Experience the full intensity of the Amazon without the week-long commitment. This fast-paced 5-day expedition takes you straight from the Andes into the heart of the Manu Reserved Zone, the most biodiverse place on Earth. Designed for travelers who want to see it all, we maximize your time in the "Jaguar Zone" by streamlining travel.

Navigate the winding Manu River, home to basking White Caimans and migrating turtles. Explore the famous Cocha Salvador by catamaran to hunt for Giant River Otters and climb the Cocha Otorongo observation tower for a bird’s-eye view of the canopy. With nights spent at the indigenous-run Casa Matsiguenka, you’ll be immersed in the jungle 24/7. It’s a wild, non-stop journey into nature’s last frontier.

NOTE: If you don't find a departure date that fits in your plans, please contact us.

Discover the untouched beauty of the Reserved Zone on this comprehensive 5-day wildlife safari. While other tours stay in the buffer zones, we take you deep inside Manu National Park where nature rules supreme.

What makes this trip special?

• The Best Lakes: Exclusive access to Cocha Salvador and Otorongo, the only places to reliably spot endangered Giant River Otters and Black Caimans.

• Clay Lick Spectacles: Witness hundreds of Macaws and parrots gathering at riverbank clay licks—a riot of color and sound.

• Primates & Predators: Hike pristine trails to find Spider Monkeys, Emperor Tamarins, and—with luck—the majestic Jaguar patrolling the riverbanks.

• Cultural Connection: Stay at Casa Matsiguenka, a rustic lodge owned by the native community, ensuring your visit supports local guardians of the forest.

Short Itinerary: Manu Reserved Zone Expedition (5 Days)

Day 1: Cusco to Pona Lodge (Cloud Forest Descent)
Leave Cusco early for a scenic drive through the Andes, stopping at the pre-Inca tombs of Ninamarca. Descend through the lush Cloud Forest—home to the Peruvian National Bird, the Cock-of-the-rock—before reaching the tropical transition zone to spend your first night at Pona Lodge.

Highlights of the Day:

1. Walk along the Cloud Forest of Manu Park

2. Visit the Peruvian National Bird LEK

3. Bird Watching along the Cloud Forest, at the cloud forest we will be able to see several species of colorful birds including Tanagers, toucans, barbets, hummingbirds, two species of quetzals, trogons, motmots, woodpeckers and hawks.

4. Tanager garden optional Visit, this visit is not included but its an excellent spot to photograph colorful birds.
   

Day 2: Pona Lodge to Casa Matsiguenka (Into the Deep Amazon)
Travel by boat down the Madre de Dios and Manu Rivers. You will pass the Limonal control point to enter the Reserved Zone, the most protected part of the park. Keep your eyes peeled for Jaguars, Caimans, and turtles sunning on the riverbanks before arriving at Casa Matsiguenka, an indigenous-run lodge deep within the jungle.

Highlights of the Day:

1. Sail along Manu River, along the river we will have chances to see several species of animals including black caimans, white caimans, Turtles, monkeys, capybaras and deers

2. Jaguar Searching: At Manu River we will have our best chances to see Jaguars in the way up as well as in the way down.

3. Cocha Otorongo Visit, Cocha otorongo is a Oxbow lake, at this oxbow lake we will have our first chance to see giant otters and large black caimans.

Day 3: Exploring the Reserved Zone (Cocha Salvador & Otongo)
Spend a full day exploring the pristine oxbow lakes of Cocha Salvador and Cocha Otongo. Navigate the lakes by catamaran to spot the endangered Giant River Otters. Hike through primary forest where your guide will point out medicinal plants and several of Manu’s 13 monkey species, including the Howler and Spider monkeys.

Highlights of the Day:

1. Cocha Salvador Visit, Cocha Salvador is the largest Oxbow lake in Manu National Park at this oxbow lake we have a chance to see giant otters, Black Caimans, several species of birds and monkeys.

2. Macaw Clay Lick Visit, near our lodge we have a small macaw clay lick were two species of large macaws are observed, there we will see scarlet as well as red and green macaws.

3. Night Walk, during our night walks we can see several species of nocturnal creatures including insects, amphibians, reptiles, night monkeys and owls.

Day 4: Casa Matsiguenka to Tapir Clay Lick
After a final morning of wildlife spotting in the Reserved Zone, begin the journey back downriver. In the evening, you will head to a specialized "hide" or blind near a Tapir Clay Lick. Here, you will spend time in silence waiting for the South American Tapir that is the largest land mammal in the Amazon-to arrive and eat mineral-rich clay.

Highlights of the Day:

1. Sail Along Manu River, in the way our we will have our second chance to search for caimans, monkeys, turtles, capybaras, deers and green anacondas

2. Jaguar Search, this mooring we will search for jaguars along Manu river, the best chance to see jaguars is between July to October.

3. Tapir Clay Lick: In the evening we will visit a mammal clay lick where tapirs are seeing.

4. Spend a Night in the middle of the Jungle, In order to see the tapirs we will have to spend a night in a camuflaje house.

Day 5: Tapir Clay Lick to Cusco
Enjoy a final Amazonian sunrise and a boat ride back to the port of Atalaya. Your private transport will be waiting to take you back up through the Cloud Forest and across the Andes, arriving in Cusco in the evening with unforgettable memories of the deep jungle.

Trip Highlights:

• Deep Access: Travel by motorized canoe far up the Manu River into pristine rainforest.

• Top Wildlife: High probability of seeing Giant Otters, Jaguars, Tapirs, Caimans, and Macaws.

• Iconic Spots: Visit Cocha Salvador (catamaran ride) and Cocha Otorongo (observation tower).

• Diverse Eco-systems: Journey through the Andes, Cloud Forest, and Lowland Jungle.

• All-Inclusive: Includes professional naturalist guides, private bus/boat transport, park permits, lodge accommodation, and chef-prepared meals.