This excursion to the Manu Biosphere Reserve enables you to explore this wonderful place at a lower cost than with other tours. If you are on a tighter budget but don’t want to refrain from your visit, this tour is the perfect choice for you!
The Manu Biosphere Reserve has always been the territory of ancestral peoples and incredible wildlife. In this tour, you will not only visit the Shintuya Native Community, but also relax in thermal water pools, discover wildlife during the day and night, and learn about a reforestation project. You will even get to plant your own tree and participate in conserving the very important Amazon rainforest.
Note: All programs in the jungle may have slight variations, depending on the reports of our experienced guides and weather conditions, in order to maximize the observation of wildlife.
The day before leaving, we would also like to have a small briefing with you in your hotel at around 6 pm. We will contact you to see if this time suits you or if we have to fix another moment. Of course, you will get to ask all your open questions during this briefing.
Heading into the enchanting realm of the jungle during the rainy season can be quite the adventure, yet there are a few things eager explorers should keep in mind. While the lush landscapes of the Manu rainforest are tempting, tours in this area sadly take a pause due to the heavy rains, making it a bit tricky to explore to your heart’s content. But hey, don’t let this dampen your spirits! When one door closes, another opens, and in this case, it leads to the spectacular Tambopata.
For the wanderlusting souls yearning for an unforgettable jungle experience, Tambopata opens its arms wide, beckoning with its biodiversity and vibrant ecosystems. Even during the rainy season, our tours in Tambopata are in full swing, offering you a magical escape into nature’s lap.
Price Includes
This tour uses public transport to get you out of Manu. We do this to reduce costs, but the experience can be quite adventurous. If you wish to do take a private transport out of Manu, you can you can choose to add-on this service (according to the number of people in your group) during the booking process. Thanks!
At the scheduled time (05:30 am) we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco.
In the early hours of our journey, we will visit the chullpas of Ninamarka, ancient pre-Inca funerary precincts. From there, we’ll continue to the picturesque colonial town of Paucartambo—once a vital commercial hub during the Inca era, connecting the Kosñipata Valley (your upcoming destination) with Antisuyo, the jungle region of the Inca Empire, and the capital of Tahuantinsuyo, Cusco.
We will pass through the exuberant region of the cloud forest, where the Andes end and give way to the Amazon. After ascending to the Acjanaco pass, which is the entrance to the Manu National Park, we continue our journey until we reach Villa Salvación, the capital of the province of Manu.
It takes about 8 hours to get to Manu, but considering that you will make several stops on the way and the tour guide will give you some first information about the flora and fauna of Manu, the whole trip, to make it more comfortable and relaxing, will take close to 12 hours.
Then, you will spend your first night in the jungle to get a good rest before starting to explore on the next day.
Accommodation: Salvación Manu Hostel
Transportation: Private transport Cusco – Manu (Arrival time is between 5-6 pm)
Included Meals: Breakfast – Box Lunch – Dinner
Now that you are in the jungle, you will get up early in the morning. Here, you will live in accordance with the natural world, waking up when the first sun rays show up and going to bed early, falling asleep to the soothing sound of the animals outside.
Today, we will take the public bus to the community of Shintuya, taking approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The community of Shintuya is one of the largest in the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve with about 45 families living here.
We will have breakfast in the community before heading to the lodge for tonight. Later we will immerse ourselves in the Harakbut culture through a handycraft workshop. From here, you will be taken to a waterfall amidst the jungle, a secret and stunning place. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit to make the most of it! We will return to the lodge for dinner before getting some rest.
Optionally, you can choose to take a hot bath in the thermal pools (included).
Accommodation: Shintuya Aguas Calientes
Included activities: Jungle trail walk, handycraft workshop, night walk
Transportation: Public bus from Villa Salvacion to Shintuya
Included Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Again, we will wake up very early to visit the Parrot Clay Lick close to the community. This is a very interesting morning ritual for parrots, where you will see a great amount of them and learn more about this habit.
Only after this visit, we will have breakfast back in the lodge, which will give us energy to then explore the different trails around the community.
In the afternoon, we will take public transport to return to Villa Salvación, where you will be taken to your accommodation to have some rest.
Included Activities: Parrot Claylick visit, Jungle trail walk, Amazon Tattoo
Transportation: Public bus from Shintuya to Villa Salvacion
Included Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
After breakfast, we will get to know one of the local reforestation projects and have a tour amidst the secondary forest, surrounded by medicinal and consumption plants. Here, you will be able to plant your own tree as well and actively participate in the reforestation of the Amazonian jungle.
Also today, you will get to visit the Machuwasi lake. The oxbow lakes in the Amazon are assembly points for many animals, especially birds. At this lake, it will be very easy to observe the diversity of birds among other species in the area.
Finally, you will have to say goodbye to the jungle and its wildlife, and take your transportation back to Cusco. If you keep the default public transport, you will go to the terminal first to take the bus to Cusco, where afterwards you will be picked up and brought to your hotel. In case of private transport, we will drop you off directly at your hotel in Cusco (arrival time between 7 or 8 pm).
Included Activities: MachuWasi Lake visit, Reforestation Project participation.
Transportation: Public bus back from Villa Salvacion to Cusco (private option as an additional service -not included in the original price), Transfer from bus station to hotel in Cusco.
Included Meals: Breakfast – Snack
You will be supporting community-based tourism in a remote area, while raising environmental awareness and promoting cultural empathy, in one of the most diverse places on the planet, enjoying a wellness experience and interacting with native communities that seek alternative and additional ways of subsistence in tourism.
Moreover, we…
I was born in Cusco, and from a very young age, I was taken to the jungle of Manu, where I learned to connect with and respect nature. On some occasions accompanying my father on his trips to the native communities, I learned how the villagers live in harmony with the forest, they do not realize it, but they have a deep connection with the jungle, which we outsiders would like to have.
When you understand how important it is to take care of and conserve nature, you want to share this feeling and what better way to do it than by doing tourism. What motivates me is to share what you have lived and know about the rainforest.
Since 2012, I am with Impactful Travel (formerly known as RESPONSible Travel Peru) because they live and feel that tourism is a way by which we can make development while conserving and sharing with visitors. I like to be part of this Impactful tribe.
As you will not be hiking for hours, this tour is not very demanding, However, please keep in mind that the weather conditions in the jungle are not what most of us are used to: it gets hot, very humid and mosquitos love it here. So, don´t forget to stay hydrated, wear a hat or a cap and use insect repellent. Feel free to have a look at our general packing list for the jungle as well.
The Posada Amazonas Lodge offers you wifi, a lobby bar, a massage service and a small souvenir shop. The accommodation includes different suites with a private bathroom and an open window facing the forest. When you proceed to the booking of this tour, you will see a small description of each room and can choose what suits you best.
No, you won´t be surprised by any additional entrance fees to pay!
No vaccination is obligatory for you to participate in this tour. However, the Yellow Fever vaccine is highly recommended to travel to the Amazon region. We also suggest you see your doctor before coming here and talk to him about what he recommends to you.
This is a private tour that makes eventual use of public transportation
Your luggage is hand-carried at various stages in the trip for a long distance. We strongly recommend you limit your weight to 15 kilos (33 pounds apiece). You can leave your large luggage in our office at Puerto Maldonado. If you are visiting other destinations in Peru or South America that require different kinds of clothing, you can always pack separate bags and safely leave them at our offices in Puerto Maldonado on the first day so we won’t be carrying them around uselessly. Your bag will be waiting for you at the airport the day you leave.
For questions about booking a tour, prices, preparation for your trip, health and safety or other themes, please check our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you can’t find your question & answer, email us and we’ll add it!
