The Manu Biosphere Reserve is famous as one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world, and it is certainly the most wildlife-rich area of the Amazon that is accessible to visitors. It is a vast and pristine wilderness encompassing 1,880,000 hectares of grasslands, cloudforest and tropical lowlands, with an incredible diversity of flora and fauna. Visitors have a high chance of spotting giant otters, jaguars and ocelots, and over 1,000 species of bird have been recorded.
The park is accessed from Cuzco, and can be reached either by a quick, exhilarating ride in a light aircraft to the airstrip at Boca Manu, deep within the reserve, or by a two day road and river journey. The latter offers the chance to stay en route at the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge in the cloudforest, which gives the rare chance to see the colourful eponymous birds, and Amazonia Lodge, another prime birdwatching location.