Manu National Park

About this place

Manu National Park is a vast protected area in south-eastern Peru, in the regions of Cusco and Madre de Dios. It covers about 17,160 square kilometres, reaching from Andean grasslands near 4,000 m down through cloud forest to the lowland Amazon rainforest. It was created in 1973, recognised by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve in 1977 and as a World Heritage Site in 1987. This range of altitudes makes it one of the richest places for wildlife on earth. More than 1,000 bird species are estimated to live here, along with about 160 mammals, among them jaguars, giant otters, tapirs, several kinds of monkeys and capybaras, plus 155 amphibians, 132 reptiles and more than 1,300 species of butterflies. As many as 250 tree species can grow in a single hectare. The park is divided into zones. The largest, with untouched forest and native communities, is closed to tourists and open only to researchers. Visitors go to the reserved zone along the Manu river and to the cultural zone, where lodges, river trips and guided forest walks are based. The Manu road, about 190 km long, links the park's highlands with its lowlands. Trips start in Cusco and usually last several days, by road over the mountains and then by boat along the rivers. The reserved zone can only be visited with authorised operators, and the park fee is normally included in the trip. The less rainy season, from May to September, is the best time to go.