Manu National Park 7D/6N

Includes – Manu National Park Tour 5 Days

Transportation:

• Authorized tourist vehicle from Cusco to Puerto Atalaya (oxygen, first aid kit, panoramic windows).
• Covered motorboat for all river trips along the Alto Madre de Dios and Manu Rivers.

Accommodation:

• 1 night at Pilcopata Lodge (cloud forest).
• 1 night at a Boca Manu riverside lodge.
• 2 nights at Casa Matsiguenka within the Manu Reserve.
• 1 night at Amazon Manu Lodge (lowland rainforest).

Meals:

• 7 breakfasts*, 6 lunches, 6 dinners.
• Unlimited boiled water, Amazonian coffee, and mates.
• Vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options available (advance notice required).
• Breakfast on the first day is at the traveler’s expense due to early departure.

Local Guide and Equipment:

• Bilingual naturalist guide (Spanish-English) accredited by SERNANP.
• River crew, cook, and logistics staff.
• Group-use binoculars, spotting scope, and bird identification sheets.

Included Activities:

• Interpretive walks in cloud forest and primary forest.
• Catamaran navigation through Cocha Salvador and a visit to Cocha Otorongo.
• Observation at the macaw clay lick (macaw clay lick) and the tapir clay lick.
• Cultural workshop with the Matsiguenka community (crafts and ethnobotany).
• Guided night safaris for wildlife (insects, frogs, caimans).

Safety and Permits:

• Official entrance to Manu National Park and the reserved area.
• First aid kit, VHF radio, and satellite phone.
• Approved life jackets.

Not Included – Manu National Park 5-Day Tour

Personal Expenses:

• Voluntary tips for guide, cook, driver, and local staff.
• Additional bottled drinks, soft drinks, beer, and snacks.
• Handcrafted souvenirs purchased from the Matsiguenka community.

Personal Equipment:

• Sleeping bag (not essential, but recommended for cool nights).
• Headlamp, spare batteries, and solar charger.
• Insect repellent, sunscreen, rain poncho, hiking boots, toiletries.
• Binoculars and additional cameras/memory cards.

Optional Services:

• Travel insurance and medical evacuation (highly recommended).
• Accommodation in Cusco before or after the tour.
• Private transfers off the beaten track (voluntary abandonment or non-medical evacuation).
• Activities not mentioned (e.g., canopy zip-line, personal coffee thermos, private photography classes).

Meals not covered:

• Breakfast on the first day (very early departure).
• Dinner on the last day (arrival in Cusco in the mid-afternoon).

Recommendations – Manu National Park 5-Day Tour

Plan your acclimatization:

Spend at least one night in Cusco before starting the Manu 5-Day Tour; this way you’ll avoid altitude fatigue and start with energy.

Pack appropriate clothing and recommended footwear:

• Waterproof jacket and poncho for the cloud forest; long-sleeved shirts, lightweight pants, and quick-drying socks for the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.
• A light sweater: at night, temperatures can drop to 15°C.
• Waterproof hiking boots with good grip; sandals or Crocs for showers and walks around the lodge.

Essential personal protection:

• Repellent with a high concentration of DEET, biodegradable sunscreen, a cap or hat, sunglasses, and a reusable bottle.

Photography Equipment:

• 8×42 binoculars or larger for birds at the macaw clay lick; a camera with a zoom of ≥300 mm for otters and tapirs in the Manu Reserve.
• Dry bags to protect equipment during navigation.

Health and Safety:

• Bring your prescribed medications and a basic first-aid kit (pain relievers, anti-diarrheal medications, band-aids).
• Purchase travel insurance that covers jungle evacuation: medical transfers from Manu National Park are expensive.
• Yellow fever vaccination is recommended; consult your doctor about malaria prophylaxis if you travel to other Amazonian areas.

Sustainability and Cultural Respect:

• Follow the guide’s instructions and remain silent at the tapir clay lick and the macaw clay lick.
• Do not buy wildlife or feed animals; support community tourism by purchasing Matsiguenka handicrafts.
• Take your waste back to Cusco: there is no urban garbage collection system in Manu.

Money and Tipping Tips:

• Bring cash in small soles; there are no ATMs in Puerto Atalaya or at the lodges.
• Suggested tip for guides and crew: 10% of the program cost, distributed at the end of the trip.

Connectivity and Power:

• There is no cell phone service in the Manu Reserve; notify your family before leaving.
• Lodges use limited solar power; bring a power bank and headlamp with extra batteries.

Documentation and Permits:

• Have your original passport or ID ready for registration at the Boca Manu checkpoint.
• Respect SERNANP regulations; the authority oversees the conservation of the Manu 5-Day Tour and its biodiversity.

Frequently Asked Questions – Manu National Park 7-Day Tour

1. Do I need previous trekking experience for the Manu 7-Day Tour?

No. The Manu Expedition from Cusco combines boat trips and moderate ecotourism hikes. Good health, hiking boots, and a desire to explore the Peruvian Amazon rainforest are all you need.

2. What is the best time to travel to Manu National Park Peru?

From April to November (dry season), the Andean-Amazonian trails are well-paved and the wildlife is very active. From December to March, it rains, but the Manu 7-Day Tour is still available with contingency plans.

3. What vaccinations or health precautions do you recommend for tourism in Manu?

A yellow fever vaccine, strong insect repellent, and malaria profilaxis are recommended if you will be visiting more lowland areas. Bring medical insurance for the entire ecotourism adventure in Peru.

4. What are the accommodations like on the Cusco-Manu jungle route?

Our nights are divided between Pilcopata Lodge, a river lodge in Boca Manu, two nights at Casa Matsiguenka in the Manu Reserve, and one night at Amazon Manu Lodge. All offer beds with mosquito nets and solar energy.

5. Will there be cell phone or internet service in Manu National Park?

Only in Puerto Atalaya is there a weak signal. In the Manu Reserve, there is no coverage or Wi-Fi: enjoy complete disconnection in the heart of the Amazon.

6. What is essential luggage for this trip to the Cusco jungle?

Waterproof boots, poncho, light long-sleeved clothing, headlamp, power bank, repellent DEET, biodegradable sunscreen, reusable bottle, binoculars, and a zoom camera for jaguar or macaw photos.

7. Does the program cater to special diets?

Yes. With advance notice, we serve vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or low-lactose menus using fresh ingredients from the Peruvian Amazon.

8. Can children participate in the 7-day Manu tour?

Recommended for ages 8 and up who can tolerate wet hikes and boat trips. Children travel under adult supervision.

9. What animals am I likely to see?

Cock-of-the-rock in the cloud forest, giant otters and hoatzins at Cocha Salvador, multicolored flocks at the macaw clay lick, tapirs at the tapir clay lick, capuchin monkeys, capybaras, and, with luck, jaguars resting on the beaches of the Manu River.

10. Is the tour safe?

We operate with SERNANP-certified guides, a complete first-aid kit, and a satellite phone. Purchase insurance that includes evacuation for any Manu tourism experience.

11. How much luggage can I bring?

A 40L backpack is ideal; hard-sided suitcases won’t fit on the boat. Bring a day pack for water, a camera, and insect repellent during the hikes.

12. What payment methods and tips are accepted?

Reservations for the Manu 7-day tour must be confirmed in Cusco by card or bank transfer; in the jungle, only cash in soles is accepted for drinks and tips (10% suggested). There are no ATMs at Boca Manu or Casa Matsiguenka.

Confirmed Departures