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Located in the tropical rainforest of the departments of Cuzco and
Madre de Dios, the Manu National Park
is Peru's greatest natural reserve, both for the number of
species that it harbors as well as the diversity of eco-systems
to be found there. It was established as a national park in
1973 across a surface of 1,532,806 hectares and declared a
Mankind Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
The reserve covers the entire watershed of the Manu River,
running across an extraordinary range of altitudes, running
from 4,300 masl in the high Andean plain down to 200 meters
in the Amazon Basin. The area is home to dozens of tribes
-Amahuaca, Huachipaire, Machiguenga, Piro, Yora and Yaminahua-
as well as others that have yet to make contact with the outside
world. The park is also a haven for more than 20,000 plant
varieties, 1,200 butterfly species, 1,000 bird species, 200
species of mammals and an unknown quantity of reptiles, amphibians
and insects.
Climate: The rainy season runs
from December to March, although rain showers are common during
the rest of the year as well. From May to August, when temperatures
top 30°C, are the best time to visit.
Access: A dirt road runs from
Cuzco to the towns of Atalaya (9 hours) and Shintuya (12 hours),
from where travelers can set out downriver (5-6 hours). There
are also 30-minute flights from Cuzco and Boca Manu, from
where the route continues by boat for 4-6 hours.
Services: Tourist infrastructure
is rustic and basic, and tourists can also choose to camp.
Visitors are advised to stay in the area for 7-8 days, the
time needed to be able to get a good idea of the wildlife
in the area. |
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