4-Day Manu Jungle Exploration from Cusco with clay lick and homestay

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Journey through highland forest, cloud forest, rainforest, and lowland forest
• 02 Discover the ancient Wari burial towers of Ninamarca near Paucartambo
• 03 Cruise the Manu River with chances to spot monkeys, birds, and other wildlife
• 04 Visit a macaw and parrot clay lick deep in the jungle
• 05 Stay in jungle lodges and a native family guest house for a closer look at local life

Embark on a breathtaking 4-day journey into the heart of the Peruvian jungle. Discover ancient Wari ruins at Ninamarca, enjoy traditional Andean breakfasts, and explore the colonial charm of Paucartambo. Travel deep into Manu through highland forest, cloud forest, rainforest, and lowland forest, with chances to spot exotic birds, monkeys, waterfalls, and other wildlife along the way. Cruise the Manu River, visit a macaw and parrot clay lick, and experience jungle life with stays in lodges and a native family guest house before returning to Cusco.

We will get up early to the sounds of birds or howler monkeys.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Cusco, Manú National Park

Languages English, French, Italian

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Cusco to Ninamarca and the Manu Road

• You will be picked up from your hotel, and the tour will start at 5:30 am.
• Once everyone has gathered, we will go by car to our first stop for a few minutes to learn about the bread-making process and have time to try coffee and a typical tamal made from corn.
• We will continue to our first main stop at the Ninamarca burial towers near the Colquepata district, close to Paucartambo Village. Ninamarca was built by the Wari culture before the Incas and is a unique place among the vast archaeological sites in Cusco.
• Breakfast will be in Paucartambo Village, where we might get to know a bit about the village, visit the local market, see the Spanish-style houses, the small plaza, and the church, and enjoy breakfast in a local house with a private collection of potatoes.
• We continue along the Manu Road, trying to spot exotic birds, spectacled bears, woolly monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and maybe even some roadside snakes.
• At 5:30 pm, we will arrive for our first night at Bambú Lodge, close to Patria Village.
• Optional night walk before dinner. Dinner at 7:45 pm.

2

Day 02

Patria Village, Atalaya Port, and Manu River

• We will get up early to the sounds of birds or howler monkeys.
• After breakfast, we continue by car to visit the local market in Patria Village, where we might learn more about the area. Our stop for watching hummingbirds will be at Pico de Oz or at the Inkaamazonia research center.
• We will explore the area looking for birds, monkeys, toucans, or sloths. Continuing by car, we will pass through amazing landscapes and finally arrive at Atalaya river port, where we will change transport and continue by boat.
• There will be time to buy anything extra at a local store.
• We continue for about 2 hours and 30 minutes by boat along the Manu River, expecting to see wild animals.
• We arrive at the local guest house of a native family, where we might hike up the mountain to see a beautiful waterfall, with optional swimming. We return the same way and then enjoy a comfortable natural hot swimming pool. Dinner.

3

Day 03

Clay Lick, Machuhuasi Oxbow Lake, and Jungle Lodge

• Early in the morning, after breakfast, we will go to the macaw and parrot clay lick.
• We return to our homestay to pick up our belongings and head back to our last lodge, Manu Ecomanu Lodge. Before that, we will walk into the jungle, exploring the surroundings of the Machuhuasi oxbow lake.
• We then continue to the lodge, get to know our rooms and facilities, and, before dinner, meet in the living room to try making chocolate by hand and learn more about it.
• This is followed by a night walk. Dinner.

4

Day 04

Return to Cusco

• After breakfast, we head back to Cusco.
• Along the way, there are chances to stop at other places, such as two parrot rescue centers and a local juice store.
• We return to Cusco around 7 pm.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Private transportation
• Professional chef
• Official bilingual tour guide
• First aid kit
• Telescope
• Snacks
• Meals
• All tours previously detailed
• Entrance fee to the park

What's Not Included

• Rain ponchos or rain boots
• Extra tours

What to bring

• A pair of binoculars
• Rain gear
• Clothing appropriate for jungle tours
• Hats or caps
• Sunglasses
• Flashlights
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunscreen

Know before you go

• Bring everything necessary for the tour.
• The weather may change at any time.
• Due to certain factors, the tour may be modified.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru

Tour start

17700, Peru

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.