La Selva

This is the isolated rainforest region in the eastern part of Peru, almost 60% of the country. La Selva is the area between the eastern foothills (the montaña) of the Andes and Brazil, the huge rainforests of the Amazon basin. Most people will think of Brazil when hearing the name Amazon. Indeed is Brazil's part of the Amazon much bigger. However, the Amazon river finds its roots in Peru, and most of the Peruvian Selva is still intact.

The Rio Alto Madre de Dios. Image © RTW2VT

Actually, Peru has some of the best untouched rainforests anywhere in the world. There is a lot of ecological awareness in the country, and there are up to 24 national parks to protect this fragile nature.

Jungle-covered hills in Tingo María. Image © Govert-Jan Mennen

The root of the river Amazon lies in the heart of the Peruvian Selva, at the point where two other big rivers, the Marañon and the Ucayali, flow together and form the Rio Amazonas. Another mighty river and important source of the Amazon is the Urubamba. It flows from Peru's southern Andes northwards through the montaña, where it joins the Ucayali. On its way it passes magnificent sites like Machu Picchu and the Pongo de Mainique. Coming from Lima, one of the easiest ways to enter the Selva is the Chanchamayo Valley.

The Rio Satipo, near Satipo in the department of Junín.
Taken from SATIPO.COM. Image © Hector Paredes

One of the biggest nature reserves in La Selva is Manu National Park. Manu is called the most bio-diverse rainforest in the world. With 4.5 million acres, half the size of Switzerland, it is one of the best areas for seeing wildlife anywhere. There are for instance over 1000 species of bird, 300 more species than can be found in the USA and Canada together.

La Selva is a region where only few people live. There are some small cities, with the only exceptions the relatively big city Iquitos, in the district of Loreto, and Pucallpa in the Ucayali district. Other cities are Puerto Maldonado in the Madre de Dios district, Moyobamba and Tarapoto in San Martín, San Ramón and La Merced, both in the Chanchamayo Valley in Junín, Satipo and Tingo María in Junín, and Yurimaguas in the Loreto district.

More Pictures of La Selva

Rainforest near Tarapoto. Image © Raintree Nutrition, Inc.