The Jungle in Peru

The jungle in Peru the one other place, other than the North, that I’ve not really travelled to in Peru - but from what I have seen and heard, it is fairly similar to the Costa Rican jungles, in regards to the types of birds, mammals, and insects that can be found within, albeit with Peruvian culture. The jungle fruits and seeds consist of cacao, coffee, plantains, mangoes, papaya, many varieties of passion fruits and so forth. The jungle foods include cooking with a lot of plantain and fish, consuming jungle meats from certain animals - probably illegal - but still consumed by peoples from there. Both my Peruvian parents have been to the Jungle of Peru and describe it like a very hot paradise with good food, kind peoples, and lots of sun and heat. Of course there are also a lot of bugs and some larger spiders to contend with. This very much mimics the experience I had in Costa Rica in the jungles - with a lot of tarantulas and unique spiders, many types of birds and small wildlife, a lot of tropical fruits, and very hospitable peoples. Some things that are more unique to the Peruvian and Amazonian jungles include fishing for Piranhas and eating them, seeing the pink river dolphins, and though quite unlikely, having the chance to see a puma or anaconda! In regards to Jungle Tourism, in Peru, most either head to the northern jungles of Iquitos, or to those closer to the Sacred Valley - Manu. 

On a curious note, Paddington bear the fictional children's book character comes from "deep dark" Peru and again if you are completely lucky you may spot a bear unique to the Peruvian jungles - the speckled bear - the pictures are adorable :) 

Manu Reserve

Jaguar in the Manu bio-reserve

The city of Iquitos - bordering the northern jungle

The speckled bear!!!