Tour to Manu National Park 4 Days

DAY 1: Cusco – Cloud Forest – Bamboo Lodge

This Tour to Manu National Park can vary depending on the availability of the local lodges.

This morning there will be a 4:30 AM pick up at your hotel in our private minivan. Our first stop will be (The Tombs), a historic Pre-Inca site at Ninamarca, “the place of fire” in Quechua. Later, travel for four hours through fabulous mountain vistas and valleys. Travel to Paucartambo (the folkloric capital of Cusco) which boasts beautiful Spanish colonial architecture and a stone bridge. Travel onto the lookout point at Acjanaco pass 4,000m (13,123 ft) where we enter Manu National Park.

From here travel through pristine cloud forest which feeds the local flora unique to this area. The landscape is stunning: pass many waterfalls, sweeping views of the valley and dense cloud forest vegetation. See mosses, lichens, orchids and birds unique to this part of the world. Capuchin and wooly monkeys can also be seen. All meals included except breakfast.

Overnight at the Bamboo Lodge or Guadalupe Lodge.

DAY 2: Bamboo Lodge – Machuwasi Lagoon – Pantiacolla Lodge

After breakfast, visit the surrounding garden, orchard, and Coca plantation. The guide will explain medicinal plants and exotic fruits grown here in the area. After a short trip, we reach Atalaya and board our riverboat heading through the turbulent Alto Madre de Dios river to calmer waters. Stop and trek to a beautiful lagoon (Lago Machuwasi). Here see many fascinating birds, the loud prehistoric birds like hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazín), and The Screamer (Anhima cornuta Arauco), egrets, etc, if we are lucky we can see caimans. With its reflective waters and rich wildlife, it’s a truly wonderful experience.

In the Pantiacolla area, see howler monkeys resting in the trees, river otters bathing, capibaras nosing for food on the shores. In our private reserve, encounter primary forest still intact. Here we can show you original and traditional fauna, medicinal plants, giant trees (ficus estrangulador), hardwood trees, bamboo forests. See clay licks for mammals and parrots, which can be experienced exclusively by our customers only. Here you can also choose to go for a guided night walk to see nocturnal animals and insects.

Overnight at the Pantiacolla Lodge, a hidden stilted house camouflaged in the forest. Strategically located over a Bambu forest, it makes for great viewing of the nocturnal animals and day animals like monkeys, birds, and others. All meals included.

DAY 3: Parrot Clay Lick – Bamboo Lodge

In the early hours of the morning, we need to be at the macaw lick to catch the birds eating the salty mud off the river bank wall. Hundreds of macaw and parrots can be seen stripping off the clay and clamoring away at their work. Who knows, maybe toucans, howler monkeys, the shy river otter or with luck the Capybara might make an appearance.

On the opposite bank of the river, wait silently to see what appears. After breakfast, take a jungle trip to see the enormous ancient trees that tower above the reserve. While walking among exotic rainforest trees, we will see Aleton trees, Ceiba, and the beautiful Ficus. On the forest floor there are lizards, frogs, lots of species of ants. At the treetops, enjoy spectacular scenery and great bird watching. Enjoy and learn the life of insects and about the interpretation of the primary and secondary components of the rainforest. See the human impact and the importance of the rainforest for our planet.

After a great exploration of the jungle, head back to our lodge for lunch. Later travel upstream and reach our next lodge. Once at this lodge, a guided night walk is possible. All meals included.

Overnight at the Bamboo Lodge.

DAY 4: Bamboo Lodge – Cusco

Early in the morning, we start our trip back by river, be accompanied by flocks of passing birds. Again we have a good chance to view Capybaras (the largest rodent in the world) on the river banks. Our destination is Atalaya where we take a break and then head back to Cusco. Pass again through the cloud forest and stop for lunch on the way, on one of the lovely bends over looking the valley. At about the 6:00 pm reach your hotel in Cusco. This is the end of our adventure. All meals included, except dinner.

Note on Itinerary
Although we do our very best possible to adhere to the schedule above, this itinerary is subject to change for several reasons beyond our control, including strikes, weather, natural disasters, and terrain conditions. On some occasions, these conditions may demand us to deviate from our original schedule, in which case we will provide the best available alternative options. And we’ll make a great experience of it!