The Manú National Park, in the isolated region of Madre de Dios, is one of the most diverse areas in Peru and South America and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Understand

Two red-and-green macaws in the national park

The Manu National Park is divided into three zones: the "core zone", only accessible for scientists and researchers; the "reserved zone", only accessible for a limited number of tour operators and their tours; and the "cultural zone" which is openly accessible and where local people live in small villages. Chances to see exotic wildlife are by far higher in the reserved zone than in the cultural zone.

Landscape

Manu National Park offers landscape from the Andes to the Amazon , which is incredibly diverse, featuring a wide variety of ecosystems. The Andes mountain range is home to high-altitude grasslands, of 3,500 m (11,500 ft) in elevation as well as cloud forests, which are characterized by their misty, humid conditions. The Amazon basin, on the other hand, is characterized by vast tropical rainforests, which are home to an incredibly diverse array of plant and animal life, including monkeys, jaguars, and sloths.

In addition to rainforests, the Manu and Madre de Dios river basin also includes vast wetlands and riverine ecosystems which are upper tributaries of the Amazon River itself. These riverine ecosystems are home to a variety of aquatic species, including piranhas, caimans, and turtles.

Throughout the Andes and Amazon regions, there are also a number of human-influenced ecosystems,(You can experience this along the guided tours into Manu Biosphere Reserve) such as agricultural fields and urban areas. These human-influenced ecosystems often coexist with natural ecosystems, and can have a significant impact on the environment and biodiversity of the region. Despite this, the Andes and Amazon regions remain incredibly rich in biodiversity, making them important areas for conservation and research.

Flora and fauna

There is a lot of tropical wildlife to be seen in the National Park, including jaguars, giant otters, several species of monkeys (red howler, black spider, capuchin, squirrel monkeys), caymans, turtles.

Birds are abundant, including macaws, herons, cormorants, hawks, storks and many more.

Climate

The climate is usually hot and humid. Bring light clothes, preferably with long sleeves to protect against mosquito bites.

Get in

There are two way to get to Manu:

• To enter by a combination by bus and boat, and leave through the same boat/bus combination. This option can be a long trip. (available)
• By plane from Cusco arriving directly to the jungle lowlands. It will take about 40 to 45 minutes.(Boca Manu airstrip is not operational on 2023)

Fees and permits

Entrance tickets are required for visiting the Manu Reserved Zone in regular programs up 5 days. These tickets are requested by the rangers at the Limonal Ranger Station (reserved zone boundary). Official tour operators purchase admission tickets from the Sernanp office in Cusco that they generally include in their tour packages. The ticket cost varies depending of the number of days you stay inside the reserved zone, so for example, for 2 nights the rate is 60 soles and for 3-5 nights, 150 soles. To visit the cultural zone, short tours of 3-4 days don't require admission tickets at all.

Get around

There are 8 tour operators who have the licence to take tourists into the reserved zone. Tours start from Cusco and usually take between 4 and 10 days. Prices range between US$350 (cultural zone) and $1500 depending on the length of the trip and the operator. All tours are guided by studied biologists and local guides.

Be careful when booking your trip and try to book directly with one of the local tour operators, instead of foreing travel agencies that sell you the tickets and usually take a massive commission and research well before booking. Make sure to ask about all the tour details before you book (accommodation, extra fees, English-speaking guide if needed, food, jungle walks, other activities). Also try to bargain about the price.

Sleep

Lodging

There are several lodges and camps in the Manu area.

Manu Wildlife Center is an awesome place to see lots of birds, monkeys and other wildlife. Cabins are clean, with hot water, but no electricity. Food is very good. Various trips are available from canopy stands to one of only a few known Macaws clay licks, where hundreds of Macaws come every morning to eat bits of clay which aids their digestion.

Guadalupe Lodge, Accessible from cusco by land transport somewhat 6-7 hours drive, 6 private cabins with electricity , hot shower, WiFI and interesting location to observe birds and wildlife