Manuel is on a mission to end illegal gold mining in the Amazon

Manuel Calloquispe has been investigating the cartel operating illegal mining in his region. (ABC/Race Around The World: Jayden O'Neill)

Six Australian filmmakers are travelling the world in search of a story, each tasked with making a weekly short film for ABC iview's Race Around The World.

This is contestant Jayden O'Neill's experience from his week two travels in Peru.

Sounds of thunder echo on the streets, as rain ricochets off the tin roof of a small blue concrete home.

On a table inside sits a hat with the words "corresponsal de guerra" or "war correspondent", next to a sign that reads "la cara del pueblo", or "the face of the people".

It's the home of Manuel Calloquispe, a Peruvian investigative journalist who grew up in the surrounds of the Amazonian town of Puerto Maldonado, a place that most would have only heard of as a gateway for Amazonian tourism.

Manuel Calloquispe shows me threats he has received. (ABC/Race Around The World: Jayden O'Neill)

I'm not here to talk with him about tourism though. Manuel has been investigating the dark underbelly of what happens along the rivers of a rainforest that hosts 10 per cent of the world's known wildlife species.

Before I get the chance to interview him, he reaches for his phone and explains that he's going to show me a call he received last year. He had recognised the voice and started recording.

"If you publish what you want, you're going to die, you son of a b****. I'll tear the heads off your family. A lot of people are going to die here. Is that clear?"

The recording continues for two more minutes. Manuel tells me it's a cartel figure from a nearby town that has been devastated by illegal gold mining over the past two decades.

He says it's an industry riddled with extortion, human trafficking, environmental destruction and murder.

Manuel Calloquispe continues his work to protect his home town. (ABC/Race Around The World: Jayden O'Neill)

Manuel was the first person to start reporting "disappearances" in the area, which he says are illegal gold miners who haven't paid the cartel for protection.

"Since I've been investigating this industry, approximately 400 people have disappeared," he says.

Manuel investigated the cartel and their crimes before releasing a report to national media. He then went into hiding for four months.

He says he has received death threats and been beaten for his work, including inside his own home, in front of his children, but he's dedicated to his work.

The Amazon is home to all kinds of wildlife. (ABC/Race Around The World: Jayden O'Neill)

Gold flows downr