Manú National Park

Manú National Park is located in the provinces of Madre de Dios and Paucartambo, not far from Cusco and Machu Picchu. The 1.5 million hectare area was recognized in 1977 by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve, and later in 1987 as a World Heritage Site. Manú National Park is unique compared to many other parks around the world because it has an altitude range of 150 to 4200 meters above sea level. This topographical range means that it has more microclimates than any other region in the world, allowing an unrivalled variety of animal and plant species to thrive.

Manú National Park – Maps & Pictures

Manú Wildlife

The rich environment brought about by the many different microclimates allows for a diverse range of wildlife to exist in Manú National Park. Identified in the park to-date include:  mammals: 222 species, reptiles: 99 species, amphibians: 140 species, birds: 1000 species, fish: 210 species, butterflies: 1307 species, ants: 300 species, dragonflies: 136 species and beetles: 650 species.

As with all national reserves it is important to remember that the wildlife is not waiting for you, but with patience and a bit of luck, there could be the opportunity to see jaguar, puma, giant anteater, giant armadillo, South American red & brown brocket deer, the Andean cock of the rock and many monkey species including the various howler monkeys and many many more.

The reserve is also a great destination for birdwatchers, as it is home to over 1000 species of birds, more than the number of bird species found in the United States and Canada combined. There are several tour operators which specialize in ornithology tours, but one of the very best is Manu Expeditions, based in Cusco.

Manú National Park – Lodges

For a full break-down of all the Lodges available in Manú National Park, and other Amazon Jungle lodges, please see our Peru guide section on Amazon Lodges.

Getting to Manú National Park

Most tourists visiting Manú National Park will travel as part of a pre-arrange tour, with a recognized operator that includes transport from Cusco. The road from Cusco to Shintuya (in the Jungle) passes through the famous village of Paucartambo, and is approximately a 165KM’s (100 miles), with a journey time of about 8 hours. The road slowly winds its way down the eastern slopes of the Andes, through spectacular and constantly changing Andean scenery, before arriving into the south-eastern area of Manú National Park. Alternatively, some lodges like The Manú Wildlife Centre are typically accessed first by a 45 minute flight from Cusco to Boca Manú airstrip, and then by boat to the lodge. Note that flights from Cusco to Boca Manú airstrip only operate in the dry season from May through September time, and are frequently delayed or cancelled if adverse weather conditions affect the flight path, or Boca Manú airstrip.

Talk to your tour operator or lodge about what travel arrangements you can expect for your tour, and what is include within the price.