Travelling in Harmony with Nature through Peru

Peru is increasingly becoming known as the gleaming jewel in Latin America’s crown, and this is easy to see when you consider the breadth of beauty in this enchanting country. For travellers seeking to connect with nature and to return from a trip with a deeper sense of respect and appreciation for our planet’s wondrous biodiversity, Peru should be a shoo-in on a ‘places to see’ list. Peru’s biodiversity is not only rich: it’s opulent. Its three distinct geographical regions – the Amazon Rainforest, the Andes mountains, and the Pacific coastline – are teeming with varied species of flora, fauna., and marine life. It’s possible to trek deep into the Amazon Rainforest, hike in the cloud forests of the Tropical Andes and bathe in the Pacific Ocean in one journey to this country. What’s even better is that the responsible tourist can empower local communities, aid sustainable development, and contribute to the conservation of the places they see along the way, ensuring that they are becoming Nature Positive travellers and follow a Nature Positive approach. Here are three disparate yet equally rewarding biodiverse regions for the traveller wishing to experience this megadiverse destination:

Manu National Park

Manu National Park

 The biodiversity on display in this location, which is nestled in the Peruvian Amazonian rainforest, is lavish. Rainforests, as we know, are of vital importance to our planet. They cover only 6% of our land but are known to support over 50% of the planet's biodiversity. Manu National Park, one of the most biodiverse places on earth, is a protected part of the Amazon rainforest and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Swathes of this gargantuan park – it is 1.5 million hectares in size – are inaccessible. It is known as a haven of terrestrial biodiversity and is also home to the Matsigenka people and other indigenous tribes, some of which are still uncontacted. A beautiful aspect of this park is that so much of it remains roadless. A visit here is not for the faint-hearted and includes a wearying bus journey from Cusco to Madre de Dios. You can fly from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado and then take a boat transfer to Manu NP, or Tambopata NR. The rewards are bountiful for the intrepid explorer. The Matsigenka people run a comfortable eco-lodge which you can use as a base before further exploration up the Manu River.

Tip: As inviting as a splash in the river sounds, make sure that you clear it with your guide before you decide to jump in. You do not want to disturb the water source of the surrounding wildlife.

The Tropical Andes

The Tropical Andes

As a megadiverse country, Peru has invested somewhat in protecting its pristine nature and biodiversity, but even the solo traveller can contribute to the sustainable development of the areas they visit. If you are feeling up to the mental and physical challenge of a days-long hike, The Tropical Andes is an area worth exploring, as it contains roughly one-sixth of all plant life on the planet. Sure, the obvious hike in Peru is the Machu Picchu trail. However, there are several other trails, some days long, some even weeks-long, that allow travellers to soak in the varied and rich biodiversity of the majestic Andes.

Tip: Only hire guides or go with tour groups that subscribe to sustainable tourism, and, as with every other trek you go on, you should stick solely to designated trails.

The Pacific Coast

The Pacific Coast

Many countries in the world straddle oceans and seas, but few can boast to possess such an abundance of marine biodiversity as Peru. Just off the coast of the sprawling city of Lima, there is a unique marine phenomenon where the southern and cold Humboldt Current collides with the warmer Northern Equatorial Current. This creates an area which can sustain huge biomass of marine life and even as-yet-unknown species. However, although some parts of inland Peru are protected, there is still an ongoing struggle to stave off oil and gas explorations in the Tropical Pacific Sea of Peru.  A visit to Peru’s stunning coastline is more than worthwhile, but each traveller should consider its biodiversity and lend their voice to any effort to protect it.

Tip: Support a local business and have some fun by sampling Peru’s famed waves, but why not partake in a beach clean-up post-surf?

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