Manu Biosphere Reserve is, quite simply, one of the best wilderness destinations on the planet, boasting an astonishing biodiversity, unrivalled bird-watching opportunities … and even uncontacted tribes. A World Natural Heritage Site since 1987, Manu Reserve is the size of Wales and includes a wide range of habitats as it starts on the eastern slopes of the Andes and descends into the lowland rainforest.

Surprisingly accessible from Cusco area, this nine day tour of Manu is a naturalist’s dream.

Day 1:  Cusco – Posada San Pedro: Lunch / Dinner

Leaving Cusco, we make the spectacular drive up and over the Andes and into Manu Biosphere. It is a full day’s drive, but we make stops along the way, such as in the historic village of Paucartambo, and to enjoy the views of the Vilcanota and Urumamba mountain ranges. The highpoint of the journey is at 3,530 m (11,600 ft) after which, we descend into cloud forest.

You will spend your first night in the camping huts of Posada San Pedro.

Day 2: Cloudforest - Atalaya – Boca Manu: All meals

Today, we drive you by bus, through tropical lowland rainforest, to the small village of Atalaya. Here we transfer you into a motorised canoe to navigate down the turbulent Alto Madre de Dios River to Boca Manu.

As night falls, we make camp on one of the river beaches.

Day 3: Boca Manu – Manu River - Lake Salvador: All meals

Today, we take you by canoe up the Manu River, to go deeper into the heart of the Manu Reserve.

We reach our campsite, near Lake (Cocha) Salvador, in the afternoon. This is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Manu basin, and we will have the chance to explore it by catamaran, on the look-out for a family of giant otters, along with a huge variety of colourful birds, numerous species of monkey, caiman. If we are really lucky, we may even see an ocelot or a jaguar.   

Day 4: Lake Salvador: Lake Otorongo: All meals

A five-hour hike through the virgin rainforest brings us to Lake Otorongo and a 20m (65ft) high observation platform that overlooks the lake.

Day 5: Salvador Lake – Boca Manu - Blanquillo: All meals

Today, we travel back down the Manu River to where it joins the Madre de Dios River at Boca Manu. We then continue downstream to Blanquillo, famous for its clay lick (ccollpa) for macaws.

Here, we spend the night camped on a river beach.

Day 6: Blanquillo: Macaw Lick: All meals

This morning, we have a chance to witness one of the most remarkable spectacles in the Amazon: hundreds of parakeets, parrots and macaws gathering to eat clay found on the banks of the river. It is thought that birds eat the clay as a dietary supplement, perhaps as a source of minerals or to neutralize the poisons in seeds and leaves.

In the afternoon, you visit another one of Manu’s beautiful oxbow lakes, Cocha Blanco.

The night is comfortably spent in the Jungle lodge, Tambo Blanquillo.

Day 7: Blanquillo - Boca Manu - Pantiacolla Lodge: All meals

Today we return by canoe up the Alto Madre de Dios River to the Pantiacolla Lodge, right at the foot of the Pantiacolla Mountains.

This spectacularly located lodge affords great views of the Andes, as well as being located within reach of various microsystems.

Day 8: Pantiacolla Mountains: All meals

Today, we will lead you on hikes from the lodge, through very special rainforest: this is where the Andes and the lowland tropical rainforest meet, so you will have great opportunities to see birds, insects and flora from both eco-zones as well as some species endemic to the area.

Overnight at Pantiacolla Lodge.

Day 9: Pantiacolla - Atalaya – Cusco

This morning, we continue upstream by boat to Atalaya. Here, the bus is waiting to take us back over the Andes to Cusco.

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This trip too long? This tour is also available in a shorter 5 or 7 day Itinerary. Or alternatively you can consider our Short Amazon Tour instead.