Manu National Park 4 Days Tour Adventure in the Peruvian Amazon

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Cusco - Paucartambo - Bambu Lodge
5 stops
1
Our three-day Manu tour begins early at 5:30 a.m. when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. From there, we’ll start our journey from the Andes down into the Amazon, passing through diverse and changing landscapes. First stop: Ninamarca Our first stop is the small village of Ninamarca, home to pre-Incan tombs built by the Lupaca people. Your guide will explain their history and cultural significance.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
2
Paucartambo
Next, we head to the colonial town of Paucartambo, located at 9,186 feet (2,800 meters) above sea level. You’ll get to see its historic church and traditional streets. It’s also a place where Quechua is still spoken, and many local traditions are preserved.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
3
Acjanaco Pass and Tres Cruces We’ll continue driving uphill to Acjanaco Pass at 11,646 feet (3,550 meters), which marks the entrance to Manu National Park. From there, we go even higher to the Tres Cruces viewpoint at 12,139 feet (3,700 meters), where you’ll enjoy a wide, scenic view of the Amazon Basin.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
4
Paucartambo
Cloud Forest and Short Hike Then we begin our descent into the cloud forest. We’ll stop for lunch surrounded by lush vegetation. After eating, we’ll take a short walk to look for birds—especially the Andean Cock of the Rock, Peru’s national bird. This area is great for spotting hummingbirds, trogons, and other colorful species.
Admission ticket free
5
Pilcopata
Arrival in Pilcopata As the day ends, we’ll reach Pilcopata at 2,296 feet (700 meters), where we’ll spend the night in a comfortable jungle lodge.
Admission ticket free
Day 2
Bambu Lodge - Atalaya Port - Soga de Oro Lodge
3 stops
6
Pilcopata
The second day of our Manu tour takes you deeper into the Amazon, with new landscapes and chances to experience its rich wildlife. Morning in Pilcopata We’ll start early with a traditional Amazonian breakfast at the Bambu Lodge. Afterward, we head to the Atalaya Port, where we begin our boat journey along the Madre de Dios River.
Admission ticket free
7
Boat Ride to the Jungle Lodge From Atalaya, we take a motorized boat down the river toward the Soga de Oro Lodge. This part of the trip is full of scenic views and wildlife sightings—perfect for birdwatching or nature photography. Along the riverbanks, you may spot various bird species and other animals going about their day. Arrival and Lunch at the Lodge Once we arrive, our team will help you settle into your jungle lodge. A homemade Amazonian lunch will be served, giving you the energy to explore more in the afternoon.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
8
Manu National Park
Afternoon Nature Walk and Lake Visit After lunch, we’ll walk the nearby trails to learn about the forest and its plants. One of the highlights is seeing medicinal plants, including the well-known San Pedro cactus. Later, we visit Machuwasi Lake, where we board a traditional wooden raft. Keep an eye out for birds like the hoatzin, reptiles, and black caimans quietly moving through the water. Optional Zip-lining and Night Walk If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try zip-lining through the forest canopy (optional). It’s a fun way to see the jungle from a new perspective. After dinner at the lodge, we’ll head out on a short night walk to observe nocturnal wildlife—frogs, insects, and other creatures that come alive after dark. Finally, we return to the lodge for a well-earned night’s rest.
Admission ticket free
Day 3
Explore the Parrot Clay Lick
1 stop
9
Manu National Park
The day begins with breakfast at the Soga de Oro Lodge, located at an altitude of 450 meters, the starting point for the scheduled activities. There is a 25-minute boat ride to the Collpa de Loros, where you can watch parrots and macaws feeding on mineral-rich clay. The guide explains the importance of this behavior and the benefits that clay provides to the birds. After the visit, you will return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, a walk along the jungle trails allows you to appreciate different species of birds, playful monkeys, giant trees, and medicinal plants that are part of the Manu ecosystem. At the end of the day, you will return to Soga de Oro Lodge for dinner. In the evening, there is a night safari, a walk where you can find toads, frogs, snakes, and spiders, with the opportunity to observe the jungle's nightlife up close.
Admission ticket free
Day 4
Soga de Oro Lodge - Atalaya Port - Cusco City
2 stops
10
Manu National Park
Our final day in the Amazon focuses on one of the jungle’s most fascinating natural events—the parrot clay lick. Early Morning at the Clay Lick We begin before sunrise with a short 10-minute boat ride to reach the clay lick site. Located within Manu National Park, this is one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles in the region. You’ll see dozens of colorful parrots and macaws gathering to eat the clay, which is rich in minerals. These minerals help the birds detoxify what they’ve eaten from the forest—an important part of their survival. Watching them in their natural behavior is both peaceful and exciting.
Admission ticket free
11
Manu National Park
Breakfast and Return Journey After spending time at the clay lick, we return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast. Then, we begin our journey back to Cusco. We first travel by boat back to Atalaya Port, where our driver will be waiting. From there, we continue by van, retracing our route through the Andes. We expect to arrive in Cusco around 5:30 PM, bringing our three-day adventure through the Amazon to a close.
Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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