Manú National Park
Peru's pristine wilderness
Manú is the largest national park in Peru and is such a special place that in 1977, Unesco, the United Nations’ educational and cultural organisation, recognised it as a biosphere reserve. In 1987, it was made a World Heritage Site. The national park, located in Peru’s southern Amazon rainforest, is enormous, covering 1.5 million hectares. According to Unesco, the biological diversity found there exceeds that of any other place on Earth. The park lies within the Amazon basin but also includes part of the eastern slopes of the Andes. It rises from 150 to 4,200 meters above sea level, encompassing lowland Amazonian rainforest, high-altitude cloud forest, and Andean grassland. These marked variations in conditions and vegetation give rise to its unique variety of plant and animal species.
More than 1,000 species of birds — about 10 percent of the world’s bird species — have been recorded in the park, along with more than 1,200 species of butterflies and 287 species of reptiles and amphibians. There are rarities such as the giant otter and the giant armadillo, and jaguars are often spotted. One expert at the University of California said, “For reptiles and amphibians, Manú and its buffer zone now stand out as the most diverse protected area anywhere.” As a home of wildlife, Manú is now regarded as globally irreplaceable.
Although the park is accessible, it is very remote, and experts know that there is still much to discover there. For example, Unesco admits that little is known of the flora in Manú. Although 1,147 plant species have been identified, it is thought that the actual figure must be a lot higher. The park also has human inhabitants. There are no towns there, but according to Unesco, at least four different groups of indigenous people make their homes in Manú. They are nomadic and survive on hunting, fishing, and basic agriculture. They are seen as part of the park’s natural system and are left to use the park as they please.
The beautiful, mysterious Manú, a pristine wilderness teeming with wildlife, really has to be seen to be believed.
Hidden gems in Manú National Park
Peru
Birdwatching in Manú National Park
Just how good a birdwatching site is the Manú region? According to the British birding expert Dominic Couzens, it’s one of the best in the world. Couzens, a highly-praised author and regular contributor to the BBC in London, includes Manú in his book The Top 100 Birding Sites of the World, ranking it alongside such places as the Florida Everglades, the sub-Antarctic islands of South Georgia, the Rift Valley in Kenya, and the Serengeti in Tanzania. The reason why is the sheer number of species that make their home in this remote but still accessible part of the Peruvian Amazon. It’s an area of amazing biodiversity. The national park is teeming with parakeets, parrots, macaws, toucans, egrets, hummingbirds, and eagles, including the harpy eagle. Waiting for you are quails, grebes, cormorants, storks, and vultures, including the king vulture. There are ospreys, hawks, falcons, cuckoos, owls, and woodpeckers... the list goes on and on. Suffice to say there is enough here to keep the most dedicated birdwatcher enthralled for a lifetime. Unfortunately, most visitors to Manú have only a few short days or weeks to appreciate what’s on offer. And what makes this region extra special is that birdwatching is so easy here. The area is relatively easily reached, but it is still a remote and wonderful wilderness. Because humans have had so little impact on the surroundings, the birds are confident, less shy than they might be in other parts of the world, and that makes them readily observable. When to go There are really only two seasons in Amazonia: rainy and dry. In the rainy season, from January to June, torrential downpours flood the rivers and cover the forest floor in muddy water. There will be periods of sunshine, but showers occur almost every day. The average temperature is about 80°F. Animals and birds tend to shelter from the rain just as we do, but there are advantages to coming at this time of year. High water levels mean that boats can easily navigate flooded tributaries and forests, getting tourists to otherwise unreachable destinations. Just remember to pack your rain gear! The dry season is from July through December, when the heat is steaming and the humidity is smothering. It can be uncomfortable for tourists. There may still be showers, but the generally lower rainfall means that water levels will be lower. That, in turn, means that trails will be clearer to follow and mosquitoes less troublesome. The dry season is ideal for hiking and fishing. However, remember that the Amazonian climate is variable. There can be very nice days in the rainy season and wet days in the dry season. Overall, the best option is probably between mid-April and mid-December.
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Birdwatching in Manú National Park
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