Manu National Park 3, 4 or 5-Day Trip

Embark on an adventure through Manu National Park and immerse yourself in the incredible biodiversity of one of South America's largest protected areas over the course of 3, 4, or 5 days. This journey promises a unique connection with nature!

3-Day Journey

Day 1

We will set out from Cusco and traverse the stunning valleys nestled between the Andes and charming towns en route to Manu National Park. Our journey begins with a visit to the ancient pre-Inca tombs from the Lupaca culture, followed by a stop in Paucartambo, a colonial city where we’ll explore its museum.

Feeling hungry? A delightful lunch awaits us in the lush surroundings of the cloud forest, a habitat rich in native wildlife such as the Andean bear and the striking Andean cock-of-the-rock, known as Peru’s national bird. We’ll gain insights into its fascinating courtship rituals as we encounter various flora like orchids, bromeliads, and ferns.

By the end of the day, we will reach our hostel for the night around 5 pm to 6 pm. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Day 2

On our second day, we’ll rise early for breakfast before taking a nature walk to observe the forest’s wildlife. Keep an eye out for monkeys and diverse bird species! Following this, we’ll visit a coca plantation and a wildlife rescue center, where you’ll learn intriguing facts about the local ecosystem. Our journey continues to Atalaya, located along the Alto Madre de Dios River, where we’ll embark on a 1-hour kayaking adventure in search of herons, vultures, and cormorants.

Mid-morning, we’ll check back into our hostel, where you will have free time to take a refreshing swim in the river and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, we will explore a nearby swamp, home to toucans, woodpeckers, and parrots. As night falls, we’ll seek out caimans and witness their eyes glowing in the dark!

Day 3

The next morning, we’ll wake up early to board a speedboat that will take us to a parrot clay lick, a special spot along the river's edge where various parrot species gather. Have you ever encountered the blue-headed parrot or the white-eyed parakeet? These birds consume clay rich in minerals to aid their digestion and detoxify.

We’ll then return to the hostel for a nutritious breakfast. After refueling, we’ll board a speedboat bound for Puerto Atalaya, where a coach will wait to transport us back to Cusco. We will have lunch en route, aiming to reach Cusco between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm.

4-Day Journey

The 4-day option mirrors the first two days of the initial itinerary. On the third day, after breakfast and the visit to the parrot clay lick, we will take a trek through the forest.

After our hike, we will return to the lodge for lunch and some time to relax, perhaps enjoying a swim in the river or even trying out a zipline. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Machuwasi Lake, where we’ll board a small boat to look for birds such as the hoatzin and, if fortune favors us, other creatures like monkeys and capybaras. Once evening descends, we’ll embark on a nocturnal hike to discover insects and amphibians. We’ll cap off this exciting day with a sumptuous dinner at the hostel.

On the fourth day, post-breakfast at 8 am, we will take a boat ride to Puerto Atalaya, where our coach will await to transport us back to Cusco. We’ll stop along the way for a meal, arriving in Cusco around 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

5-Day Journey

For a more extensive experience in Manu National Park, the 5-day option progresses through the same itinerary as the first three days.

On the fourth day, we’ll rise early for breakfast followed by a forest hike, during which experts will elaborate on the biodiversity of Manu National Park. Later, we’ll head back to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll drift downstream for about two hours until reaching a hot spring area. The day will conclude with a nighttime tour to search for snakes, frogs, insects, and spiders. After such an adventurous day, we'll return to the hostel for dinner and relaxation.

On the fifth day, we’ll enjoy an early breakfast at the hostel, gather our belongings, and head back to Puerto Atalaya. There, we will board the coach to Cusco, with an estimated arrival time between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Accommodation

Your journey includes 2, 3, or 4 nights of lodging in a double room at the Pilcopata Inn and Manu Amazon Lodge.

Pickup Information

The tour includes pickup from hotels in central Cusco between 5:30 am and 6 am. If you are staying outside this area, we will arrange an alternative pickup point for your convenience.