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tambopata national jungle reserve

Manu National Park

In this travel guide we will tell you about Manu National Park, the most biodiverse place on the planet. It is located in the Peruvian Amazon and you can visit it from the city of Cusco. If you like the idea of going into the virgin jungle and admiring an infinite world of sounds and animals, then this is the place for you.

Location of Manu National Park

Manu National Park is located in the provinces of Paucartambo in Cusco and Manu in Madre de Dios. Its extension is 1716295.22 hectares. Its establishment seeks to protect a representative sample of biological diversity, as well as the landscapes of the lowland jungle, the jaw of the jungle and the Andes of southeastern Peru. It also seeks to promote tourism based on ecologically and culturally compatible criteria.

On the other hand, Manu National Park also seeks to promote and facilitate research, education and recreation, as well as contribute to the preservation of the archeological heritage. Its presence contributes to the recognition and protection of cultural diversity, as well as to the self-determination of the indigenous peoples of the area.

Manu National Park protects one of the most important areas on the planet in terms of the mega diversity of biological species. Its vast expanse crosses the icy highlands – exceeding 4,000 meters above sea level plus steep forested mountains that give rise to a multitude of small streams and valleys; high jungle cloud forests and finally the Amazon plain.

This magnificent and unique environment includes a large and complex hydrographic system and guarantees the presence of a diversity of ecosystems little intervened by man.

Manu Biosphere Reserve

Manu National Park is home to almost 2 million hectares of nature. It is located on the western edge of the Amazon basin, in the departments of Cusco and Madre de Dios and since 1977 has held the status of Biosphere Reserve granted by UNESCO. The tropical forests of Manu have allowed the ecological and evolutionary processes to take place without human intervention, however, in the area there is also an enormous cultural wealth, represented by the current indigenous populations with different levels of contact with the outside world.

Manu National Park is home to 222 species of mammals, 1005 species of birds, 155 species of amphibians and 132 species of reptiles. Here it is possible to find all the variety of ecological floors that exist in the Amazon, from the low jungle, the Amazon plain and even the cloud forests of high jungle. All this on a scenario of impressive diversity of vegetation, and is that in a single hectare of Manu have come to find up to 250 species of trees.

Best time to visit Manu National Park

The best time to visit Manu is in Cusco’s dry season; between May and October is when you can avoid the most rainy days. During the rainy season, especially January and February, the fall of water increases the flow of rivers, which often block the roads and greatly hinder transfers.

How to get to Manu National Park

Hiring a tour to Manu National Park: The safest option to get there is to hire a tour to Manu National Park from Cusco. Apart from not having to worry about where to go and having adequate vehicles to travel the difficult roads into the jungle, the tours operate with multi-day itineraries that include lodging, meals and activities such as ziplining, canopy, hiking and boat rides. In addition, the tours stop at specific places along the route where urban transportation does not. One of these stops is in the cloud forest, where it is possible to observe the fascinating courtship dance of the Cock of the Rock.

To get to Manu National Park on your own: To get to Manu National Park on your own, you must go to the San Jeronimo control point in Cusco, from where buses leave at 11 am or at 5 pm to Pilcopata, within the cultural zone of Manu. The trip takes about 7 hours. You can also take the combi directly to Salvación, which is an hour further inland from Pilcopata. The first trip costs 30 soles per person, and to Salvación 40 soles per person. One option for lodging in Pilcopata is the Gallito de las Rocas Lodge, which costs 15USD per night.

Cultural Zone of Manu National Park

The cultural zone acts as a buffer zone to the National Park, in this area there are settlements, villages and in general a greater human presence. If you want to go to Manu on your own, and without hiring a tourist service, then you can only access the cultural zone. Although this area does not have the rich biodiversity of the reserved or intangible zones, it is a great way to save money and still experience the power of the jungle.

What to do in the cultural zone: From Pilcopata you can walk to the community of Santa Rosa de Huacaria. The walk takes about two hours and in Santa Rosa you can have lunch and then swim in a river surrounded by vegetation. 100% recommended is to take a transport to Atalaya, located in front of the Madre de Dios River and from where you can hire boat rides and hikes in the middle of the jungle. You can get to Atalaya from Pilcopata in a shared cab (10 soles per person) or in a private moto-taxi (60 soles).

Beyond Atalaya is Salvación, a charming village within the cultural zone of Manu, where you can find delicious Amazonian food, such as the famous caldo de gallina (chicken soup), in local restaurants. Salvación is also home to Cocha Machuwasi, a small lake surrounded by marshy vegetation and a natural refuge for more than a thousand species of birds. You can cross the lake in wooden rafts and then walk for a couple of hours along the surrounding trails.

Manu National Park Reserved Zone

The reserved zone is where the real magic happens. To get here you can only do it by hiring a tour with an authorized tourism agency, in “Amazon Garden Lodge” we have a tour to the reserved zone of the Manu National Park. The pristine state of nature in the reserved zone allows the existence of extreme biodiversity, where its lush forests hide endangered species such as: the black caiman, the spectacled bear and the giant river otter.

What to do in the Manu Reserved Zone: The “Amazon Garden Lodge” tour includes extensive navigations on the Madre de Dios River, where it is possible to observe birds such as the heron, the kingfisher and the jungle condor. From the boat it is very likely to observe jaguars bathing on the river bank, as well as groups of turtles, white caimans and the giant river otter. There are also night and afternoon walks, with explanations from an expert guide about the rainforest. The tour lasts 6 days and includes transfers, lodging and meals.

Tours to Manu National Park

About Manu National Park

Here are 6 facts about Manu National Park that will convince you to visit this magical place.

  • Created on May 29, 1973 and considered one of the protected natural areas in Peru.
  • Located in the provinces of Paucartambo in Cusco and Manu in Madre de Dios, Manu National Park covers an area of 1,716,295.22 hectares and occupies the entire Manu River basin.
  • It is home to more than 30 native communities, who struggle daily to preserve their home and at the same time welcome tourists.
  • Regarding the animals in Manu National Park, 222 species of mammals, 1,005 types of birds, more than 50 species of snakes, 40 species of lizards, 6 species of turtles, 3 species of caimans and 210 types of fish have been identified.
  • It holds the world record for diversity of amphibians and reptiles, 155 and 132 species, respectively.
  • There is evidence of 4,385 species of flora identified in Manu National Park. In only one hectare of territory, up to 250 varieties of trees can be found.

Climate in Manu National Park

The climate in Manu National Park is very variable. The climate in Manu National Park is generally very rainy and rainfall varies according to altitude. In the southern zone (which is the highest), between 1,500 and 2,000 mm are recorded annually. In the middle sector it increases from 3,000 to 3,500 mm. The highest record is reached in the northwestern sector with more than 8,000 mm.

In the dry season, from May to September, rainfall decreases and temperatures drop. The thermal regime is also very variable, as the Amazonian zone is warm, with an average annual temperature of 25.6oC, and the Andean zone is cold, with an average annual temperature of 8oC.

Animals in Manu National Park

Manu National Park is home to a large number of wildlife animals. It has recorded about 160 species of mammals, more than 1,000 species of birds (mostly resident), about 140 species of amphibians, 50 species of snakes, 40 species of lizards, 6 species of turtles, 3 species of caimans and 210 species of fish.

On the other hand, the number of insects in Manu National Park is very high. It is estimated that there are around 30 million species. In turn, more than 1,300 species of butterflies, 136 species of dragonflies, at least 300 species of ants (more than 40 species were found in a single tree) and more than 650 beetles have been recorded.

A total of 500 birds only around the lowland forests at Cocha Cashu Biological Station, and checklists by Terborgh, Janson and Brecht (1984) give habitats, foraging position, activity (sociability) and abundance of all birds and mammals found up to 1982. Bird species found in Manu represent 25% of all known birds in South America and 10% of all species in the world and it is believed that there may be more than 1,000 bird species in total. According to Renton (1990), six species of macaws are found in lowland forests, Ara ararauna, A. chloroptera, A. macao, A. severa and A. manilata.

There are 13 species of monkeys, and it is estimated that there are more than 100 species of bats. There are also 12 reptile species within 7 families (ANU-CEPID, 1986), and 77 amphibian species from the fire families are known in the Cocha Cashu area (Rodríguez, in press). There are no checklists for invertebrates, although it has been estimated that the park contains about 500,000 arthropod species. Again, most of the information has been collected in the lowlands, and there is little detailed information on animals in Manu National Park.

Flora in Manu National Park

With respect to the flora of Manu National Park, the number of plant species is very high. The various records 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 have been found. The aguajal forests are one of the most outstanding ecosystems, where the aguaje (Mauritia flexuosa) and huasaí (Euterpe precatoria) palms are dominant. They develop in almost permanently flooded areas, especially on the right bank of the Manu River.

Tourist routes in Manu National Park

In the lower basin of the Manu River you can see the exuberance of the Amazon plain. Five zones have been designated for the visit, where a great diversity of flora and fauna is concentrated, these are: Salvador, Otorongo, Juarez (these three are lakes), Pakitza and Limonal.

In these areas there are a variety of circuits and trails to appreciate the beauty of the tropical forest. There are also lakes or horseshoe-shaped lakes where it is possible to observe species that have disappeared in other ecosystems, such as the giant otter and the black lizard.

Another attraction are the forests on both banks of the Manu River, where it is not only possible to observe a great variety of flora, but also numerous associated fauna. A reference point of attraction are the clay licks, where many species of fauna come. The aguajales also allow the concentration of typical fauna, such as macaws.

How to get to Manu National Park from Cusco

You can get to Manu National Park from Cusco in two ways: hiring a travel agency or on your own.

Hiring a tour to Manu National Park

The safest option to get there is to hire a tour to Manu National Park from Cusco. In addition to not having to worry about where to go and having adequate vehicles to travel the difficult roads into the jungle, the tours work with multi-day itineraries that include lodging, meals and activities such as zip-lining, canopy, walks and boat rides. In addition, the tours stop at specific places along the route where urban transport does not. One of these stops is in the cloud forest, where it is possible to observe the fascinating dance of the Cock of the Rock courtship.

Getting to Manu National Park on your own

To get to Manu National Park from Cusco on your own you must go to the San Jeronimo control in Cusco, from here the combis leave at 11 am or 5 pm to Pilcopata, within the cultural zone of Manu. The trip takes about 7 hours. You can also take the combi directly to Salvation, which is an hour further in Pilcopata. The first trip costs 30 soles per person, and up to Salvation 40 soles per person. A lodging option in Pilcopata is the Gallito de las Rocas Lodge, with a cost of 15USD per night.

What to see in Manu National Park

In Manu National Park, declared by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage Site, you will be able to enjoy the following activities:

Exuberant and evergreen vegetation: gigantic trees, among which we can mention cedar, mahogany, lupuna, tornillo, among others. Thick bushes, twisted trunks flooded with mosses, ferns and beautiful orchids. In short, a place that houses more than 220 species of trees.

Indigenous groups such as the Amahuaca, Huachipaire, Machiguenga, Piro, Vora, Vaminahua and about twenty other communities that use Quechua as their mother tongue. Fascinatingly, there are other groups that have had no contact with the modern world.

Endangered species such as the manatee, tapir or giant otter. To continue naming other animals, it will also be ideal to capture with your camera an encounter with a sloth bear, squirrels, felines, spectacled bears, red deer, cock-of-the-rock and some of the 860 species of birds that coexist in the lands of this natural reserve of Peru.

The Tres Cruces viewpoint: a natural spectacle that gives the impression of a sunset over an immense ocean that takes place when the sun reflects on the clouds as it rises in the east at dawn.

Lake Sandoval: a place half an hour by boat from Puerto Maldonado. On this route you can cross several landscapes: first you take a walk along the shore of the road, where you can see the old boat of the explorer Fitzcarraldo. Immediately, you enter a lush forest that gives way to Lake Sandoval, with its deep blue waters, invites you to take a refreshing swim. The tour ends with a canoe trip, where once again the immense biodiversity of the Manu National Park, which holds the world record for having 155 species of amphibians and 132 reptiles, becomes evident.

Tambopata Jungle Tours

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