8 Best Hotels in Manu Biosphere Reserve, The Amazon Basin

This bare-bones camp operated by the tour company Pantiacolla is near Cocha Salvador, an oxbow lake in Manu's Reserved Zone, which is home to an amazing array of wildlife. Platforms under palm-thatched roofs and surrounded by mosquito screening are just big enough to fit two single beds; shared toilets and showers are housed in a separate structure. Meals are served in a screened dining hall with a thatched roof. The reward for enduring such spartan accommodations is the chance to see more than 100 bird species, various types of monkeys, and countless other animals.

At the edge of the cloud forest in the Manu Cultural Zone, affording an amazing view of the lush Kosñipata River valley, this property takes its name from Peru's red-and-black national bird, which can usually be seen nearby, along with dozens of other avian species, among them 35 types of hummingbirds. The bungalows are the most comfortable in Manu, with balconies, good beds, and private, hot-water bathrooms.

This working conservation research center within the Manu Biosphere Reserve gives visitors easy access to field scientists and educators protecting the Amazon Basin. Rooms are sparse with either two single beds or one double, a mosquito net, and a private en suite bathroom with shower. The property provides access to 15 miles of trails (where you can search for sloths and howler monkeys) and lies a quick boat ride away from a large clay lick visited each morning by hundreds of parrots and macaws.

Named for the mountain range that towers above, the Pantiacolla Lodge sits in a 2,223-acre, private, Manu Cultural Zone nature reserve that has 600 bird species and an array of mammals. Rooms lack electricity and consist of two beds with mosquito netting and a table. Nine out of 11 rooms have private bathrooms while the other two have shared ones. All are in raised bungalows. Because this area is higher, it is slightly cooler and has fewer mosquitoes than the Manu lowlands.

Nestled in the cloud forest of the Manu Biosphere Reserve Cultural Zone, midway between Cusco and the Pantiacolla Lodge, this small lodge offers earthy accommodations amid extraordinary scenery and birdlife. It is an obligatory stop on trips to Pantiacolla's lodges deeper in the reserve and is an excellent base for seeing colorful hummingbirds, tanagers, and the incomparable cock of the rock. Basic rooms are in four thatched, wooden duplexes, near which are a building with toilets and hot-water showers and a simple dining room.

Offering comfortable accommodations inside the Manu Reserved Zone, several hours by boat up the Manu River, the Romero Rainforest Lodge provides access to impressive natural attractions (including two oxbow lakes). Rooms in thatched, wooden buildings have private bathrooms with hot water, screened windows, and small porches. You might see several species of monkeys and such rare birds as the agami heron and black-faced cotinga here. Tours often include an overnight stay at the Manu Learning Centre on the way to this lodge.

This small collection of solar-powered tree houses, two hours up the Palotoa River, puts you deep in the heart of the jungle, far from any other tourists. Though suspended in the trees, rooms still come with toilets and hot-water showers. Every member of the staff was born and raised here, so they have a great understanding of the zone and its biodiversity.

Perched above the cloud forest tree line with a sweeping view of Manu's mountainous area, this eco-lodge and biological station provides access to a 1,450-acre reserve adjacent to Manu that protects rare bird and orchid species. Bird-watchers come here to see species they won't find elsewhere, but it's a beautiful spot that will please anyone who enjoys nature. Bright wooden bungalows have private baths and spectacular views. The main lodge has an airy restaurant and bar with plenty of windows for admiring the scenery. It belongs to the Amazon Conservation Association.