Tour to Manu: The Pioneer 4D / 3N

Itinerary of the Manu Tour: The Pioneer 

Day 1: Cusco – Manu Cloud Forest – Jungle Picnic – Lodge

After having breakfast at your hotel, we will pick you up in tourist transport to begin the journey from the Andes toward the Manu jungle. Along the way, we will make several stops to enjoy nature and the stunning scenery. The itinerary is carefully designed to offer you a variety of exciting activities. 

You will begin with a visit to the bakery town of Oropesa, where you can taste the traditional “Pan Chuta.” 

Next, head towards Huacarpay Lagoon, an ideal spot for observing endemic hummingbirds and water birds. During the trip, you will have the opportunity to explore small Andean villages and an ancient pre-Incan necropolis called chullpas. As you descend into the captivating cloud forest, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley.

Upon arriving in Paucartambo, an important crossroads of Inca trade routes, take a break and immerse yourself in the local culture at the museum, where you will learn about traditional dances, festival celebrations, and the use of forest biodiversity. 

Continue on to Acjanaco (3,500 m). If the weather permits, you will be able to admire a natural landscape among the clouds. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Pachayoc, near a large waterfall, before continuing to your lodge for your overnight stay.

Day 2: Manu Cloud Forest – Lodge

An early morning tour of the cloud forest will take you to see one of its main attractions: the Cock of the Rock, the national bird of Peru. Don’t miss its fascinating dance!

After breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye to the lodge and begin the journey deeper into the forest. Along the way, you will enjoy the local wildlife, such as monkeys, various bird species, and the spectacled bear. You will visit a coca plantation, where you will learn about its medicinal properties. After a brief stop at Pillcopata, you will walk to La Capilla – Aguanos, where you will take a motorized canoe for a ten-minute ride on the Alto Madre de Dios River, one of the tributaries of the Amazon River.

Finally, you will arrive at the lodge located next to Manu National Park, where you will spend the next two nights. You will be shown around the lodge before lunch.

In the afternoon, you can explore the nearby trails with the naturalist guides or relax at the lodge, enjoying the sounds of the forest.

During your stay at this beautiful lodge, which also serves as a research center, you will have the opportunity to learn about the human history of Manu and the efforts to preserve this fragile environment by speaking with the guides and researchers. Alternatively, you can simply relax with a drink and enjoy the sunset over the Amazon.

Day 3: Macaw and Parrot Clay Lick – Trail – Machuhuasi Lake Trip

Today, you will participate in monitoring the clay lick (an area of clay), where species such as parrots and the endangered Blue-headed Macaw are studied. You will take a boat trip early in the morning to observe the activity of the birds. As dawn breaks, you will be able to admire their vibrant colors as they gather on the clay walls. We recommend bringing binoculars to enjoy this activity even more.

On your way back for breakfast, you will explore a bio-garden, part of the center’s sustainable project, which also supplies food to the lodge’s kitchen. Next, you will pass through various types of forest, encountering squirrel monkeys, hummingbirds, and razor-billed curassows.

In the afternoon, you can explore at your own pace or join the specialist guides to explore the 25 km of rainforest trails. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can visit the nearby Machuhuasi Lake, where you will have the opportunity to paddle in a wooden raft. Return to the lodge in the afternoon and relax with a drink while enjoying the landscape.

After dinner, if you wish, you can walk to the mammal hide to observe the local wildlife, hopefully spotting some of the larger species that inhabit the surrounding area.

Day 4: Lodge – Cusco

After breakfast, you will take the boat back to Aguanos, where, after a short walk, you will board your transport for the journey back to Cusco. The landscape will change dramatically as you climb up through the cloud forest towards the Andes and then descend into Cusco. On the way, you will enjoy a box lunch. 

Your guide will drop you off at your hotel, concluding your adventure, but you will take home unforgettable memories of Manu.

You will arrive at your hotel around 7 pm, just in time for dinner.

On this return you can plan a next trip with Guru Explorers. Where do you want to go next?

Important Note: The activities in the itinerary are referential and may be subject to changes depending on weather conditions.

Price of the Manu Tour includes: 

• Accommodation in a double room. If traveling alone and wishing for a private room, an additional charge for exclusivity will apply. Otherwise, you will share the room with a person of the same gender.
• Round-trip transportation to Cusco
• Scheduled excursions (Spanish and English) Including 1 night walk.
• Limited electricity from 7 pm to 9 pm
• Purified water. Other beverages are available at an additional cost
• Meals with local ingredients. (lunch and dinner on day 1, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on day 2, lunch and dinner on day 3, breakfast and lunch on day 4). Depending on the day, the lunch may be a box lunch. 
• Rubber boots (only available in sizes smaller than 45 EU or 11 US)

Price of the Manu Tour excludes:

• Optional activities or those not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Alcoholic beverages, juices, or sodas.
• Personal expenses.
• Additional services.
• Wi-Fi. Only on certain days, during available electricity hours, the router is activated, but the browsing speed is very limited and unstable.
• Permanent electricity: The lodge has limited electricity. Electricity hours are from 7 pm to 9 pm.
• Heating or air conditioning.
• Travel insurance.

What to Bring to the Manu Tour?

• A backpack no larger than 35 liters to pack your personal items. You can leave excess luggage at our offices in Cusco.
• Clothing that protects from the sun and insects, with long sleeves made of thin, breathable fabric.
• Thin cotton socks, preferably darker in color.
• If your shoe size is 45 EU or 11 US or larger, you must bring your own rubber boots.
• Rain poncho (avoid bright colors to not scare away animals during observation activities).
• A flashlight for the night walks, we recommend a headlamp for added comfort.
• Refillable water bottle.
• Binoculars.
• Hat.
• Bandana for the face.
• Insect repellent and sunscreen.
• Warm and comfortable clothing.
• We recommend wearing shoes that you can easily take off. Inside the lodge facilities, we avoid wearing shoes to prevent mud from being brought inside.
• Cash for personal expenses (local currency).
• Travel insurance.
• Passport or ID.

What considerations should you have when doing the Manu Tour, The Pioneer?

• What is the difference between the Manu El Aventurero 4D/3N Tour and the Manu El Pionero 4D/3N Tour? The main difference between both tour lies in the accommodation, meals, and activities:
  • The Manu El Aventurero Tour offers standard meals, similar to those consumed by the lodge’s volunteers and researchers, and the activities are primarily focused on the lodge’s surroundings, without the need for additional accommodation. 
  • On the other hand, the Manu El Pionero Tour provides more sophisticated meals, with an exclusive menu designed for tourists. This tour also stands out due to the accommodation in two different locations, including one night at a lodge in the cloud forest on the first day, offering the advantage of being able to enjoy a more complete birdwatching activity the following morning. This allows guests to take advantage of the early hours of the day when bird activity is at its peak, offering a richer and more diverse wildlife experience.
• Although it can rain throughout the year in the region, we recommend visiting during the drier months (April to October). This increases the chances that all activities can take place as planned and that access to different areas remains open.
• All guided excursions are shared with other tourists of different ages and nationalities.
• The US Travel Advisory for Peru usually recommends vaccinations for yellow fever and malaria prevention for tourists traveling to the jungle region. Please consult your doctor before traveling to the Amazon Basin. No cases of yellow fever or malaria have been reported at the lodge.
• The climate is tropical, with an average temperature of 32°C (89°F), ranging from 25°C (77°F) to 42°C (107°F). The summer season is between December and March, with frequent rain in the afternoon. Between June and September, you may need warmer clothing due to occasional cold fronts (“friajes”) from Patagonia that can drop the temperature to 10°C (50°F). Therefore, it is recommended to wear cotton clothes to counter the heat during the day and bring warm sweaters and jackets for the night, as the cabins and rooms are not airtight and allow external temperatures to enter.
• Guru Explorers values your time and strives to respect the tour schedule; however, the timing may vary due to factors beyond our control (weather, natural disasters, field conditions, among other demonstrable reasons). We will do our best to provide efficient options and solutions for your enjoyment.
• Remember that, since these are outdoor activities, the natural features of the landscape may vary depending on weather conditions and the natural daylight. Each visit is an authentic experience, where nature reveals itself in unique and unrepeatable ways.
• The lodge and the included activities are located in the Reserved Zone of the Manu Biosphere. To enter the Manu National Park, please refer to our itineraries of 8 days or more.
• Wildlife sightings in their natural habitat cannot be guaranteed, but each outing into the jungle offers the opportunity for authentic and unique experiences in contact with nature.

Not allowed:

• Pets
• Smoking
• Large suitcases or bags

According to Peruvian regulations, foreign tourists may be exempt from the local tax IGV (VAT). As a formal and registered travel agency, we are required to submit to the local authorities a copy of the document you used to enter the country, as well as your date of entry.

For this reason, a few days before your tour, we will contact you to request a photo of that document and ask you to let us know the date you entered Peru. If we do not receive this information, we will be required to add the 18% corresponding to the IGV tax. 

Thank you for your cooperation!

Cancellation policy:

• NO SHOW: Any cancellation of reservations after the FINAL PAYMENT is considered a NO-SHOW.

• Early departure from the hotel, unused meals or excursions, reductions, or any other unutilized services that were reconfirmed or paid for are non-refundable and are considered consumed services. We recommend that our customers have travel cancellation insurance in case of emergencies, illness, logistical issues, or other unforeseen circumstances.

• All guests must present their original passport and Andean Migration Card upon arrival at the lodge for the corresponding photocopies to be taken. Photocopies of the passport will not be accepted due to current legal regulations. If a guest does not have the documentation to justify the exemption from the VAT (IGV), or if their stay in the country exceeds 60 days from their arrival, the corresponding VAT will be charged directly to the traveler.