The Amazon covers more than half of Peru, but is the least inhabited and visited part of the country. About fifteen percent of Peru's Amazonian rain forest has been lost to logging and clearing, however it is still a vast jungle wilderness with exceptional national parks where the mind-boggling biological diversity provides for some of the best wildlife and birding expeditions anywhere in the world.
The Manu Biosphere Reserve comprises almost two million hectares of jealously guarded virgin Amazonian cloud and rain forest. It is located east of the Andes, where the foothills give way to the Amazon basin. The animal highlights of the reserve are the Macaws, Giant Otter, Jaguar, Black Alligator, Red Howler Monkeys, Spider Monkeys and hundreds of bird species. The reserve is also home to innumerable species of flowers, butterflies, reptiles and insects. Besides the flora and fauna there are also isolated native tribes living inside the reserve. Although remote, the amazing wildlife makes a visit to the Manu Reserve a highly rewarding experience. |
Iquitos is a lively cosmopolitan town in Peru's far North East. It is swelteringly hot and humid, atmospheric and charming with much of the decadent architecture from the rubber boom days still evident. The town is only accessible by river and air and can be reached by ocean going vessels coming up the river Amazon from the Atlantic thousands of miles away. Iquitos is worth a few days in its own right, but also has excellent access to jungle wildlife and traditional indigenous villages.
The Pacaya-Samiria Reserve is even larger than the Manu Reserve. This vast area is enclosed by two of the Amazon's largest tributaries which flood in the rainy season (Dec-Mar), creating a swap similar to the Brazil's Pantanal. This reserve is particularly good for bird watching tours. A very valuable development is that the indigenous people of the Cocoma tribe actively participate in the management of the reserve.
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