The Andes and the Amazon in One Trip

Few places let you go from glaciers to rainforest by road in a single day, and Cusco is one of them. The road to Manu climbs over Andean passes, plunges through the cloud forest and ends on the banks of a jungle river. Here is how to fit Machu Picchu and the Amazon into one trip, how many days you need and what you will actually see.

Two ways to reach the Amazon from Cusco

• Manu by road: our tours leave Cusco by van and cross the Andes into the Manu region. The drive takes about seven hours with stops, and it is part of the experience: you pass Lake Huacarpay, the pre-Inca burial towers of Ninamarca, the colonial town of Paucartambo and the cloud forest before reaching the lowlands. You return to Cusco the same way.
• Tambopata by air: a short flight connects Cusco with Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Tambopata reserve. We do not run Tambopata tours, but it is a good option if you prefer to fly.

How many days you need

Plan at least 8 days for both regions, and 10 or more if you want a relaxed pace:

A sample 9-day itinerary

• Day 1: arrive in Cusco and rest.
• Day 2: Cusco city tour in the morning, free afternoon.
• Days 3–4: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in 2 days.
• Day 5: a free day in Cusco, or a day trip such as Humantay Lake.
• Days 6–8: Manu jungle in 3 days, back in Cusco at about 5:00 pm on day 8.
• Day 9: fly home or on to your next destination.

With one more day, choose the 4-day Manu tour for an extra day in the forest. For longer trips across Peru, see our 2-week itinerary.

What you will see in Manu

The journey itself shows the change in altitude: highland lakes and villages, then a cloud forest of orchids, ferns and waterfalls, home of the cock-of-the-rock, Peru’s national bird. In the lowlands, a boat on the Madre de Dios River takes you to Machuhuasi Lagoon, where hoatzins, capybaras, kingfishers and monkeys are often seen, and, on the 3-day tour, to a clay lick where parrots and macaws gather at dawn, weather permitting.

Be realistic about the big animals: giant otters, tapirs and jaguars live deep in the reserved zone of Manu, which short tours do not reach. Our Manu wildlife guide explains what you are likely to see.

Andes first or jungle first?

We usually recommend the Andes first. The road to Manu crosses high passes early on the first day, so it is easier once you are acclimatized, and the warm, slower days in the forest make a relaxing end to the trip. If your dates only work the other way round, it is possible, but give yourself an easy day in Cusco on your return before any high-altitude activity.

Practical tips

• Pack for two climates: warm layers for the Andes, light long-sleeved clothes for the jungle, a rain jacket for both.
• Insect repellent is essential in the lowlands.
• Health: ask your doctor about yellow fever vaccination, commonly recommended for the Peruvian Amazon.
• Season: the dry months (May to October) are the most comfortable in both regions; in the rainy season roads can be slower.
• Binoculars make a big difference for birds and monkeys.

Frequently asked questions