Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone 5D/4N
- Availability: Available now
- Group size: 2-10
- Tour Type: Peruvian jungle trip in Manu
- Max. Elevation: 3770 meters above sea level
Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone 5D/4N
550 USD Per person
Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone 5D/4N
This marvelous Manu cultural zone tour allows you to see a huge range of small mammals, insects, birds and plants. Explore one of the top 5 most diverse national parks on the planet.
The Manu National Park is a protected natural space; located in the southeast of Peru. Partially located in the departments of Madre de Dios and Cusco; in the provinces of Paucartambo and Manu.
If Machu Picchu is the jewel in the crown of the Andean country in terms of Inca culture, Manu National Park is number one in the category of jungle and wild nature. It is a magical place, isolated and one of the last bastions of this fragile ecosystem that still remains practically intact.
The Manu Biosphere Reserve is divided into several areas that should be understood so as not to lead to misunderstandings. These are the Manu National Park and the Manu Cultural Zone.
Manu National Park is the largest area with 100% protection and in turn it is also divided into two more zones.
*The intangible zone is where the “uncontacted” tribes live in voluntary isolation and where one of the world renowned biological stations, called Cocha Cashu, is located. As a tourist you are not allowed to access this area since it is dedicated only to research and a special permit is required. It is located from the Pakitza checkpoint, from the Manu river and from the left bank onwards from the Alto Madre de Dios river.
**The reserved area or buffer zone where tourism has access only through the 8 agencies that have special permission. It goes from the confluence of the Alto Madre de Dios and Manu rivers, called Boca Manu to the Pakitza checkpoint.
***Manu cultural zone, it is located on the right bank of the Alto Madre de Dios and some of its tributaries. Matsiguenka communities live here and the level of protection is not as high as in the National Park área.
Highlights of our Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone
*In order to provide you a fantastic wildlife experience. We locate our lodges in the best spots; and where there are more chances to see a lot of wildlife.
*Our tour is in the marvelous Manu Cultural Zone, however we will locate our lodges as close as possible to the Reserved Zone.
*We design very well and plan in detail this jungle trip; so you see, the best bits of the Manu Cultural Zone in only 5-days.
*We have very well educated guides who are passionate about their work and nature.
*We have very well educated guides who are passionate about their work and nature.
*All our food is served as buffet.
*Because we going to be in the Amazon jungle; we will surprise you with delicious typical dishes from this region.
* We include, telescope equipment; and books to facilitate the sighting of animals and birds.
*Be part of our social and environmental projects.
*We prepare food for our tourists and team with 100% organic vegetables purchased from local producers.
Trip overview of our Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone
- Trek Type: Connection with nature. Wildlife observation. Typical jungle food and walks in the jungle
- Good for: Those in moderate shape or better
- Difficulty: Moderate to difficult. You need to understand that it is not about comfort; but in exchange you get to leave everything behind and live an amazing experience in the Amazon jungle.
- Consideration: There is not hot showers in most of the lodges; we’ll be in the jungle where temperatures are around 35 °C. And shower water is not cold. In the lodges electricity is only two to three hours; and it is usually at night. (basic accomodation but clean). Always keep in mind, that you are going to the jungle; and you will be in direct contact with many types of insects (thick presence of mosquitoes) and animals. The weather is hot and humid. The paths are usually muddy, due the humidity of the amazon forest; and to see animals we need a little bit of luck and to keep our eyes up. The short night walks; are done every day. Because every night there is a great possibility; to see a different animal species.
In addition to all of the above, we have a unique itinerary of just 4 days; that will take you into the depths of the Manu National Park. Which is one of the most biodiverse places in the world; and least explored by tourists due to its remoteness. Keep in mind that there are many hours; where we will be sitting in the car or on the boat observing wildlife.
Remember also, that our tour will be in the Manu Cultural Zone; where the probability of sighting large mammals: is much lower than in the Reserved Zone. However the lodges that we will use, they will be as close as possible to the beginning of the Reserved Zone.
- Season: April to Octuber
DAY 01. Cusco – Atalaya – Papaya Lodge.
- Activities: Hike in a primary forest; and observe different species of wildlife. Let’s see giant old trees. We will also do; piranha fishing.
- Lodge altitude: 689 meters above sea level.
- Considered: Cold shower; something that doesn’t matter in the tropics. Only 2 hours of light.
- Weather: Warm, humid and with mosquito.
This Marvelous Manu cultural zone tour will star with your IncaGo Expeditions tour guide pick you up from your hotel at 5:00 in the morning. You will be driven for 6 hours to Atalaya port, which is the beginning point of the Amazonian plain and the Alto Madre de Dios river. Along the way, your tour guide will make several stops. The first stop will be after 1 hour and 20 minutes to visit the pre-Inca tombs of Ninamarka, perched on the summit of a hill.
Then it takes 1 more hours to get the Ajanacu pass located at 3700 meters. This points marks officially the starting border of the Manu National Park. Here your tour guide will explain you amply about the park and also you’ll have a delicious buffet breakfast, prepared by our expert cook. After riding the car for 40 more minutes, you will get out from the car to walk down the road with your guide and so spot Manu birds that lives in the cloud forest. Among the birds you can see they are: the Andean motmot, the grey Andean toucan, the masked trogon and the Andean guan. You also are able to see monkeys and small mammals. Then you will drive for 1 hour and 30 minutes to Atalaya, where you will have lunch in front of the Alto Madre de Dios river.
After lunch, you’ll be ridden in a motor boat for three hours to the lodge; along the way you can spot: Neotropical cormorants, vultures, hoatzins, kingfishers and maybe capybaras. After taking a refreshing shower and resting for a bit, you’ll explore a primary forest, looking for night monkeys, owls, frogs, snakes and tarantulas. At night you’ll enjoy a charming tea time and a delicious buffet dinner, while your guide tale fantastic Amazonian stories.
** This marvelous Manu cultural zone tour, starts showing you bits of its magical cloud forest and its night animals.
DAY 02. Papaya Lodge – Animals and Trees Observation.
- Activities: Machuwasi oxbow lake, night excursión at the lake
- Lodge altitude: 500 meters above sea level
- Considered: 4 hours drive
- Weather: hot and humid with mosquitoes
To start this Peruvian Manu Jungle Trip, your tour guide comes to your room with a fresh juice. Then you head into the forest, looking for scarlet and Bolivian macaws, parrots and parakeets. You can also spot monkeys, peccaries, toucans, herons, bush turkeys and tanagers. Then you will return to lodge a nutritious buffet breakfast. After breakfast you will walk inside a primary forest crowded with kapok trees, Brazilian chestnut trees and medicinal plants. Your tour guide also will teach you about the importance of these trees for the local economy.
Then you will come back to the lodge for a rewarding buffet lunch, take a shower and have a well-deserved rest. In the afternoon you’ll visit a small oxbow lake to spot medium sized caimans and fish piranhas. After a having dinner, you’ll hike for 20 minutes to a hidden wooden tower to spend the night. This wood tower is strategically located only 5 meters away from a mammal clay lick. With luck you can observe peccaries, capybaras and tapirs.
** Amazing day in the Manu Peruvian jungle to spot caimans and mammals.
DAY 3. Papaya Lodge – Mammal Clay Lick – Shipetairi Tribe.
- Activities: A lot of observation of animals; we have not seen yet. Visit to the Shipetairi community; to learn about their lifestyle and traditions.
- Lodge altitude: 689 meters above sea level.
- Considered: We need patience, good weather and a little luck to see wildlife.
- Weather: Warm, humid and with mosquito.
Today you will wake up before dawn, to observe different types of mammals coming to the clay lick, these animals may be: tapirs, peccaries, wild dogs, anteaters and perhaps their predators. Then you hike back to the lodge to have a nutritious buffet breakfast. After some free time to take a shower and a bit of rest, you’ll hike for two hours to the Shipetiari community. Along this trail you can also see different types of birds and monkeys. Upon your arrival to the community you’ll be welcomed by native dancers. In this community you will learn about their lifestyle and also you will interact with them learning how to make arrows, bows and hunting.
Around mid-day you enjoy a delicious typical Shipetiari lunch, this lunch usually consists in boiled cassava, fried or steamed fish with a native ingredient salad. They will also teach you about their way of life, and how to make Masato, which is the most typical Amazonian beer made of cassava. Continuing with the marvelous Manu Amazonian tour, in the afternoon you´ll hike back for 2 hours to the lodge to have dinner. Today let’s also do a short night hike to observe owls, tarantulas and snakes. Tonight you’ll also sleep in the hidden wood tower to have a second chance to observe mammals.
** The highlight of the day in the Manu Trip is the spotting of mammals and the visit to the Shipetiari community.
DAY 4: Mammal Clay Lick – Atalaya.
- Activities: Observation of animals in a mammal clay lick; from a hidden wood tower. We´ll hike inside the forest looking for wildlife.
- Lodge altitude: 689 meters above sea level
- Considered: We ride a motor boat; for three hours. We’ll sleep in a lodge located; in the community of Atalaya.
- Weather: Warm, humid and with mosquito.
This morning you will have again another wonderful chance to see big mammals. You will come back to the lodge to delight a delicious and nutritious buffet breakfast. After recharging energies for this amazing Peruvian jungle tour in the Manu National park, you will hike deep in the forest, looking for birds, monkeys, psychedelic and medicinal shrub. Your tour guide will share with you interesting facts about the importance of the medicinal and psychedelic plants in the Peruvian amazon jungle.
Then you return for having a nutritious and varied lunch. After resting for a bit, taking a shower and getting ready your belongings, you’ll hike for 45 minutes to the river bank to ride a motor boat, for three hours to Atalaya port. Upon arrival there, you hike 10 minutes to the next lodge. At night you can coordinate with your tour guide to explore the area and so observe insects, frogs and snakes in a different Manu spot.
** Last day to observe and be surprised by the creatures of the marvelous Manu cultural zone tour.
DAY 5: Atalaya – Parrot Clay Lick – Cock of the Rock Lek.
- Activities: Observation of parrots, parakeets and macaws: from a clay lick. We´ll visit an animal rescue center. You´ll hike for 40 minutes to observe a fantastic dancing show; performed by cocks of the rocks.
- Lodge altitude: 689 meters above sea level.
- Considered: We´ll be driven; for seven hours to Cusco. We arrive there; around 21:00 pm.
- Weather: Warm, humid and with mosquito on the first leg; and cold in the second leg.
You will wake up very early in the morning to ride a motor boat for 30 minutes to a parrot clay lick in the Alto Madre de Dios river. You will use binoculars to observe an explosion of colors in front of you. Then you will come back to the lodge to get ready your luggage and to have a yummy buffet breakfast. After you’ll visit Dos Loritos animal rescue center, where you’ll observed: scarlet and Bolivian macaws, toucans, monkeys, capybaras, turtles, small caimans and peccaries.
Around 11 in the morning you’ll be driven for three hours to San pedro, which is an area located, in the cloud forest. Over there you will have a nutritious outdoor buffet lunch. Then you hike for 40 minutes to a LEK. It is a special spot in the forest to observe an amazing dancing show performed by cocks of the rocks (The peru’s national bird). Finalizing with the marvelous Manu Peruvian Amazon trip, you’ll be driven for 4 hours to Cusco, where you arrive around 21:00 pm.
** Our service to the Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone is door to door.
Included on the Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone
Professional local english speaker Guides: all our super tour guides grew up in Madre de Dios region and studied tourism for five years at university, they are friendly, funny charming, knowledgeable, professional and will care your safety into our manu jungle trip.
Permits: As soon as we get your details and deposit, we will purchase your permits for the manu jungle trip..
Briefing: The night before your trip, you will come to our office for your informative meeting; you will receive your duffle bag to you bring essential items for this manu jungle trip.
Lodge: This manu jungle trip includes three night in basic lodges in Manu National Park; the lodge we book will be listed on your invoice. Be aware that there is not hot showers in the lodge and electricity just works for two hours at night if you want charge any device.
Transportation: Incas Path will be providing all transportation for this manu jungle trip. You will be picked up from your hotel at 5 am and brought to the peruvian amazon jungle; we also include all boat and car transportation that we will need on this 4 day jungle trip.
Food: Our manu jungle trip.includes expert chefs who will cook delicious meals that many previous tourist have loved. We honor all food restrictions, so be sure to add any that you have on your booking form and let us know. Food is typically all served as buffet.
Water: From the first lunch to the end of our manu jungle trip.we include water. You must bring personal water bottles and or a camelback, we advice you to bring a bottle or camelback of 1.5 litters, as being well hydrated is the key to feeling great in the amazon jungle.
Details: we profess that it is the attention to small details that separates us from other travel agencies. Each tourist receives wellington boots
First Aid: Every guide has got training in first aid from a clinic and firemen. We elaborate mandatory training sessions every February on the Manu National Park, which every Incas Path tour guide must attend. Your tour leader is going to have always a first-aid kit for basic medical problems.
Not Included on the Marvelous Manu Cultural Zone
Due to the remote location of the Manu National Park and the lodges some ítems listed below are not included:
- Daypack: We suggest you to use a daypack that not exceed 25L to carry passport, water, sunhat, sunglasses, suncream, bug spray and a rain jacket
- Binocular
- Hot Shower
- Electricity
- Snacks
- Flight tickets or bus tickets
- Gratuities for our staff: Incas Path ensures all staff are fairly paid and therefore gratuities are optional and at your own discretion
- Travel Insurance: Highly recommended for all tourist
Prices
We would love to tour this manu jungle trip with you and your loved ones and take care of immortalizing your visit to the peruvian jungle. We can leave any day from April to Octuber as it is the dry season in the Manu National Park
Group Price (2020):
- $400 per person
Private Tour:
Private tours are available and priced by party size.
- 2 Tourist: $980 per person
3 Tourist: $925 per person
4 Tourist: $870 per person
5 Tourist: $815 per person
6 Tourist: $760 per person
7 Tourist: $705 per person
8 or more Tourist: $650 per person
Please send everything to info@cuscodigital.com
Packing list
We suggest you to carry lightweight daypack that the is key to feeling good during this manu jungle trip.
Essentials:
- Original Passport,
- Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
- Bug spray; 100 DEET
- Good daypack
- Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelbaks are encouraged – but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
- Comfortable hiking shoes (lightweight with good soles)
** we provide wellington boots
For Your Duffel: we will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items
- 04 long-sleeved shirts: (al least for the days you will be in the excursion and avoid black colors as they atract easily the flyes and mosquitoes)
- 03 tank top, for the nights as there is not air conditiong but there is mosquito nets in the beds.
- 02 quick dry full-length pants
- 05 Socks: you should have comfortable hiking style socks that are mid to long length.
- Sunhat
- Rain jacket and plastic poncho
- Fleece
- Rain jacket
- Camera
- Power bank
- Headlamp
- Binoculars
- Swimming suit
- Flip flops or sandals
- Music (IPhone)
- Handsanitizer
- Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
- Personal medication
- Sunscreen
- Face Wipes: the humidity will cause you to sweat
- Deodorant, you will use more than normal due to the sweat
- ziplocks or resealable plastic storage bags
- Anti-Itch Cream
Journey Info
Arriving to Cusco
The airport in Cusco at the present time is only for domestic flights, so all international travelers by plane must disembark in Lima and go through Customs. Even if your flight to Cusco is the same day by the same airline carrier, you must grab your bags in Lima and then check them back in.
The best way to arrive to Cusco is by air and there are several options in airlines. LATAM tends to be the most expensive, but has the most options and flights.
Expect delays or flight cancellations; due to the high altitude of the andes, it tends to be difficult to land and any weather inconvenience will stop air traffic.
Bus travel is always available and while the trip can be long, especially from Lima, the buses company such as Cruz del Sur or Oltursa are very well maintained and comfortable; this option is strongly encouraged if coming from a city closer to Cusco like Arequipa or Puno.
Luggage Storage
Any extra luggage you have with you, can be left safely in Cusco at either your hotel or with us at the Incas Path deposit while you enjoy your tour: We will grab the extra luggage from you the morning of your tour and return once you are back in Cusco.
Make sure your suitcase have some kind of identification on them so they are easy to locate.
Weather
Of course weather is unpredictable. Typically the dry season in the Manu National Park is from April through October, but this does not stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December, just be prepared; no matter what month you are doing the manu jungle trip, please make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants and plastic ponchos.
Travel Insurance
To protect your journey investment, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance; acquiring travel insurance before you leave home, is strongly encouraged and very easy.
These are the most used vaccines to travel to the Jungle
In this post we cite the vaccines to travel to the Peruvian jungle, according to the activity that the traveler will perform in these jungle areas. In addition, the information was consulted from important sources such as the websites of the Ministry of Health of Peru and also of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States. Keep informing yourself!
Although at the Jorge Chavez Airport you will not be asked about your vaccination status; in some countries they do require a vaccination certificate, therefore it is better to be prevented and to inform yourself in the authorized International Vaccination Center of your country about what you should apply before traveling.
Remember that vaccines avoid possible infectious problems during the trip and also to keep your immunizations up to date.
What animal could infect it in the jungle?
Well, mosquitoes are the bearers of the fearsome diseases causing deaths on the planet. We are talking about insect bites infected with Malaria, Yellow Fever and even Dengue.
It is probably the most dangerous animal in the Amazon rainforest, even more so than piranhas, anacondas or fierce jaguars.
Without vaccination even the bite of an infected mosquito could ruin your vacation.
What do the authorities tell us about getting vaccinated?
According to the website of the Ministry of Health of Peru (MINSA), the risks of contracting Malaria is latent in many areas of Peru, with the exception of the departments of Arequipa, Moquegua, Puno, Tacna and Lima in its surroundings, nor in the coastal area South of Lima, also in the high tourist areas: Cuzco, Machu Pichu and Lake Titicaca. Likewise, Puerto Maldonado and the Manu National Park and other endemic geographical areas of Peru are mentioned as a risk zone.
If you travel to the Peruvian jungle it is better to consult the doctor who keeps your health history, at least 4 weeks before making the trip. So that the doctor explains you about the type of vaccine that you should apply and with enough anticipation for them to take effect in the body.
In the case of the Peruvian Ministry of Health, the Yellow Fever vaccine and Malaria prophylaxis in risk areas is recommended.
On the other hand, on the website of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (or CDC), it recommends to travelers that they will visit Peru, some important vaccines depending on particular cases.
For example, considering the type of tourism to be made, travel time or direct contact with animals or people due to visits for study or scientific purposes.
These are the vaccines to travel to the marvelous Manu cultural zone
Under this order of ideas, these are the vaccines referred by the CDC:
Hepatitis A: Vaccination is recommended to all travelers to Peru.
Hepatitis B: Vaccination is recommended to all people traveling to Peru, especially those who may have exposure to blood or body fluids through the granting or receipt of medical care, drug injections, tattoos or sexual contact with the local population.
Typhoid Fever: Vaccination is recommended to all visitors to tropical areas of South America. Especially for those who remain in rural areas where exposure could occur due to the consumption of contaminated food or water.
Yellow Fever: The vaccine against this viral infection is highly recommended for trips to the Amazon and the southern Amazon basin. The vaccination should be administered at least 10 days before your arrival and at 10-year intervals, if you decide to stay.
Rabies: Vaccination is only recommended for individuals with a higher risk of exposure in the performance of their work, which often develops for prolonged periods in areas considered high risk for this disease.
Let us mention the case of veterinarians or wildlife researchers, whose occupation requires them to have direct contact with bats, dogs, stray cats, or other mammals.
Where to get vaccinated in Lima?
The International Vaccination Center, located in the city of Lima, Avenida del ejército, block 17, San Isidro district.
