Manu

Things to do here:
Explore the rainforest	Wild life and bird watching

Location: Southern jungle at 365 meters or 1,200 ft. above sea level.

Climate: Tropical, warm and humid with an annual temperature of 30°C (86°F) and with intense rains between December and March.

Landscapes: The Manu Biosphere comprises 3 areas: the National Park, the Reserve and the Cultural Zone. All together covers almost 2 millions hectares (about half the size of Switzerland) and it extends from the high Andes (mountains) at over 4,000 meters (13,150 ft.) down to 365 meters (1,200 ft.). Given its geographical location and its steep terrain, Manu has a wide range of climates and environments, which give rise to its extraordinary natural diversity. The flora is heterogeneous and abundant, over 2,000 species of plants have been recorded in its forests; but its fauna is even more diverse, biologists have identified as many as 13 species of primates, five of felines, a thousand bird species, close to a hundred species of bats and as yet unknown quantity of fish, amphibian, reptile, and insect species. Manu is also home of vulnerable species that are endangered, such as the Andean bear, the Andean deer, the black lizard and the river otter, almost extinct on the rest of the continent but still in considerable numbers in the Manu.

Customs and folklore: Manu is also shelter for many indigenous communities who have lived in harmony with nature for hundreds of years. It's the ancestral territory of diverse ethnic groups, some of them are very small and maintain very little contact with the modern world. Today, they live in protected territories that ensure their ability to continue to live as their ancestors did, but we must be very careful to don't alter their way of life.

Manu: one week in the rainforest
by Blandine Sebileau (France)

The week I spent in the jungle was probably the best part of my trip in Peru. I went there with a group of 8, plus a guide, cooks and all sorts of people to look after us and make sure we were happy. After one day traveling by bus, we transferred all the equipment into a canoe, and off we went down the upper “Madre de Dios” River for a wonderful day on the river. When we reached the camp at dusk, small candles had been lit to show us the way, and it looked like paradise. We couldn't believe our eyes, there we were, in that amazing place, so far from civilization, and yet our camp was like a dream, with bamboo huts and platforms all made of natural material, looking so homely and beautiful.

During our stay, we went for long walks around the camp, day and night, looking for wildlife, observing trees and plants, looking for tracks, feeling like kids playing scientists. We spent hours in a bamboo shed waiting and observing macaws and parrots and monkeys. We felt so close to nature, taking a bath in the river or among rocks in a hot spring, shampooing under the tropical rain. One afternoon we went fishing for piranhas, all of us standing on a log in the middle of the river, and we had some very exciting moments. We had a very tasty dinner that day. Later, we settled on a small wooden raft and went cruising on a lake, and all we could hear was the sound of the water as we softly glided over the lake, birds singing, monkeys playing in the trees, caimans silently sneaking past us.

Everything was so incredibly peaceful. As we came back, we watched in amazement the sun going down over the jungle, pinks and purples reflecting on the water. Manu is one of the most awesome and inspiring places that I have ever been to.

TIPS: stuffs you should bring to the Manu

	Long cotton pants and shorts,
	Long-sleeved shirts (light colors but not bright) and t-shirts,
	Waterproof jacket,
	Boots (waterproof) and sandals,
	Swimming suit and towel,
	Hat (look for the ones with mosquito net for the face and neck),
	Binoculars, flashlights and batteries,
	Sun-block and insect repellent,
	Vaccinations against Yellow Fever, you must take it before the trip. Consult to your doctor.