Then, we’ll take a 2 to 3-hour walk through the forest. We’ll return to the lodge for lunch and have some time to relax or swim in the river. After lunch, it’s zip-lining time! Guests at the Amazon Harpy Lodge get the chance to enjoy a unique and stunning view of the jungle as they fly through the canopy between platforms built high in the trees. All the equipment used is high-quality and safe. After zooming through the treetops of the amazing Amazon jungle, you can rappel 25 meters down to the ground.
In the evening, we’ll go for a night walk in the jungle to look for insects and amphibians. After the night walk, we’ll have dinner and spend the night at the lodge.
After breakfast, we’ll take the boat upriver to Atalaya where our car will be waiting to take us back to Cusco. We’ll have lunch along the way and arrive in Cusco around 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Here are the details for the 4-day Manu National Park tour.
Cusco
5 a.m.