It constitutes the greater natural treasure of Peru, as much by the number of species that lodges like by the diversity of ecosystems that it protects. It was established like Park National in 1973 and declared Natural Patrimony of the Humanity by UNESCO in 1977.
It includes the totality of the river basin of the Manu river. In its interior they inhabit diverse well-known ethnic groups - amahuaca, huachipaire, machiguenga, piro, yora and yaminahua-, besides others without no contact with the modern world. The Park is the natural environment of more than 20,000 plants you will tilt, 1,200 species of butterflies, 800 of birds, 200 of mammals and numbers still unknown of reptiles, amphibians and insects.
Due to its altitudinal variation, from the 200 msnm. until almost the 4,000 msnm., is the unique Park of Latin America that includes all the atmosphere rank between tropical low forest until subalpine pajonal. This territory protects more than thousand birds and a thousand of invertebrates, lodging in addition 10% to the vegetal species of the world.
The National Park contains great diversity of animal species: birds like the eagle harpía (Harpia harpyja), jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) and the pink spatula (Ajaia ajaja) and 169 species of mammals approx (between which they are more than 100 species of bats).
Between the wild fauna are species like: sylvan goose (Neochen jubata), the gallito of rocks (peruviana Rupicolous), the monkey choro (Lagothrix lagotricha), maquisapa black (Ateles paniscus), the wolf of river (Pteronura brasiliensis), the jaguar (Panthera onca), tigrillo (leopardus pardalis), the bear of spectacles (Tremarctos ornatus) and taruca (Hippocamelus antisensis).
In the lowest floor fruits can be observed, flowers and trees. These last ones exceed the 45 ms of height and 3 ms of diameter, being the most characteristic cético (Cecropia sp.), run into (Ochocroma sp.), cedar, lupuna (Ceiba Pentandra sp.) and kill wood (Rubber plant sp.).
In the territory of the National Park of the Manu, also are 30 communities farmers who maintain the language quechua like their maternal language and several amazonian native populations that inhabit this territory from time immemorial, as they are the towns Matsiguenka, Amahuaca, Yine, Amarakaeri, Huashipaire and Nahua.
Part of the past cultural of these groups is conserved by the petroglyphs of Pusharo, in the region of the Palotoa river and by the ruins of Mameria. There are archaeological rest that not yet have been studied.
• Access: A hard road part from Cuzco and leads to the localities of Atalaya and Shintuya (to 9 and 12 hours respectively), points from where it is possible to initiate the trip by waterway (5 to 6 hours). Small plane flights also exist that unite Cuzco and the locality of Manu Mouth (30 minutes), from that is necessary to continue by waterway (4 to 6 hours).
• Season: The tourist season sandal of April to December, being the period of greater tourism between June and September.
• Climate: The season of rains or low season goes of January to March, but throughout the year they can have unexpected rains, reason why it is always recommended to wear raincoat. The temperatures average in the low zones are of 35ºC during the day and 25ºC during the night. Nevertheless, throughout the year, temperatures originated in strong rains can be presented/displayed losses long play. In these cases, the maximum temperature during the day is of 18ºC and the minim is of 10ºC at night.
• Activities: excursions guided with specialized personnel, eco-tourism, observation of flora and fauna are offered, trekking, boating and visits to indigenous communities.
• Recommendations: To visit only areas authorized. Not to interfere in the activities of the investigators, not to make contact with the enemy with native settlers, not to collect species of flora and fauna and to accept the dispositions of the Authorities of the Park.
• Crafts: elaborated with sylvan plants, fibers, seeds and roots. The Peruvian laws prohibit the extraction, transports, commercialization and export of any type of species of flora and wild fauna alive or dead, including any object made with their parts.