Within the last 100 years, the rainforest coverage of this island planet has been reduced by nearly half. The Amazon basin alone is losing an estimated 5 square kilometers every hour, a rate at which it will entirely disappear within the next 140 years! If we allow for the micro-climatic changes that would occur as the forest area reduces, this figure then becomes an overestimate. We, therefore, have to consider the real possibility that the largest remaining area of tropical rainforest, which includes Manu National Park, could disappear within the next century. This is indeed a somber thought in the new millennium.

Pantiacolla evolved out of a concern for Manu and the rainforest. It is a partnership between a Dutch biologist with many years experience studying primates in the Manu Biosphere and a Manu-born conservationist. This successful union has produced a company with conscience, expertise, and purpose unlike any other in Manu. In 1999, it was voted the best ecoo-tourism agency operating in the park.

In 1992, Pantiacolla was a founding member of Ecotour Manu, an alliance of operators working towards improving the infrastructure and encouraging responsible behavior in the area, and we are now the sole coordinator for Earthwatch throughout Peru. Ever since its conception, Pantiacolla has been actively initiating and supporting conservation projects in both the reserved and cultural zones of Manu. Past projects concentrated on primate ecology and the macaws, while now our projects focus on native indians conserving their lands themselves through sustainable eco-tourism and related activities. We have started the far-reaching Yine Project in Manu´s Diamante Native Community and some smaller projects with the Mashco indians of the Shintuya and the Matsiguenka indians of the Shipetiari Native Communities. We are now featured on the exclusive Green Travel Network internet site.

If you enter Manu with Pantiacolla you will depart fully briefed on all aspects of the trip and receive a free guidebook and checklist to the animals, plants, and ecology of the park. Our team of guides will provide you with an insight into the complexities of a tropical rainforest, its myths and mysteries, and reveal the diversity of the flora and fauna that exist there. Moreover, they will instill in you a sense of its wonder and worth. A tour to Manu guarantees you an unforgettable experience, and since Pantiacolla originated in Manu, we know how to make the experience both enthralling and, most importantly, safe. Whatever your interest, whether it be animals, birds, insects, fungi, or indigenous peoples, Pantiacolla invites you to discover and live the ideal rainforest experience.

People often ask us why we should save the rain forests?

Pantiacolla believes that only those who have been moved by the wonder of our natural heritage can ever know the answer. Education is the key, Pantiacolla has a vision. ........ we aim to make a difference.