Only visitors pursuing scientific, educational, recreational and cultural (tourism) objectives are allowed to visit these conservation units under special conditions and control. The existing seven national parks give protection to 1.85% of the national territory.

Located in the rain forests of the Cuzco and Madre de Dios departments, the Manu National Park is Peru's greatest natural treasure and a trove for the number of species it shelters and the diversity of the ecosystems it features. Established in 1973 over a land surface of 1,532,806 hectares, it was included in UNESCO's list of Mankind's Natural Heritage in 1987. It comprises the whole of the Manu river basin as well as an extraordinary cross-section of altitudes ranging from 4,300 masl in the Andean High Plateau to 200 masl in the Amazon floodplain. It is home to several ethnic groups including the Amahuaca, Huachipaire, Machiguenga, Piro, Yora and Yaminagua, as well as others who still have not made contact with the modern world. The park is the natural environment for over 20,000 vascular plants, 1,200 species of butterflies, 1,000 types of birds, 200 kinds of mammals and an unknown number of reptiles, amphibians and insects.

Climate:
A well-marked rainy season stretches from December to March although heavy showers are not unusual throughout the year. It is best to visit from May to August, when temperatures exceed 30 ºC.

Access and Services:
A gravel road from Cuzco leads to the towns of Atalaya and Shintuya (9 and 12 hours away, respectively), a 5-to-6 hour boat trip. It is also possible to fly a light plane from Cuzco to Boca Manu (30 minutes) then continue by river boat (4 to 6 hours).

Tourists are allowed only in the Reserve Zone and are permitted to book services with one of the licensed operators. Tourist infrastructure is rustic and simple and camping is allowed within the premises.

Length of Stay:
Ideally, a stay of 7 to 8 days will provide sufficient time to observe a representative sample of the area's wildlife.

Located in the department of Ancash, the Huascarán National Park is wedged in the Cordillera Blanca, the world's highest tropical mountain chain. It was created in 1975 over a surface of 340,000 hectares and included in UNESCO's list of Mankind's Natural Heritage in 1985. The park protects one of the world's most surprising high-mountain ecosystems, featuring 663 glaciers, 269 lakes and 41 rivers, as well as dozens of mountains, 26 of which tower above 6,000 meters. It is home to plentiful and diverse plant and animal wildlife including some 800 plant species and several dozen types of animals. Additionally, the park includes 33 pre-Inca archaeological sites like Wilcahuaín and is home to dozens of Quechua-speaking peasant communities that still practice their traditional farming and livestock herding techniques.

Climate:
The Andean mountain climate depends heavily on 2 critical factors: humid and warm winds from the Amazon basin that originate heavy rainfall from December to March, and sudden changes in temperature. In the dry season from May to October, the temperature on a sunny day can rise to 25 ºC, followed by intensely cold nights with temperatures plunging below freezing.

Access and Services:
The best way to the Callejón de Huaylas is to take the road off Pativilca (kilometer 210 of the North Pan-American Highway) and head east for the mountains to the lake Conococha, headwaters of the Santa river. The steep climb means travelers should take precautions against altitude sickness. The trip takes six to eight hours to cover 410 kilometers (approximately 260 miles) over a winding road in good condition. Chartered light airplanes may land at the small local airport.

Length of Stay:
At least three to four days are required for a leisurely visit to the park's main areas.

Located in the departments of Piura and Tumbes over a land surface of 91,300 hectares of Equatorial dry forests, the Cerros de Amotape, or Amotape Hills, provide shelter to a wide and unique collection of plant and animal wildlife. It was created in 1975 to protect the vast forests of the Amotape Cordillera and the neighboring valleys, subject to intense lumbering activity due to the valuable hard woods that grow there like hualtaco and guayacán.
The American crocodile and the northeastern otter are some of the animals that find shelter in this ecosystem. Both are endangered species on the verge of extinction. Other residents of the dry forest are the Tumbes howler monkey, white-tailed deer, ocelots and more than 100 bird species, many of which are endemic, like the white-winged guan and the northern magpie.

Climate:
Dry and extremely hot most of the year with temperatures ranging above 28º C. Rainfall increases markedly when the El Niño weather anomaly occurs in the area. April to September are ideal for visiting.

Access and Services:
Several gravel roads lead into the forest from the cities of Piura and Tumbes which can in turn be reached regularly by air or along the North Pan-American Highway. 4WD vehicles, a local tour guide and an ample supply of water and food are advised.

Length of Stay:
A 3-to-4 day stay is recommended, equally divided between the park's south and north sections.

A recently created park in the jungle territories of the Puno and Madre de Dios departments, the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park (names given by the Ese'eja ethnic group to the Tambopata and Ene rivers, respectively) serves to protect what are probably the last inhabited tropical forests of the world.
Its 537,053 hectares of rain forests adjoining the Madidi National Park of Bolivia have been expanded with a small area of palm tree savanna (previously protected as part of the Pampas del Heath Sanctuary) to form one of the most biodiverse corners of the planet.

Charles Munn, member of the Zoological Society of New York and ranked by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential personalities of the coming century, claims that the forests in this park shelter more plant and animal species that elsewhere in the world: over 20,000 plant species, a thousand bird species and hundreds of mammals, reptiles and fish.

These are the ancestral lands of the Ese'eja, a tribe on the verge of extinction that was decimated during the "rubber boom" at the turn of the century.

Climate:
A marked rainy season runs from December to March though showers are also frequent out of the wet season. May through August are recommended for visiting, despite temperatures above 32 ºC.

Access and Services:
A rental boat will take travelers up the Tambopata river from Puerto Maldonado which can also be reached by regular commercial air service. Rustic accommodation is available at some local inns providing basic services for travelers.

Length of Stay:
Four or five days are enough to tour this easy-to-reach area.