Detailed Tour Plan

Day 1 – Cusco → Cloud Forest → Pona Lodge

Early morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco.

Travel by private van along the Andean highland road toward Paucartambo, passing impressive landscapes and small highland communities.

Stop at the colonial village of Paucartambo for breakfast.

Continue toward the entrance of the Manu Biosphere Reserve, reaching the Acjanaco Mountain Pass (3,550 m), with panoramic views of the eastern Andes and the Amazon rainforest canopy.

Descend into the Manu Cloud Forest, observing the transition from puna grasslands to lush cloud forest ecosystems.

Guided roadside walk to search for wildlife, including Golden-headed Quetzal, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Amazonian Umbrellabird, trogons, Blue-banded Toucanet, tanagers, euphonias, and monkeys such as gray woolly monkeys and large-headed capuchin monkeys.

Picnic lunch along the Manu Road.

Arrival at Pona Lodge in the late afternoon.

Dinner at the lodge.

Optional night walk to observe nocturnal wildlife such as night monkeys, pacas, frogs, insects, and other rainforest creatures.

Day 2 – Pona Lodge → Atalaya River Port → Manu River → Casa Matsiguenka Lodge

Very early morning departure to reach Atalaya River Port at sunrise.

Breakfast served onboard.

Navigate downstream along the Madre de Dios River and continue toward the Manu River (approximately 5 hours).

Stop at Limonal Ranger Station to register and enter the Reserved Zone of Manu National Park.

Lunch served onboard.

Continue navigating throughout the day, observing wildlife along the riverbanks and surrounding forest. Possible sightings include side-necked river turtles, black and white caimans, birds such as neotropic cormorants, great egrets, kingfishers, and mammals including monkeys, capybaras, tapirs, and—if lucky—the jaguar.

Arrival at Casa Matsiguenka Lodge in the late afternoon.

Dinner at the lodge.

Evening guided walk along forest trails to look for nocturnal animals and insects.

Day 3 – Casa Matsiguenka Lodge → Salvador Oxbow Lake → Otorongo Oxbow Lake

Very early morning departure to visit Salvador Oxbow Lake.

Quiet paddling by catamaran offers excellent chances to observe the famous giant river otter family, black caimans, and rare birds such as hoatzins, agami herons, and white-throated toucans, as well as several monkey species.

Return to the lodge for breakfast.

Breakfast at Casa Matsiguenka Lodge.

After breakfast, take a guided hike of approximately 1.5 hours through the rainforest, searching for wildlife such as peccaries, deer, anteaters, and monkeys—including the rare Monk Saki monkey. Visit a small macaw clay lick frequented by red-and-green macaws.

Lunch at Casa Matsiguenka Lodge.

In the afternoon, navigate downstream along the Manu River to visit Otorongo Oxbow Lake.

Climb a viewing tower to enjoy panoramic views of the lake and observe wildlife from above.

Walk along forest trails back to the river and return to Casa Matsiguenka Lodge by boat, with another chance to spot a jaguar along the riverbanks.

Dinner at the lodge.

Day 4 – Casa Matsiguenka Lodge → Boca Manu → Dorado Eco Lodge

Early morning departure from Casa Matsiguenka Lodge, navigating downstream along the Manu River for final opportunities to observe undisturbed rainforest wildlife.

Breakfast served onboard.

Stop at Limonal Ranger Station to sign out of the Manu National Park.

Continue navigating to the confluence of the Manu and Madre de Dios Rivers, then proceed downstream to Boca Manu Village.

Brief visit to observe the traditional artisanal construction of wooden boats, the main economic activity of the village.

Lunch served onboard.

After lunch, navigate upstream along the Madre de Dios River for approximately three hours to reach Dorado Eco Lodge.

Time to relax, swim in the river, or enjoy the sunset by a riverside campfire.

Dinner at Dorado Eco Lodge.

Optional night walk to observe nocturnal insects and amphibians, with a visit to a camouflage shelter for a chance to spot a Brazilian tapir.

Day 5 – Dorado Eco Lodge → Cloud Forest → Cusco

Breakfast at Dorado Eco Lodge.

After breakfast, travel by boat upstream along the Madre de Dios River, searching for wildlife such as capybaras, red brocket deer, birds, and—if lucky—giant anteaters or jaguars navigating upstream for approximately five hours to Atalaya River Port.

Return to Cusco by minivan, traveling through the Manu Cloud Forest.

Picnic lunch along the Manu Road.

Opportunities for short walks along the road to look for monkeys and birds such as Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, tanagers, quetzals, trogons, and many other bird species.

Arrival in Cusco in the late afternoon.