The Manu National Biosphere Reserve has some of the best preserved Amazon rainforest in Peru. It is divided into sections: modern habitation; border zones where travelers are allowed to visit; and an inner zone that is only for wildlife and the tribes who have inhabited this jungle for over 3,000 years. The reserve is 17,163 km² (6627 miles²) which houses seven different ethnic groups.

Wildlife

Some of the wildlife that people go to Manu to see are the Peruvian jaguar, macaws, puma, ocelot, giant otter, giant anteater, giant armadillo, Brazilian tapir, sloths, marsh deer, and fourteen different species of monkeys.

Plan your time

If you want to visit the Biosphere Reserve, I recommend taking at least one week. I visited for eight days and it was barely enough. The region is so large that it takes four days to get to the areas where you can see the most wildlife. You spend days traveling by boat up the rivers to get close to the interior of the park. You can read about my experience in Manu on my blog.