Manu Biosphere Reserve is one of the world's most biologically diverse places. The reserve encompasses a large area nearly the size of New Hampshire from 13,500 ft elevation in the Central Andes of Peru to the lowlands of the Peruvian Amazon. Over 1000 species of birds, some 10% of the world's total avifauna, have been found within the reserve. Of these, over 550 species have been recorded in the Amazon lowlands of the reserve. The higher elevation sites can be visited by taking the altitudinal transect along the Manu Road. The Manu Road transect is described separately (see sidebar for link).
The lower elevation areas within the Amazon Basin are best reached by boat. Most of the reserve is closed off to the general public and is accessible only to research scientists and indigenous people. All tours must be conducted by the relatively few tour companies licensed to operate tours in the reserve. These operators act as ground agents for all other tour companies that organized tours into the reserve.
The Amazon lowlands around Manu Wildlife Center encompass most of the habitat diversity found within the reserve in a relatively small area. The major habitats are seasonally flooded forests known as varzea forest, always dry forest known as terra firme forest, large stands of bamboo which are home to some specialty species found nowhere else, and mature transitional flood plain forest. These habitats are visited by dugout boats or by walking the extensive network of trails around the lodge. One of the major attractions is the Blanquillo Macaw Lick, where hundreds of parrots and macaws visit most mornings to eat clay they use to detoxify the fruits in their diets. The Boca Manu airstrip is reached by a 2.5 hour boat trip from Manu Wildlife Center.
