The Manu is one of the few territorial spaces that range from frigid punas, which surpass 4,000 meters above sea level, rugged wooded mountains that give rise to a multitude of small gorges and valleys, to cloud forests of high jungle to finally arrive to the Amazonian plain.
In 1973, the Manu National Park was established as a Protected Natural Area. Subsequently, in 1977 as a Biosphere Reserve. Ten years after its recognition as such, the Manu National Park was declared a Natural Patrimony of Humanity for its extraordinary universal value. This designation was a recognition by Unesco of its World Heritage Convention program, whose purpose is to catalog, preserve and publicize sites of exceptional cultural or natural importance for the common heritage of mankind.
The Park is surrounded by the Territorial Reserve of the Kugapakori and Nahua ethnic groups, the Megantoni National Sanctuary and the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, territories that, together with those of the Mapacho river basin, intend to be integrated into the Manu Biosphere Reserve. The people living in or around the Park have cultural patterns of diverse settlements, and some are populations in voluntary isolation or initial contact. The Cocha Cashu Biological Station is located in the core area of the Manu National Park, where ecological and anthropological research is carried out. In turn, in its buffer zone and transition, sustainable development activities and resource management, recreation, tourism and environmental education are carried out.
Day 01: Cusco – Inca’s tombs – Cloud Forest – Pilcopata Lodge
Day 02: Port Atalaya – Rainforest Lodge – Machuwasi Lake
Day 03: Rainforest Lodge – Macaw Clay Lick – Port Atalaya – Cusco
The Manu National Park is located in the provinces of Paucartambo in Cusco and Manú in Madre de Dios. Its extension is 1716295.22 hectares. Its establishment seeks to protect a representative sample of the biological diversity, as well as the landscapes of the low jungle, the jungle edge and the Andes of the Peruvian south-east. Likewise, it aims to promote tourism based on ecological and culturally compatible criteria.
On the other hand, the Manu National Park also seeks to promote and facilitate research, education and recreation, as well as contribute to the preservation of archaeological heritage. Their presence contributes to the recognition and protection of cultural diversity, as well as to the self-determination of the indigenous peoples of the area. The PNM protects one of the most important areas of the planet in terms of the mega diversity of biological species.
Its great extension crosses frigid punas – that surpass the 4,000 m.s.n.m-; wild forested mountains that give rise to a multitude of small gorges and valleys; cloud forests of high forest and finally the Amazon plain. This magnificent and unique scenario includes a wide and complex hydrographic system and guarantees the presence of a diversity of ecosystems little intervention by man.
The tropical forests of the Manu have allowed the ecological and evolutionary processes to be carried out almost without the presence of man, however, in the area there is also an enormous cultural wealth, represented by the current indigenous populations at different levels of contact with the outside, and an archaeological heritage not yet revealed in all its magnitude.
Much of the Manu National Park is indigenous territory. The communities of the Yora, Mashko-Piro, Matsiguenka, Harakmbut, Wachipaeri and Yine inhabit ancestrally between the forests and rivers of these jungles. The native communities of Tayakome and Yomibato are recognized within the area. Both are located in the upper area of the Manu River. In the southwest sector there is an association of farmers known as Callanga. Your visit is highly recommended, if not mandatory.
The Manu National Park hosts a large number of wildlife species. It has registered about 160 species of mammals, more than 1,000 species of birds (mostly residents), about 140 species of amphibians, 50 species of snakes, 40 of lizards, 6 of turtles, 3 of alligators and 210 of fish . Among the large mammals are the otorongo (Panthera onca), the black tiger (Felis yagouaroundi), the sachavaca (Tapirus terrestris), the huangana (Tayassu pecari), the sajino (Tayassu tajacu), the deer (Mazama americana), the deer ash (Odocoileus virginianus), the river wolf (Pteronura brasiliensis), the ronsoco (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), the monkey boar (Alouatta seniculus), the black maquisapa (Ateles paniscus), the woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha), the white machin monkey ( Cebus albifrons) and the black machin monkey (Cebus apella).
On the other hand, the number of insects in the Manu National Park is very high. It is estimated that there are about 30 million species. At the same time, more than 1,300 species of butterflies, 136 of dragonflies, at least 300 of ants (more than 40 species were found in a single tree) and more than 650 of beetles have been recorded.
As regards the flora of the Manu National Park, the number of plant species is very high. The various registers indicate that there are at least 162 families, 1,191 genera and 4,385 species identified. In a single hectare, up to 250 varieties of trees were found. The forests of aguajales are one of the most outstanding ecosystems, where the palms of aguaje (Mauritia flexuosa) and huasaí (Euterpe precatoria) are the dominant ones. They develop over areas that are almost permanently flooded, especially on the right bank of the Manu River. It also highlights the presence of the cedar (Cedrela sp.), The cético (Cecropia sp.), The screw (Cedrelinga catenaeformis), the chestnut (Bertholletia excelsa), the lupuna (Chorisia sp.) And the jebe (Hevea brasiliensis) .
current indigenous populations at different levels of contact with the outside, and an archaeological heritage not yet revealed in all its magnitude.
Much of the Manu National Park is indigenous territory. The communities of the Yora, Mashko-Piro, Matsiguenka, Harakmbut, Wachipaeri and Yine inhabit ancestrally between the forests and rivers of these jungles. The native communities of Tayakome and Yomibato are recognized within the area. Both are located in the upper area of the Manu River. In the southwest sector there is an association of farmers known as Callanga. Your visit is highly recommended, if not mandatory.
The Manu National Park hosts a large number of wildlife species. It has registered about 160 species of mammals, more than 1,000 species of birds (mostly residents), about 140 species of amphibians, 50 species of snakes, 40 of lizards, 6 of turtles, 3 of alligators and 210 of fish . Among the large mammals are the otorongo (Panthera onca), the black tiger (Felis yagouaroundi), the sachavaca (Tapirus terrestris), the huangana (Tayassu pecari), the sajino (Tayassu tajacu), the deer (Mazama americana), the deer ash (Odocoileus virginianus), the river wolf (Pteronura brasiliensis), the ronsoco (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), the monkey boar (Alouatta seniculus), the black maquisapa (Ateles paniscus), the woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha), the white machin monkey ( Cebus albifrons) and the black machin monkey (Cebus apella).
On the other hand, the number of insects in the Manu National Park is very high. It is estimated that there are about 30 million species. At the same time, more than 1,300 species of butterflies, 136 of dragonflies, at least 300 of ants (more than 40 species were found in a single tree) and more than 650 of beetles have been recorded.
As regards the flora of the Manu National Park, the number of plant species is very high. The various registers indicate that there are at least 162 families, 1,191 genera and 4,385 species identified. In a single hectare, up to 250 varieties of trees were found. The forests of aguajales are one of the most outstanding ecosystems, where the palms of aguaje (Mauritia flexuosa) and huasaí (Euterpe precatoria) are the dominant ones. They develop over areas that are almost permanently flooded, especially on the right bank of the Manu River. It also highlights the presence of the cedar (Cedrela sp.), The cético (Cecropia sp.), The screw (Cedrelinga catenaeformis), the chestnut (Bertholletia excelsa), the lupuna (Chorisia sp.) And the jebe (Hevea brasiliensis) .
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Tourist sites are located in the tourist and recreational area of the Manu River sector. In these spaces, each concessionaire has built adequate and comfortable camps and also houses with local materials. They offer services: dining room, bathrooms, showers and some short connecting paths between all the structures. All beds have mosquito nets to prevent sleeping bites. The details of each hostel or camp vary – please consult your travel agency for more information.
Your tour operator will provide drinking water. Some use bottled water that is brought from the nearest cities and others with filters and / or boiling water to purify small streams or the river to make it suitable for human consumption.
It is not a requirement, but one must be able to walk a path of several kilometers to fully enjoy what Manu has to offer.
The amount will depend on the time of day, but as in the entire Amazon region, there will be mosquitoes. We recommend carrying repellent with a minimum of 30% DEET and also long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
In southern Peru, yellow fever, malaria and leishmaniasis have been reported, but so far there is no information from tourists who visited Manu who have had these tropical diseases. However, there is always a possibility, so we recommend following your doctor’s instructions
No, the park closes in the month of February for rainy season but the rest of the year is open. The best time to visit is between April and November, during the dry season. The rainy season is from February to March, when road access becomes more difficult and when the paths in the forest can be flooded.
The native communities in the Park are not accessible to tourists. The possibilities of seeing the nomadic people living in isolation is very low since the tourist areas are established to avoid the areas they use, but in case they are seen, the area must be abandoned and any contact with them avoided. they and immediately report the incident to the park staff.
During the months of May and June, sometimes the temperature can drop suddenly as the cold fronts come from the south of South America, a phenomenon known as Friaje occurs. Warm clothes are recommended for this time of year just in case.
For safety reasons, swimming in rivers and lakes is prohibited.
No. For safety reasons, you should always follow your guide on marked trails.
It is strictly prohibited. Only local native communities are authorized to fish and hunt in the authorized areas inside the Park.
The climate is generally rainy and rainfall varies with altitude. In the south (the highest) it registers between 1,500 and 2,000 annual mm. In the center of the sector increases from 3,000 to 3,500 mm. The highest record in the northwest reaches more than 8000 mm. In the dry season, from May to September, precipitation decreases and the temperature decreases. The thermal regime is also very variable, since the Amazon area is warm, with an average temperature of 25.6 ° C, and the Andean region is cold with an average annual temperature of 8 ° C.
Malaria: The risk of malaria in Manu is extremely low (less than 0.1%). It is recommended to take insect repellent and protect yourself using long sleeves, instead of taking strong anti-malarial drugs (please check the side effects of these medications !!) which are not very safe either.
