Jungle Ultra Marathon
Encyclopedia
The Jungle Ultra Marathon is a 230 km Multi Stage Footrace/Ultra-Marathon
through the Amazon Rainforest
in Peru. The race starts at an elevation of 9000 ft in the Cloud Forest
and winds its way down through the Cultural Zone with its indigenous villages and through the primary Amazon Rainforest
of Manu National Park
. Competitors are all required to carry their own equipment (hammocks, food, water, clothes etc.) for the entire race. Designed to be one of the most grueling races on earth, competitors witness humidity
often nearing 100% as well as diverse and alternating terrain and severe inclines and declines in elevation. The unique route includes several river crossings and a long stage of over 90 km, this is not an event for the faint-hearted.
The event is completed with a relatively short final stage run from Queros, a community which holds special significance by becoming the first indigenous group to manage a conservation concession (the area covers 17,238 acres of highly diverse mountain rainforest on the eastern slopes of Peru's southern slopes), to Pilcopata where competitors join in with the annual Fiesta to mark the forming of Peru's world famous Manu National Park
. The race is completed each year with a party and awards ceremony in the heart of the historic city of Cuzco, the Inca Capital of Peru and home of Machu Picchu
.
Competitors will be competing in an area rich in bio-diversity. Indeed the Amazon region in Peru
has the highest number of bird
and butterfly
species in the world, not to mention large numbers of amphibians and reptiles that can also be encountered. The Peruvian Amazon
is a truly amazing place, and, due to several sociopolitical events such as Peru's 1968 Land Reform
and political violence in the 80s, it has remained largely untouched by man.
To enable this race to become a reality, "Beyond The Ultimate LLC" had to bring together Governmental Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, Indigenous People communities and form a race committee, presided by the mayor of Kosñipata,. This is the first time all of these organisations and people have interacted in this way, which will serve as a catalyst for improving many services and conservation projects in the Cultural Zone of Manu National Park. The Cultural Zone is now being actively promoted as a traveler's destination in addition to the more famous conservation area of Manu National Park.
Technical Secretar: AUQUI DMC.
Technical Secretar: Tourism council of The Municipality of Kosñipata.
Members:.
Regional Direction of Tourism of Cusco.
Manu National Park.
Regional Direccion Ministry of Envinroment.
Federation of Peasant workers of the Valley of Kosñipata.
Native Community of Santa Rosa de Huacária.
Native Community of Queros Wachiperi.
ACCA.
Peru Verde.
CARTUC.
(Marathon Des Sables)
Comrades Marathon
Badwater Ultramarathon
Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc
Ultramarathon
An ultramarathon is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of .There are two types of ultramarathon events: those that cover a specified distance, and events that take place during specified time...
through the Amazon Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
in Peru. The race starts at an elevation of 9000 ft in the Cloud Forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
and winds its way down through the Cultural Zone with its indigenous villages and through the primary Amazon Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
of Manu National Park
Manú National Park
Manú National Park is a biosphere reserve located in Madre de Dios and Paucartambo, Cusco. Before becoming an area protected by the Peruvian government, the Manú National Park was conserved thanks to its inaccessibility. The park remains fairly inaccessible by road to this day. In 1977, UNESCO...
. Competitors are all required to carry their own equipment (hammocks, food, water, clothes etc.) for the entire race. Designed to be one of the most grueling races on earth, competitors witness humidity
Tropical rainforest climate
A tropical rainforest climate, also known as an equatorial climate, is a tropical climate usually found along the equator...
often nearing 100% as well as diverse and alternating terrain and severe inclines and declines in elevation. The unique route includes several river crossings and a long stage of over 90 km, this is not an event for the faint-hearted.
The event is completed with a relatively short final stage run from Queros, a community which holds special significance by becoming the first indigenous group to manage a conservation concession (the area covers 17,238 acres of highly diverse mountain rainforest on the eastern slopes of Peru's southern slopes), to Pilcopata where competitors join in with the annual Fiesta to mark the forming of Peru's world famous Manu National Park
Manú National Park
Manú National Park is a biosphere reserve located in Madre de Dios and Paucartambo, Cusco. Before becoming an area protected by the Peruvian government, the Manú National Park was conserved thanks to its inaccessibility. The park remains fairly inaccessible by road to this day. In 1977, UNESCO...
. The race is completed each year with a party and awards ceremony in the heart of the historic city of Cuzco, the Inca Capital of Peru and home of Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for...
.
Competitors will be competing in an area rich in bio-diversity. Indeed the Amazon region in Peru
Peruvian Amazon
The Peruvian Amazon is the area of the Amazon jungle included in the territory of Peru, from the east of the Andes to borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia. This region comprises 60% of the country and is marked by a large degree of biodiversity...
has the highest number of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
and butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
species in the world, not to mention large numbers of amphibians and reptiles that can also be encountered. The Peruvian Amazon
Peruvian Amazon
The Peruvian Amazon is the area of the Amazon jungle included in the territory of Peru, from the east of the Andes to borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia. This region comprises 60% of the country and is marked by a large degree of biodiversity...
is a truly amazing place, and, due to several sociopolitical events such as Peru's 1968 Land Reform
Land reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
and political violence in the 80s, it has remained largely untouched by man.
To enable this race to become a reality, "Beyond The Ultimate LLC" had to bring together Governmental Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, Indigenous People communities and form a race committee, presided by the mayor of Kosñipata,. This is the first time all of these organisations and people have interacted in this way, which will serve as a catalyst for improving many services and conservation projects in the Cultural Zone of Manu National Park. The Cultural Zone is now being actively promoted as a traveler's destination in addition to the more famous conservation area of Manu National Park.
Facts
- The race is 230 km long (depending on the course for each year)
- The race starts at 9000 ft in the Cloud Forest
- The 1st stage is almost a standard marathonMarathonThe marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
(42.195 km) at 36 km - Competitors are self-sufficient, carrying all their own equipment and provisions (weighing between 8 kg - 15 kg)
- The race is part of a huge and dynamic partnership with several indigenous villages, governmental and non-governmental organisations
- The race finishes in Pillcopata, timed to coincide with a fiesta to celebrate the formation of Manu National Park
The Jungle Ultra Race Committee
President: Mayor of the Municipality of Kosñipata.Technical Secretar: AUQUI DMC.
Technical Secretar: Tourism council of The Municipality of Kosñipata.
Members:.
Regional Direction of Tourism of Cusco.
Manu National Park.
Regional Direccion Ministry of Envinroment.
Federation of Peasant workers of the Valley of Kosñipata.
Native Community of Santa Rosa de Huacária.
Native Community of Queros Wachiperi.
ACCA.
Peru Verde.
CARTUC.
- Beyond The Ultimate offset all carbon emissions associated with flights to and from their races
Other Ultra Races
MDSMarathon des Sables
The Marathon des Sables is a six-day, ultramarathon, which is the equivalent of six regular marathons. The longest single stage is long....
(Marathon Des Sables)
Comrades Marathon
Comrades Marathon
The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately 90 km run in the Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race...
Badwater Ultramarathon
Badwater Ultramarathon
The Badwater Ultramarathon describes itself as "the world's toughest foot race". It is a course starting at below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California's Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney...
Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc