A mosaic of protected areas

The Reserve boasts unique species of flora and fauna, with habitats ranging from the Andes to montane tropical forest and down to rainforest, and was recognized as a biosphere reserve in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO. Today it's considered one of the best places in South America to observe tropical wildlife, and is made up of three zones: the Cultural Zone, open to everyone; the Reserved Zone, open only to ecotourism and controlled scientific research; and Manu National Park proper, dedicated to protecting the reserve and accessible only to anthropological and biological researchers. Native populations still live in this area who, to this day, have had no contact with the outside world.

From the Andes to the Amazon basin

The Manu Reserve stretches from the Cusco region down to the Madre de Dios river, and is crossed by numerous tributaries and small streams that flow down from the Andes toward the Amazon basin, feeding into the region's most important river, the Madre de Dios (roughly 1,150 km long and capable of irrigating over 100,000 km²).

A treasure trove of biodiversity

More than 20,000 different plant species grow in the Manu Reserve, alongside around 1,000 bird species, 1,200 types of butterflies, more than 200 mammals and 13 primate species, armadillos, freshwater turtles, caimans, ocelots and countless reptiles, insects and amphibians. The Reserve is also home to protected species such as the jaguar and the giant otter: scientists believe more than 10,000 species have yet to be identified, and that Manu National Park may be the area with the greatest biodiversity on the planet.