Depending on the final destination within the Reserve, visitors either fly into Boca Manu (located in the South East corner of the Manu Biosphere Reserve) or drive in on a dirt road from Cusco. Transport routes are used commonly by public buses, cargo and tourism vehicles.

Although the road to Manu is open year round, there can be delays caused by landslides, bad weather and repair work. Visitors are advised to allow at least 24 hours at either end of their journey before arranging onward travel.

Access to the MLC is approximately 8 hours from Cusco along an all weather road to the fluvial port of Atalaya. From there a boat takes you 45 minutes downstream to the MLC. The MLC can only be accessed by boat and has a port and fluvial transport (a 'peke peke') that provides year round access.

Although the MLC is only around 85 kilometres from Cusco (if you travelled in a straight line), the drive through the Andes is nearly three times that distance, stretching for around 250 kilometres. The journey takes you through stunning landscapes of the Andes including high Andean grasslands and cloud forests before you drop over 2,000 metres into the lowland forests of the Amazon. (click here for pictures of the journey from Cusco to the MLC)

By Plane
A small 12-seater Foca light aircraft can take clients on a 45 minute flight from Cusco to Boca Manu. The Manu Learning Centre is then a 6 hour river trip in a 55 horse power boat from Boca Manu. (The return river journey takes approximately the same time).

Estimated Price: $120 per person (not including airport taxes)
Departure times: 9:15 am departure time from Cusco.
                       10:30 am departure time from Boca Manu.

* This service operates normally during the dry season but can be interrupted frequently during the rainy season.
* Flights are scheduled on a demand basis.

By Road - Depending upon the season, clients:

Either are driven to the fluvial port of Atalaya by terrestrial transport from Cusco, from where they embark on a 1 hour motorized dugout canoe ride down the Alto Madre de Dios River to the MLC.

Or clients continue by terrestrial transport until they arrive on the opposite side of the river to the MLC, from here clients are shuttled across in a motorized dugout canoe.

The following types of transport are available to accommodate different group sizes:

	Large Bus Capacity: 32 people Comfort: 3/5 Speed: 10 hrs average travel time Cusco to Atalaya

	Minivan Capacity: 7 people Comfort: 4/5 Speed: 8.5 hrs average travel time Cusco to Atalaya

	Bus Capacity: 16 people Comfort: 4/5 Speed: 9.5 hrs average travel time Cusco to Atalaya

	Pick Up Truck Capacity: 4 people Comfort: 4/5 Speed: 8 hrs average travel time Cusco to Atalaya

	Fluvial Transport (16 hp) Capacity: 6 people Comfort: 3/5 Speed: 1 hour average travel time downstream from Atalaya to the MLC / 2 hour 30min upstream from MLC to Atalaya * The Dugout Canoe (traditionally known as a 'peke peke') is versitile and capable of operating during the dry season when larger boats have problems with the lower water levels.

	Fluvial Transport (55 hp) Capacity: 12 people Comfort: 4/5 Speed: 45 mins average travel time downstream from Atalaya to the MLC / 1 hour upstream from MLC to Atalaya * Limited by river depth the 55Hp boats provide excellent service during the rainy season but can find their usage limited in the dry season.