Amazon Land Tours - in Search of Nature

Amazon Land Tours
​We recommend TWO areas for land tours in Peru's Amazonia.  ​The first is a series of options visiting the combination of Tambopata National Park and associated Lake Sandoval in SE Peru, most commonly accessed via a flight into Puerto Maldonado. 
​​The second option is a tour to the Reserved Area in Manu National Park, also located in SE Peru, accessed by road from Cuzco.
​For MORE detail see below!
Tambopata NP & Lake Sandoval

Lake Sandoval is home to the shy, but alluring, giant river otter.  Also, black caiman, Harpy eagles, Hoatzin and flocks of brightly coloured Macaws.  ​Tambopata National Park offers great opportunities to sight more varieties of birds, Tapir, Capybara, plus Squirrel and Spider monkeys.  Going deeper into the Upper Tambopata, there is more variety of wildlife in the tree canopy such as bigger monkeys (Woolly & Howler varieties), with sightings of tamarin and sloths.   And it is here that larger mammals may be encountered, such as giant anteater and even jaguar.
​8ricing - Tambopata NP & Lake Sandoval
Sandoval and Tambopata tours start from US$100/person for a 2 day/1 night trip to Lake Sandoval,  but most visitors select a minimum 5 day/4 night package (that may be added on to a visit to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley?).  This would include a day at Lake Sandoval seeing the otters, birds and caiman, then 3 full days exploring the Upper Tambopata in search of bigger game, possibly jaguar! 

​* Prices depend on length of tour; group size; quality of lodge;  and area exclusivity.  Sample prices (*2018/19 season; 5 day/4ni):
  • 5* Tours - A very high quality package including collection from & to the airport; use of  extremely well appointed lodges;  all-inclusive service (less bar), covering all meals, guiding, other activities (eg. kayaking, canopy, etc).  From US$ 950/person.
  • 4* Tours - As above, but with lesser quality lodging/cuisine;  all-inclusive (less bar), covering all meals and guiding.  Some activities extra.  From US$ 790/person.
  •  2* Tours - Collection from airport; basic lodging; all meals and guiding.  Activities and bar extra. Focussing on Lake Sandoval OR limited to the Park area near Puerto Maldonado, visitors are unlikely to see the larger mammals.   From US$ 220/person.
The Manu Biosphere Reserve

The Manu Biosphere Reserve is a unique area that includes Andean cloud forest, tropical lowland forest and the Alto Madre de Dios and Manu river confluence.  It is divided into Manu National Park, with a Reserved Zone for tourism and another for cultural subsistence.  It is home to over 1,000 varieties of birds, some 15,000 different plants and over 200 types of mammals.  Inside its hidden heart there even remain indigenous tribes as yet untouched by modern civilisation.  ​It is considered to be THE most pristine park left in Amazonia, ​mainly due to the considerable difficulty of access (2 days by road/boat to reach Casa Matsiguenka Native Lodge), but this "difficulty" ensures fabulous animal contact!​
Whilst shorter and cheaper tours to Manu are listed, these only visit the Cultural Zone on the Alto Madre de Dios River (yellow zone as shown on map).  A tour to the Reserved Area of Manu requires at least 5 nights (we recommend 7!), looking for large mammals including jaguar along the banks of the Manu River (from Boca Manu/N2), and on the many lakes  around Casa Matsiguenka (N3), a rustic jungle lodge run by the local Matsiguenka people.  A few tours visit the Amarakaeri  Zone (N4). 
​For the optimum tour, visitors will take one full day to travel by road from Cuzco to the river port of Atalaya, ​where the first nights lodging (N1 on map) is spent.  En route, visitors will have visited a Cloud Forest and seen many birds, including the jaunty Cock of the Rock, Peru's "National Bird".
Day 2 will be the long boat ride from Atalaya Port to Boca Manu (N2) where Madre de Dios meets the Manu, photographing en route jungle birds, raptors, caiman, as well as indigenous communities.  Another lodge will be used here to overnight.  Day 3 starts with the full day boat ride to Casa Matsiguenka up the brown ​Manu River, with great chances of sighting Capybara, Black and White (Spectacled) Caiman, many types of birds, butterflies, turtles - and possibly jaguar and ocelot (10%?)!  Days 4/5 are ideally based around Casa Matsiguenka, visiting the many ox-bow lakes where giant river otters, more birds, monkeys and other mammals can be found. Days 6/7 are required for the return journey to Cuzco. 
Pricing - Manu Biosphere Reserve
Prices depend on the length of tour; group size; quality of lodges;  and area exclusivity.  They generally all follow the program outlined above.  Sample prices based from Cusco (*2017/18 season):
  • 3 days/2 nights - A great birding tour can be enjoyed to the Manu Cloud Forest; overnighting lodge (N1). This is a bird-spotter's dream!  From US$ 685/person with extra night for US$ 155/person.
  • 5 days/4 nights - The shortest tour to experience "Manu proper", staying 1 night at a lodge near Atalaya, then 2 nights at a lodge near Boca Manu (N2), allowing one day to cover the lower reaches of Manu River to spot larger mammals,  potentially jaguar. ​ Salt licks for Tapir and Macaws  are also possible to visit here.  From US$ 1,750 /person with extra night for US$ 170/person.
  • 7days/6 nights -  The optimum Manu tour, spending 2 nights at Casa Matsiguenka (N3) to spot wildlife on the nearby lakes. From US$ 1,990/person with extra night for US$ 175/person.  It is HIGHLY recommended guests spend extra nights here!​