OUR TOURS

Overview

We offer Amazon tours from 3 to 9 days to the Manu Biosphere Reserve and Manu National Park:

as well as Andean Treks, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and other tours around Cusco:

Information on Manu tour costs

How can the high prices of Manu tours be explained?

With regard to price differences between different operators for Manu tours, you should be aware of and take into account the following points.

1. Private transport by minibus and boat
A tour to the lowland of Manu (our Manu Biosphere Reserve Tour and Manu National Park Tour) involves high private transport costs. At the beginning and end of the tours, we travel by private minibus across the Andes and through the cloud forest to the Alto Madre de Dios River. This is followed by several days of boat journey. To reach the lowland, we travel 6 -7 hours on the river; a tour into the Reserved Zone requires another day on the Manu River to reach Casa Matsiguenka. The same applies to the return journey. And in the lowland of Manu, all travel is by boat as well.

2. Experienced guides & quality tour:
Our guides have over 22 years of experience as Manu guides. Through their volunteering in the National Park they have gained experience in nature conservation and research. Some of our guides grew up in the rainforest, some are biologists; they are all very good at spotting animals and have extensive knowledge of the tropical rainforest. Our guides will explain a lot about the behaviour, ecology and biology of the various animal species. They speak fluent English. In addition, our guides carry high-quality spotting scopes on the tour so that you can see the animals in detail – and take photos too.

3. Tour itinerary & small group tours:
The key to successful wildlife spotting is a well organised tour offering a variety of opportunities for walks in primary forest – – including early in the morning and in the evening – and spending enough time exploring the forest.

Spending the night in villages does not offer opportunities for wildlife observation. –

Only in small groups we can really enjoy good opportunities to spot wildlife on our walks through the tropical rainforest (the more people there are, the more noise there will be..). Our group size is a maximum of 6 or 7 people, which is naturally reflected in the price. Many tour operators offer prices based on significantly larger groups.

Due to many different itineraries being offered on different websites, on our programs you can find a map at the end of each tour.
You can also find an overview of our itineraries on 2 maps here

https://amazontrailsperu.com/manu-national-park/#manu-tour-information

4. Sustainability and Ecological Concept
Sustainability is an integral part of our tour operations for more than 20 years. Our main concern is to make visitors aware of the uniqueness and ecological value of the rainforest – and to help protect and preserve it. We are committed to running our tours in the most environmentally friendly way possible, by reducing waste, purchasing local produce and ensuring that non-biodegradable waste is always transported back to Cusco. On our tours, we work together with local people, so they also benefit from Manu tourism. On the National Park tour, we spend the nights at Casa Matsiguenka to support the indigenous community. Amazon Trails Peru is protecting 350 ha of primary rainforest at Amazonia Lodge on the Upper Madre de Dios River, and supports a local reforestation project.

5. Qualified Staff involved in our tours
On a Manutour our team consists of 5 persons who ensure a smooth tour operations:
– Our minibus driver will transport you safely from your hotel in Cusco to Atalaya and returns you to Cusco on the last day.
– Our chef is accompanying us throughout the tour and ensures that we get fresh, tasty, and nutritious meals wherever we go.
– Our highly experienced natural history guide is the most important person on the tour. He leads and organizes all activities during the tour and has a keen eye for spotting animals in the dense forest. The guide will also provide you with comprehensive information about the rainforest’s flora and fauna and answer your questions.
– Our local boatman and his navigator (tripulante) are responsible for our safe journey from Atalaya down the Rio Alto Madre de Dios to the lowlands and up the Rio Manu into the Reserved Zone. On these sometimes turbulent rivers, an experienced boatman with local knowledge is essential.

We pay our staff appropriate and fair salaries, which unfortunately is not a matter or course in Peru.

6. Accommodation in private rooms in lodges
All the lodges on our tours have private double rooms; most of them have private bathrooms, or it is possible to book a room with a private bathroom at a supplement. It is also really important for wildlife spotting that the lodge is situated in an intact primary forest, where we have plenty of opportunities for walks and wildlife spotting in the evenings and mornings.

Accommodation in a village (e.g. Pilcopata or Boca Manu) is considerably cheaper, but offers limited or almost no opportunities for wildlife viewing and experiencing nature. We always stay in lodges in interesting locations for wildlife viewing.

Please undertake extensive research before booking a Manu tour.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
info@amazontrailsperu.com