🌿 Peru and Cusco: A Natural Paradise
Peru and Cusco are among the world’s top destinations for nature lovers. Blessed with the richest ocean on Earth, vast unexplored Amazonian forests, and the highest tropical mountain range on the planet, Peru offers virtually unlimited biodiversity.
Home to over 10% of the world’s plant and animal species and an astonishing variety of climates and ecosystems, Peru has become a modern Noah’s Ark. Nature enthusiasts and students from around the globe visit to gain experience, expand their knowledge, and discover unique species.
Top natural sanctuaries include:
- Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary
- Manu National Park
- Tambopata National Reserve
🏞️ Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary
A UNESCO World Heritage Site (Natural and Cultural, 1983), this park was created to protect the iconic landscape of Machu Picchu.
Believed to be a royal residence and possibly a coca collection center for the surrounding plantations, the site was eventually abandoned and reclaimed by jungle until its rediscovery in 1911. Remnants of the Qapac Ñan (Inca Trail) can be found here, along with local legends—like the spectacled bear, said to be a messenger between the mountain spirits and the jungle.
🌳 Manu National Park
Recognized by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage Site and designated a Biosphere Reserve, Manu is one of the richest and most pristine wildlife destinations in the Amazon.
Located in the provinces of Manu and Paucartambo (departments of Madre de Dios and Cusco), the park spans the eastern slopes of the Andes and the Peruvian Amazon. It protects diverse landscapes from high-altitude puna and yunga to lowland rainforest, crossed by the Manu River and upper Madre de Dios tributaries.
The park includes:
- Restricted zones for scientific research
- Tourist zones with eco-lodges and guided excursions
- Access via Cusco through Paucartambo
🌺 Choquequirao Regional Conservation Area
You don’t need to memorize scientific names—there are over 3,500 species across 240 genera. But you should remember this: nearly 800 of them are endemic to Peru, found nowhere else on Earth. Some even thrive at altitudes of 4,500 meters (14,760 feet).
This biodiversity is fueled by Peru’s vast range of ecosystems, offering hundreds of shapes, sizes, and colors. One standout is Phragmipedium peruvianum, Peru’s representative orchid. Machu Picchu alone hosts around 350 native orchid species, with over 100 visible along its orchid trails.
🐦 Birdwatching in Cusco
The dream route for birdwatching runs from Ollantaytambo to Quillabamba via Abra Málaga. Machu Picchu also offers a rich variety of hummingbird species, making it a hotspot for avian enthusiasts.
