Welcome to the jungle

Manu national park, the Peruvian Amazon jungle.

Last week, with my flatmates, I spent 4 days in the Amazon Jungle, more precisely in Manu National Park. We booked an organized tour from Cusco, which made us hike in the jungle, take boat trips, and see many different animals, like monkeys, birds, spiders, frogs, caimans and insects.

Manu National Park is a protected area in the Amazon Rainforest of southeastern Peru. It is renowned for its incredible biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Established in 1973, and 1987 designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it covers an area of approximately 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) and contains a diverse range of plant species, from lowland rainforests to cloud forests at higher elevations. It is home to a vast array of wildlife, including over 1,000 bird species, 200 mammal species, and countless insects and reptiles. Notable animals include jaguars, giant otters, black caimans, and several species of monkeys. Many species found in Manu are endemic, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world.

Manu National Park has several indigenous communities, including the Machiguenga, Yine, and Matsigenka peoples, these communities have lived in the area for thousands of years and maintain traditional ways of life.