Although the Peruvian Amazon amounts to only 10 per cent of the total Amazon Basin, it represents some the wildest, most wildlife-packed rainforest in the world.
Some botanists claim that Manú has more plant species than any other protected area on the earth.
This UNESCO World Heritage Park covers almost 20,000km² of the Amazon Basin and is renowned for one of the widest varieties of animals in the world it is home to 1000 species of birds, more than 200 species of mammals, 13 species of monkey, a great variety of butterflies and 15,000 species of flowering plants.
The bird species found in Manú represent 25 per cent of all the birds known in South America and 15 per cent of all the species in the world.
On the way to Manú you can also discover a cloud forest of swirling mist and cloud, with evergreen trees, festooned with mosses, lichens, bromeliads and other epiphytes.
In Manú, explore more than 50km of walking trails to spot iridescent tanagers, toucans, hummingbirds and encounter some of the 13 species of monkeys, such as the monk saki and emperor tamarin, which live in the surrounding forest.
Climb a 35m high observation platform to observe tapirs feeding, ride a canoe on lake Cocha Salvador to watch endangered giant otters or paddle downstream on the Madre de Dios River to spot brown capuchin monkeys, jaguars, macaws, caiman crocodiles, long-nosed armadillos, silky anteaters and bushy tailed opossums in the riverside jungle.
From a floating catamaran blind, watch and photograph hundreds of large parrots and macaws feeding at a mineral clay lick (clay is a vital yet mysterious part of the birds’ diet).
At night, from a 40m high platform, observe tapirs feeding at the Amazon’s largest known tapir clay lick.
Accommodation – The Wildlife Centre is the only lodge in the Manú lowlands with roomy, private bungalows, each of which has ensuite private bathrooms complete with tiled hot water showers. Various lodges operate outside the reserve.
Location – Manú National Park is located west of Puerto Maldonado.
Access is best from Cusco, a 25-minute flight away or a one-and-a-half day overland drive. Other activities Trekking, kayaking or exploring ancient civilisations in Peru.
Best time to visit Manú National Rainforest – The best time to visit is during the dry season from June to November when the days are clear and sunny and the nights are cold, especially at altitude.
The coldest month is June, with an average temperature of 11°C (51°F), while the hottest month is October, at 25°C (77°F).
Much of Manú is inaccessible during the wet season from October to April.
Cuzco – Built by the Spanish on the remains of Inca temples, Cuzco is the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America.
Dominated by the imposing fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Cuzco’s unspoilt, whitewashed, stone-walled streets and red-tiled roofs are home to a wealth of traditional culture, from Quechua-speaking Incan descendants who still crowd the centuries-old streets, to fascinating museums, walks and tours.
Inside the Museo de la Inquisicion, discover creepy dungeons and torture chambers at the former headquarters of the Spanish America Inquisition (1570 to 1820 AD).
Machu Picchu – Beyond the ancient town of Ollantaytambo, at the end of the stunning Inca Trail, lie the most famous ruins in South America.
Clinging to sheer cliffs, the awe-inspiring city of Machu Picchu is believed to have been an important ceremonial centre or possibly a royal retreat abandoned at the time of the Spanish invasion.
Latest update: Eco adventures – Manú National Park, Peru: 6 May, 2025
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