Manu Jungle Tour 3 Days from the Andes to the Amazon
Cross the Andes into Manu, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth: cloud forest, a boat on the Madre de Dios River, the parrot clay lick at dawn and two nights at Guadalupe Lodge, from $390.
Few places show the jump from the Andes to the Amazon as clearly as the road to Manu. In a single day you leave Cusco, pass Lake Huacarpay, the pre-Inca tombs of Ninamarca and the colonial town of Paucartambo, then drop through the cloud forest — home of the scarlet cock-of-the-rock — to the warm lowland rainforest.
You spend two nights at Guadalupe Lodge (560 m), in private rooms with hot showers. Day two takes a motorboat down the Madre de Dios River to the quiet Machuhuasi lagoon, with hoatzins, capybaras and monkeys; on day three you are on the river at dawn for the parrot clay lick before the drive back to Cusco. Guide, transport, boat, lodge and meals are included for US $390. Read our Manu 3-day guide.
One road crosses the mountains, the cloud forest and the lowland jungle.
The parrot clay lick
Parrots and macaws gather on the riverbank at dawn, weather permitting.
Machuhuasi lagoon
A boat trip and forest trails with hoatzins, capybaras and monkeys.
Guadalupe Lodge
Private rooms with hot shower and Wi-Fi, deep in the rainforest.
Naturalist guide
A bilingual guide with a telescope to find the animals for you.
Everything included
Transport, boat, lodge, meals, rubber boots and a duffel bag.
Day-by-day itinerary
Your complete day-by-day itinerary for the Manu Jungle 3 Days, with what you see, what is included and the meals provided each day.
DAY 1
Cusco to the Guadalupe Nature Reserve
Leave Cusco around 6:00 AM for a scenic seven-hour drive over the Andes, stopping at Lake Huacarpay, the pre-Inca chullpas of Ninamarca and the colonial bridges of Paucartambo before crossing the high passes into the cloud forest.
Descend into the lush Manu National Park, spotting the brilliant Cock-of-the-Rock and perhaps the spectacled bear, and arrive at the riverside Guadalupe Lodge for a warm Amazonian welcome and an evening jungle walk.
Travel time
7 hours
Lodge altitude
560 m / 1,837 ft
Includes
Transport, guide, lodge, dinner
Meals
Lunch and dinner
DAY 2
Madre de Dios River and Machuhuasi Lagoon
Drive to Atalaya Port through tropical plantations, then board a motorboat down the Madre de Dios River to the serene Machuhuasi Lagoon, ringed by dense rainforest.
Walk the lagoon trails spotting hoatzins, capybaras, kingfishers and monkeys while your guide shares the secrets of medicinal Amazon plants, then enjoy a lakeside lunch before returning to the lodge.
Boat
1 hour each way
Includes
Transport, boat, guide, lunch
Meals
Breakfast and lunch
Terrain
River and lagoon
DAY 3
Parrot clay lick and return to Cusco
At dawn glide by motorboat to the famous parrot clay lick, where, weather permitting, more than fifteen species of parrots and macaws gather in a riot of color on the riverbank.
After breakfast visit a family-run wildlife rescue center, then begin the scenic seven-hour drive back to Cusco, arriving around 5:00 PM.
Highlight
Parrot and macaw clay lick
Travel time
7 hours
Includes
Boat, guide, breakfast, transport
Meals
Breakfast
Inclusions & exclusions
Exactly what is covered in your Manu Jungle 3 Days tour — and what to budget separately.
What's Included
Professional English and Spanish guide with telescope
Transport from Cusco to the Guadalupe Nature Reserve and back
Excursions and entrance tickets to the reserve
Car and boat transport
Private room at Guadalupe Lodge
Private toilet, hot shower, Wi-Fi, balcony and garden view
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners as detailed
Mineral water and snacks
Waterproof rubber boots
One duffel bag per person
Not Included
Breakfast on day one and dinner on the final day
Alcoholic beverages and sodas
Travel insurance
Tips and gratuities
Personal expenses
Before you go
A few essentials we recommend to make your Manu Jungle 3 Days day the most rewarding possible.
Acclimatize in Cusco first
Spend a day or two in Cusco (3,400 m) before high-altitude excursions. Hydrate well, eat light, drink coca tea and avoid alcohol. Our guides carry oxygen and support on every climb.
Physical fitness
Easy. There are no long hikes: forest walks last 1–2 hours on mostly flat trails, plus boat trips on the Madre de Dios River. The longest part is the drive, about 7 hours each way with stops.
Best time to go
Manu can be visited all year. The drier months, May to October, bring easier roads and trails; from December to March rain is frequent and the drive can be slower. Wildlife can be seen in every season.
Sun & weather
The rainforest is hot and humid, while the Andean passes on the drive are cold at dawn. Bring light long-sleeved clothes, insect repellent, a rain jacket, sunscreen and a warm layer for the early start.
Cancellations & weather
You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour if a verifiable emergency keeps you from joining — an illness, an accident or a cancelled flight, for example, with a document that shows it. If weather or road conditions make the trip unsafe, we will offer you a new date or a full refund. See our refund policy.
What to pack
Travel light but smart. Here's exactly what we recommend bringing for a comfortable, safe day at altitude.
Essentials
Passport — required for the entrance ticket.
Hiking boots (broken in) — terrain is rocky & uneven.
Transparent pricing — no hidden fees. The more travelers in your group, the lower the price per person.
Group Type
Group Size
Price / Person
What's Different
Shared Group Most popular
2 – 14 travelers
US $390 / pp
Mixed international group · set departure
Family Package
4+ adults & kids
US $370 / pp
5% discount for adolescents & children
Group of 8+
8 or more travelers
From US $351 / pp
Automatic group discount at checkout
Group discounts apply automatically. Book 4+ travelers and we'll send a custom quote within 2 hours. Larger groups (10+) qualify for additional savings — message us on WhatsApp.
Payment & refund highlights
Secure online payment
Pay with Visa, MasterCard, American Express. All transactions SSL-encrypted via Izipay.
Cancellation policy
We accept cancellations up to 24 hours before the tour when a verifiable emergency prevents you from attending. Refunds go back to your original payment method and are processed by your bank, not by us: any bank fees are applied by the bank, and the money can take up to 30 business days to reach your account. Thank you for your patience. Read the full policy.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. More? See the full FAQ page or reach us on WhatsApp.
It is a good introduction: one day each way on the road and a full day on the river, plus the clay lick on the last morning. For more time in the forest, with caves and a night caiman search, choose the 4-day tour.
Macaws, parrots, monkeys, capybaras, hoatzins, the cock-of-the-rock and countless birds and butterflies. Wildlife is wild, so no sighting can be guaranteed.
Two nights at Guadalupe Lodge in a private room with private bathroom, hot shower, Wi-Fi and a balcony over the garden.
Easy to moderate. There are short forest walks and boat rides; the long drives (about seven hours each way) are the most tiring part.
Ask your doctor before travelling. Yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tetanus are commonly recommended for the Peruvian Amazon.
Light, quick-drying long sleeves, a rain jacket, insect repellent, binoculars, sunscreen and a camera with zoom. We provide rubber boots and a duffel bag.
