Parco Nazionale del Manú (sito naturale): uno dei luoghi più ricchi di vita del pianeta
Scende dalle vette andine fino alle pianure dell’Amazzonia, attraversando ogni clima e ogni foresta: il Manú, nel sud-est del Perù, è uno dei luoghi più biodiversi del mondo. Migliaia di specie di piante, centinaia di uccelli e di mammiferi, e popoli indigeni ancora isolati abitano questo immenso territorio quasi intatto.
At a glance
Manú National Park, in south-eastern Peru, descends from the high Andes down to the lowland Amazon, passing through every climate zone and forest type along the way. This vast, almost untouched expanse is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, with thousands of plant species, hundreds of birds and mammals — jaguars, giant otters, monkeys, macaws — and home to Indigenous peoples, some living in voluntary isolation. It was inscribed by UNESCO in 1987.
Key facts
- UNESCO: World Heritage since 1987 (Manú National Park)
- Andes to Amazon: spans from high mountains to lowland jungle
- Extreme biodiversity: among the richest places on Earth for life
- Wildlife: jaguar, giant otter, monkeys, macaws and more
- Indigenous peoples: including groups in voluntary isolation
- Largely pristine: one of the least disturbed Amazon regions
History
Because of its remoteness and the steep gradient from the Andes to the Amazon basin, the Manú region escaped the deforestation and disturbance suffered by much of the rainforest, preserving an almost complete sequence of ecosystems from cloud forest to lowland jungle. This made it a scientific treasure, with new species still being discovered.
Established as a national park in 1973 and inscribed by UNESCO in 1987, Manú protects not only this biodiversity but also the territories of Indigenous peoples, including communities who have chosen to avoid contact with the outside world. Access is tightly controlled to safeguard both the wildlife and these peoples.
What you see
Visitors usually travel by road over the Andes and then by river into the lowland forest, watching for wildlife along the rivers and oxbow lakes: giant otters, caimans, capybaras, troops of monkeys and clay licks where macaws and parrots gather in brilliant flocks. Cloud forest on the descent shelters the cock-of-the-rock and spectacled bear.
The sheer abundance and variety of life, from the misty heights to the jungle rivers, is the wonder of Manú.
Practical information
- Park: visited on guided multi-day tours; access is restricted
- Best time: the dry season (May–October)
- Time needed: several days
- Note: core zones are off-limits to protect wildlife and isolated peoples
Getting there
Manú National Park is in the Madre de Dios and Cusco regions of south-eastern Peru. Tours usually start from Cusco, descending by road and river. GPS: 11.90° S, 71.40° W.
Nearby
- Cusco — the historic Andean city and usual starting point
- Madre de Dios — the lowland Amazon region
- Cloud forest of Kosñipata — the descent from the Andes
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — “Manú National Park” (ref. 402)
- SERNANP (Peru) — official body
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Manú National Park
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