Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
weirdest birds, the hoatzin. This is an oversized wild chicken with a blue face and a large crest on its head (hence
the nickname 'punk chicken').
Scientists have been unable to classify this bird as a member of any other avian family, mainly due to the two
claws the young have on each wing. To evade predators, hoatzin chicks will fall out of the nest to the river and use
their claws to help them scramble back up the muddy banks. The clawed wing is a feature no other airborne creature
since the pterodactyl has possessed. The bird's appearance is outdone by its terrible smell, which may well be the
first indication they are nearby. They also taste bad, so are rarely hunted. In this age of rainforest depletion, they are
one of the few native birds with a flourishing population.
Manu Area
The Manu area encompasses the Parque Nacional Manu and much of the surrounding
area. Covering almost 20,000 sq km, the park is divided into three zones: the largest sector
is the
zona natural,
comprising 80% of the total park area and closed to unauthorized vis-
itors. The second sector, still within the park proper, is the
zona reservada,
where con-
trolled research and tourism activities are permitted. The third sector, covering the south-
eastern area, is the
zona cultural,
where most other visitor activity is concentrated.
Parque Nacional Manu
This national park starts in the eastern slopes of the Andes and plunges down into the low-
lands, playing host to a great diversity of wildlife over a wide range of cloud forest and
rainforest habitats. Unesco declared it a World Natural Heritage site in 1987. During a
one-week trip you can reasonably expect to see scores of different bird species, several
monkey species and possibly a few other mammals, including jaguars, tapirs, giant anteat-
ers, tamanduas, capybaras, peccaries and giant river otters. Colorful butterflies and less
pleasing insects also abound.
The best time to go is during the dry season (June to November); Manu may be inac-
cessible or closed during the rainy months (January to April), except to visitors staying at
the two lodges within the park boundaries.
It is illegal to enter the park without a guide. Travelers often report delays upon return-
ing from Manu (of up to several days), so don't plan an international airline connection
for the day after your trip.
