The Manu Explorer 8D/7N
This trip will inspire a truly authentic experience of the jungle. This remote part of the rainforest is home to some of Peru’s endemic wildlife species.
DURATION
LODGING
TYPE
Accommodation
You are going to spend one night at Manu Cloud Forest Lodge, one night at Manu Learning Centre, three nights at Romero Rainforest Lodge and one night at Manu Wildlife Centre
- We have twin or double shared rooms with on-suite private bathrooms and hot water (you can book for single rooms but a single supplement applies)
- It also includes 3 Meals per day taken in a communal dining area and Wi-Fi access between 7-9 pm daily, only at the Manu Learning Centre.
Itinerary
An early start from Cusco as we prepare for the long voyage ahead! We will take a pit-stop in the nationally renowned capital of bread Oropesa to learn about the history of the town and take advantage of the facilities, with the opportunity to support the local community and purchase some food and drinks.
From here we venture on another 30-40 minutes approx. to arrive at a national heritage site – Laguna Huacarpay. A wetland site teeming with birdlife, mammals and some reptiles as a brief introduction to what we can find within the Andes region and some scenic views of the lake and town!
It’s possible to see the Giant Hummingbird (Patagona Gigas), the endemic Bearded Mountaineer (Oreonympha Nobilis), Puna Ibis (Plegadis Ridgwayi), Cinereous Harrier (Circus Cinereous) and even more here!
Eventually the journey by road will take us through the Andes and into the Cloud Forest, a unique environment that is truly breathtaking!
Making a stop along the way at Paucartambo village, a key site for the Inca empire within the Andes and eventually, the Acjanaco ranger station to experience some local culture and to witness the spectacular views. Keep an eye out for the Andean Flicker (Colaptes Rupicola), Variable Hawks (Geranoaetus Polyosoma), Quetzals and many other birds and raptors!
We will stay overnight at a Manu cloud forest lodge with the opportunity to witness the Peruvian National bird the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicolus Peruvianus) engaging in its mating display within the lek site either in the early afternoon or following morning! (Depending on timing of arrival)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Accommodation: Either Cock of the Rock Lodge, Paradise Lodge or Wayquecha Biological Station
An early start to the town of Salvacion, to then arrive at Aguanos and you will disembark and walk 15-20 minutes along a trail to our private motorised canoe to ride down the Madre de Dios river to the Manu Learning Centre.
Surrounded by many kinds of Herons, Egrets, Cormorants, Kingfishers, Fly-catchers, many Birds of Prey flying overhead and more! If you’re lucky, potentially even a Capybara (Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris) or Lowland Tapir (Tapirus Terrestris) sighting, both semi-aquatic animals that frequent the area!
You will be introduced to the lodge and your accommodation area with an opportunity to rest after your journey to help settle in. Meanwhile you can enjoy the vast variety of garden birds going about their business such as the Tanager and Barbet families whilst a number of species of lizards can be found lounging around in sun spots gathering energy for the day, such as the Golden Tegu! (Tupinambis Teguixin)
A highlight within the garden being the great variety of Hummingbirds our snake vines attract, including the Rufous Crested Coquette (Lophornis Delattrei), Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone), White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga Mellivora) and many more…
After lunch, you can explore the rainforest trail system with our naturalist guides or enjoy the landscape at our viewpoint before spending the evening learning more about the jungle through our introductory presentation or simply relaxing, watching the beautiful sunset and ending your day with an overnight stay at Manu Learning Centre lodge.
At Dinner time we will have a formal introduction to all the inhabitants within the MLC including staff, volunteers and interns!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Accommodation: Manu Learning Centre
We begin our epic journey to Romero, leaving the Manu Learning Centre early in the morning to travel down the long and winding Alto Madre de Dios River. Wracking up scores of birds as we go!
Eventually we will come to the confluence where the Manu River joins the Alto Madre de Dios, notice the colour and sediment change as the former flows into the latter. As you enter deeper into the Manu National Park, you will see the change of the landscape, some rarer species of birds and local communities on the way. Passing Black Skimmers (Rynchops Niger), Cocoi Herons (Ardea Cocoi),
Large-billed terns (Phaetusa Simplex), Little Blue Herons (Egretta Caerulea), White-throated Toucans (Ramphastos Tucanus), Chestnut eared Aracaris (Pterroglossus Castanotis) and more!
To then stop off at the Boca Manu village, with close viewings of Black Vultures (Coragyps Atratus) and Turkey Vultures (Cathartes Aura). Later, we are able to walk to the nearby oxbow lake where macaws and parrots come to roost and end this day of highlights and strong emotions of awe by staying overnight at our Romero Learning Centre lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Accommodation: Romero
We will wake very early and head to the Cocha Salvador (Lake Salvador). To board small catamarans and head out onto the lake observing animal life from the water. Watch out for the endangered Giant River Otters (Pteronura Brasiliensis) locally known as los lobos del rio, Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis Cayennensis), Striated Heron (Butorides Striata), Sun Bittern (Eurypyga Helias), the large Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle Torquata) and on occasion the Black-faced Spider Monkeys (Atemeles Chamek), Bolivian Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta Sara) or even the Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus Imperator) swinging through the trees!
Later, travel to Cocha Otorongo (Lake Otorongo) to then climb the 20-metre observation tower and see wildlife from above. Potentially the Giant River Otters again or the rare Black Caimans (Melanosuchus Niger) that inhabit the lake.
As always whilst travelling by boat in the most biodiverse region in the world, there is a chance to see some of the rarer animals such as the Jaguar (Panthera Onca), Green Anaconda (Eunectus Murinus), Lowland Tapir, Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres Chachinnans), Eagles, Hawks, and much more!
Journeying deep into Manu National Park lets you experience the wonderful array of wildlife that the world’s most biodiverse location has to offer. Back at the lodge you spend an overnight stay at Romero Learning Centre.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Accommodation: Romero
A day to experience the magic of trekking through primary rainforest, spotting black spider monkeys and using the knowledge you learnt at the Manu Learning Centre to spot animal tracks. After the activities of the day, you take to the river by boat and spend overnight at a different lodge, the Manu Wildlife Centre. Providing more opportunities to spot different animals further down the Madre De Dios river and see another part of the Amazon Rainforest!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Accommodation: Manu Wildlife Centre
You make a boat journey to Colorado Village, passing several lowland native settlements and gold miners digging and panning gold along the banks of the Madre de Dios River. Colorado is the starting point to the overland journey to Puerto Carlos (45 minutes approx.) and then you will cross the Inambari River (15 mins approx.) Finally you get to Santa Rosa before a van or bus will drive you on to Puerto Maldonado for your flight to Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Accommodation: Self-organised (We can provide recommendations!)
Start your journey
FAQ
The best time to visit Manu is during the dry season from April to October. That said, we take educational tours to Manu all year round, even in the rainy season because there are always fascinating things to see and experiences to experience any day of the year!
We advise you to arrive a day early for your tour. However, if you do happen to arrive in Cusco on the day of your tour, your guide will be there to pick you up from the airport. They will be holding up a sign that says “Crees” and your names.
Simple! Once you decide to book with us, we send you a link to our booking form so we have all your information and when you have paid your deposit then we send you an invoice as confirmation of your booking and you are all set.
The Amazon climate is generally hot and humid, around 30 degrees. The dry season is from Apr-Oct and the wet season is from Nov-Apr. The wet season is characterised by a few hours of rain each day and temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees.
February is a time of heavy rains and roads can be inaccessible during this period. Then, in May there is often a layer of low cloud over the rainforest. The Manu National Park is closed in February so crees tours to Romero Rainforest Lodge do not operate but the Manu Learning Centre is open all year round.
You need to bring cash to make purchases in the nearby towns at the rainforest and for your bar/shop bill at the Manu Learning Centre and/or Romero Rainforest Lodge – we do not take card payments.
Your passport must have at least six months before it expires from the date you intend to return at the end of your trip. It should also have a few unused pages for the necessary visas and stamps that you will accumulate on your travels. If your flight goes via the USA then your passport will need to be one that can be read electronically or they will not let you through, and you will also need to register on the US government’s new visa waiver list. Please see http://www.unitedstatesvisas.us/ for more information.
Dry season is from April to the end of October and the Wet season is from November to end of March.
No, we provide drinking water for all our guests.
We recommend you take the last departing from Puerto Maldonado back to Cusco or Lima.
The Amazon is well known for its huge biodiversity and the wealth of different ecosystems it supports. In each one of these there are always dangers that face visitors, which preparation is key.
Rainforest excursions lead people into the heart of the rainforest on an adventure that will consequently expose them to its raw nature. In order to be prepared please talk to your doctor about their recommendations.
See section below for specific inoculations that are recommended. Due to mosquito related diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis and even pesky bites, we recommend purchasing an effective repellent and also wear long sleeve shirts and trousers at all times.
General safety and sanitary standards in Peru are often not as high as other countries. Public health facilities are available, but It is essential that you take out fully comprehensive insurance before travelling.
In isolated places such as the Peruvian Amazon there are few facilities available so it is advisable to take a well-equipped first aid kit.
Pharmacies in Peru are well stocked and most products, even antibiotics, can be bought over the counter. Check validity dates on packaging, and there is an important distinction between a recommendation (advice) and a requirement (you may be refused entry to the country without proof of vaccination).
Manu as such is not a malarial area but if you are travelling onwards from any of our tours, please make sure you have the requirements needed. Please consult your GP or health centre for accurate details of malarial areas within the region.
If you have doubts about Covid-19, please click here to be redirected to our Covid-19 latest information tab.
February is a time of heavy rains and roads can be inaccessible during this period. Then, in May there is often a layer of low cloud over the rainforest. The Manu National Park is closed in February so crees tours to Romero Rainforest Lodge do not operate but the Manu Learning Centre is open all year round.
The Spanish word for tipping is propina, and we cannot express enough that tipping is a personal choice and one should not feel obliged to give one if you are unsatisfied with the service.
With regards to guides it is advisable to tip $5.00 per couple per half day but of course if you have been particularly satisfied by all means give more!
For naturalist guides, the convention is more like $10 per person per day. Don’t forget the drivers who in many cases may have shown extreme skill on difficult roads but in general terms should be tipped lower than the guides.
Your guide will meet you the night before to advise on timings for pick up so make sure you tell us where you are staying in Cusco prior to departure. Normally it is an early start to head down to Manu, departing Cusco from around 6am.
Yes. We provide a secure space for payment.
Yes, we welcome children from 6 years old and above. The jungle is a wonderful place for them to explore and learn about the natural world.
We aim to bring benefit to local communities and to help sustain a healthy environment where both people and nature can thrive. To aid this process, we would like to encourage you to understand and respect local cultures and customs, get involved with local communities, buy locally and support local businesses.
It is located at the furthest tip of the Upper Amazon River, in the remote south-eastern region of Peru. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest tropical rainforest biosphere reserve on earth, protecting 4,646,564 acres (1,881,200 hectares) of land; an area almost half the size of Switzerland.
This area is situated within the Amazon River basin and protects almost the entire watershed of the River Manu and most of the tributaries of the River Alto Madre de Dios. The Manu Learning Centre is situated within a regenerating secondary forest, ideally placed for studies of regeneration of habitats after disturbance.
February is a time of heavy rains and roads can be inaccessible during this period. Then, in May there is often a layer of low cloud over the rainforest. The Manu National Park is closed in February so crees tours to Romero Rainforest Lodge do not operate but the Manu Learning Centre is open all year round.
It is sensible to take cash as much as your insurance will allow, which can be exchanged locally. The currency in Peru is the Sol. The value varies but it is around 3 to 4 soles to the dollar and 5 to 6 soles to the pound.
We recommend taking US dollars with you for your arrival as it is normal to pay for hotels and tourist services in dollars throughout Peru. All other day to day expenses are paid for in soles. One dollar bills can be useful for tipping and paying fees on borders if you are going outside Peru before/after your trip with crees. Do not take money from your own home country as it can be difficult to exchange.
If you are from the UK, USA, Canada, or Australia you do not require a visa to come through Peru as a tourist.
This is totally at your discretion, however we give a guide as $10 per person per day. Don’t forget the drivers who may have shown extreme skill on difficult roads in many cases, but they should be tipped lower than the guides in general terms.
Yes. We can pick up and drop off in the Sacred Valley if you let us know prior to the tour where you are staying. We do charge an extra $40 USD for the guide to give the pre-departure briefing in the Sacred Valley the night before your tour.
Our love and care for Peru is the driving force behind our operating tours and tourism to Manu. For this reason we are extremely concerned to ensure that our impact is always positive and never damaging.
We aim to bring benefit to local communities and to help sustain a healthy environment where both people and nature can thrive. To aid this process, we would like to encourage you to understand and respect local cultures and customs, get involved with local communities, buy locally and support local businesses.
The Manu Biosphere Reserve’s biological diversity is one of the greatest on Earth, and it is home for some exotic species they have never been named. The Puna is home to tassel-eared llamas and alpacas; the cloud forests are inhabited by brilliant red Cock of the Rocks, spectacled Bears and scores of dripping tree ferns.
The lowland rainforest is inhabited by the giant Black Caiman, Giant Otter, 13 species of monkeys and over 1000 species of birds and of course the majestic Jaguar.
Whilst flora of Manu is vastly under-researched, it is thought that over 15 000 species of plant species have been identified in the park, and it is likely that the number of species to be found within the park is well over this figure.
February is a time of heavy rains and roads can be inaccessible during this period. Then, in May there is often a layer of low cloud over the rainforest. The Manu National Park is closed in February so crees tours to Romero Rainforest Lodge do not operate but the Manu Learning Centre is open all year round.
Credit cards are widely accepted and are valid as proof of funds at borders. Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted, and American Express not so much. Using cash points locally is a great way to get cash out and the rate of exchange is often the most favourable. It may be worthwhile advising your bank of where you are going as often some banks detect irregular spending abroad and freeze the account which can take days to sort out.
We recommend that you buy comprehensive travel insurance for your trip. It is important to check that you are covered for trekking activities above 2500m (both Cusco and the Inca trail are higher than this), repatriation, a minimum medical cover of $50000 and an emergency medical evacuation minimum of at least $10,000,000 for emergency medical transport.
