Manu is one of the provinces that make up the department and region of Madre de Dios. The province of Manu has a territorial extension of 27,835.17 Km2, reason why it is considered the one of minor extensions of the region. The districts of Manu, Fitzcarrald, Madre de Dios and Huepetuhe make up this province. The capital of this province is the city of Salvation. The population of Manu is predominantly colonial (70%); however, 30% which represents the indigenous population, is also an attraction of the province and makes it an ideal scenario for experiential tourism. With an immense extension of natural spaces, full of flora and fauna, the Manu National Park is one of the largest units of its kind in the country and one of the largest in the tropical zone of the planet. Together with the adjacent Reserved Zone of the Manu and the Cultural Zone, it constitutes the so-called Manu Biosphere Reserve that reaches an area of almost two million hectares, an area comparable to half the territory of Switzerland. It is located in the departments of Cusco and Madre de Dios and covers the entire Manu river basin. This conservation unit protects an impressive succession of altitudinal floors that vary from 365 masl to reach altitudes above 4,000 m. It is considered that this territory constitutes one of the tropical forests of the greater natural wealth of the world. Considered one of the largest and richest natural reserves in the world, which allows you to make intimate contact with nature in its most primitive and wild state. The Manu Biosphere offers one of the best experiences through the Cloud Forest, where you can see the famous Cock of the Rocks, the National Bird of Peru. Also the biosphere of Manu gives us the option to see the wonderful collpa of Macaws, Tapir lick in Maquisapayoj, giant river wolves, 600 species of birds, the largest tower of the Peruvian Amazon alongside a ceiba over 350 years of antiquity, 8 species of monkeys, the red deer and the imposing jaguar. Likewise, this protected natural area is home to different ancestral cultures, which shows that its enormous importance for the whole world lies not only in the protection of its biodiversity but also in the protection of the cultural diversity of Peru and Latin America. The Biosphere of the Manu is an excellent example of good preservation of nature and is a nice school for children and young people to come to the biosphere and learn how nature is in the Manu Biosphere. A forest protected by private entities and located in the buffer zone of the Manu biosphere.
Day 01: Puerto Maldonado - Colorado - Manu Wildlife Center
Day 02: Appreciate the Mammals Clay lick
Day 03: Get on a boat tour and see wildlife
Day 04: Learn about native vegetation
Day 05: Manu Wildlife Center - Puerto Maldonado
The Manu National Park is one of the most recognized natural protected areas in the world, for its spectacular biodiversity, its numerous ecological levels and for protecting a large area of eastern Andes and the Amazonian plain of Peru. Its incomparable natural wealth, hosting the largest amount of flora and fauna of the Peruvian Amazon and the world, has made this protected natural area, managed by the Sernanp, be recognized as a Natural World Heritage Site.
The park is located in the provinces of Manu and Paucartambo (departments of Madre de Dios and Cusco, respectively), encompassing the eastern slopes of the Andes in the Peruvian Amazon. The limits to the north are the basin that separates the catchments of Manu and the rivers of Las Piedras, to the area where the south of the Paucartambo road in the north-west is converts into Tres Cruces, east of the region on the left bank of the Alto Madre de Dios river to the Pilcopata River, department of Cusco, and to the west of the basin that separates the catchment basins of the Manu and Camisea rivers - also the boundary between the departments of Cusco and Madre de Dios. Intangible area, protection of fauna and flora, and of the oriental and amazonian Andean scenic beauty, covers territories from the Andean puna in the department of Cusco to the low jungle in the department of Madre de Dios, crossed by the Manu river, Alto Mother of God and its tributaries. Most of its extension is located in the low jungle area, between 200 and 400 meters above sea level. (656 and 1312 feet). The rivers of the jungle area can be navigated in small boats at any time of the year. It integrates elements of exceptional beauty and scientific interest, hosting more than 5,000 species of mammals and more than 1 million species of insects and invertebrates.
The Manu National Park is the most diverse in Peru and the world, in this place you can explore and enjoy the diversity that this place offers you. In addition, you will meet the "top six", the six most extreme animals of the Peruvian Amazon: the Jaguar, the Rio Lobo, the Gallito de las Rocas, the Guacamayo Cabezón, the Black Caiman and the Maquisapa. If you arrive to Manu you can also know the traditional ways of life of Amazonian populations.The area also recognizes 30 native communities. Within the National Park, the main attraction of the province, there are also spaces such as the Macaw Clay Lick .
Those who visit the province of Manu, can take advantage of their visit to live with people and taste the dishes that establishments and residents offer, among them: the juane, the chicken Inchicapi, the Timbuche, carachama broth, among others. Also, do not forget to try the "chapo", which is a banana-based soft drink; as well as the refreshment of pihuayo.
The Manu National Park is considered one of the most important natural riches of the country that has a record in species of diurnal butterflies and birds, recognitions to which recently they added being the region that more species of amphibians and reptiles lodges in the planet .But these are not the only reasons why this park is of great importance at national level, in its territory it protects numerous ethnic groups among which stand out: Matsiguenka, Harakmbut and Yine. In addition, it is home to multiple indigenous groups living in voluntary isolation such as the Mashco-Piro. The great diversity of species that take place in this park have surpassed those recorded in the Yasuní National Park (Ecuador), which until a while ago was considered the protected natural area with the highest percentage of amphibians and reptiles in the world (150 and 121 species respectively).
This first day, we will cross interesting inter-Andean valleys and picturesque rural communities. At mid-morning we will visit the Pre-Inca Tombs of Ninamarca, known as "Chullpas" and then head to Paucartambo, a typical colonial town of great importance at that time and that still retains its flavor. Continuing the journey, we will ascend to the Acjanacu pass at 3,850 m.s. and from here we start the descent passing through the Cloud Forest, an area very rich in endemic species such as the Spectacled Bear and Cock of the Rock, orchids, bromeliads, ferns, etc. Lunch on the route (box lunch) observing the nature and then continue until we reach our lodge, located in the cultural area of the Manu National Park, in the middle of the Cloud Forest at 1700 m.s.n.m. (5100 ft.). Where we will spend our first night comfortably installed.
This second day, we will have the opportunity to see the famous clay lick (approx. twenty minutes) These wild rain forest pigs show up in herds of five to twenty individuals to eat clay in the late morning. Other wildlife also shows up including deer, guan and parakeets. Chances of spotting them are low but well worth the short hike because we also will have fun camera traps. You will visit a mammal clay lick located in one of the corners of the Big Grid, a 288 kilometer experimental trail system that has camera traps placed within it. At the clay lick, one of our resident biologists will help you set up your own camera trap and download photos from the past few days. These will feed into the extensive photographic database that will help us understand how many jaguars, tapirs and peccaries there are in the reserve. And if you strike jaguar (or bush dog!) gold and get them on the camera traps – they are yours to keep!
We leave early to board the boat adventure that awaits us, we will meet an old meander lake full of water lilies (Nuphar lutea) and sunken trunks. It is very likely that we will find the giant otter in the middle of the fishing expedition, or groups of monkeys rocking loudly on the top of the trees. Around the lake, the dream of an ornithologist will be fulfilled: woodpeckers, tanagers, macaws, toucans and parakeets are just some of the birds that you will be able to observe. Wading birds tread delicately over the spectacular leaves of nanofood, while Grebes swim delicately through calm water, Anhingas dry their wide black wings outdoors along the coast, while above, a perched Osprey perches on the branches of the trees to start the hunt. Among the bushes near the waterline, a Hoatzin announces its presence with distinctive wheezing and strange grunts.
The Manu National Park (PNM), which has more than 2 million hectares protect the diversity of species it harbors, as well as the landscapes of the low jungle, the jungle edge and the Andes of the Peruvian southeast. About native vegetation, the Manu protects 10% of the plant species in the world. A single hectare of the forest can hold more than 220 species of trees. The aguajales forests are one of the most outstanding and abundant ecosystems in this national park. The visit to the Manu National Park is restricted, but the public can access certain areas and feel the strength of the vigorous Manu River and enjoy the immense diversity of flora, fauna, climates and landscapes. In homage to its creation, every May 29 is celebrated in Peru the Day of the Manu National Park.
The Manu Wildlife Center is located in the wild and remote Manu wilderness of Peru along the Manu de Dios in the Manu Biosphere Reserve. The Lodge provides a perfectly comfortable base for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, birders and those who simply want a true relaxing rainforest experience. The Lodge counts on a Tapir and Mammal Lick, the Blanquillo Macaw and Parrot Clay Lick, 2 walk up Canopy Towers and floating catamarans on 2 ox-bow lakes for observing Giant Otters and other lakeside birds and wildlife.
