National Parks in Peru
About 2.5 percent of all the land in Peru is National Park land. This is an aggressive program, designed to protect the country that is one of the most bio-diverse in the world. About one million square miles in total is reserved national land, and much of it is accessible to the visitor. Some areas, however, are too difficult to reach by normal means of transportation.
Exploring Peru’s National Parks and Sanctuaries can be a breathtaking experience though visitors must remember that there are wild animals, poisonous species, and all sorts of other dangers in some of the parks. For trekkers, many are best explored with an experienced guide who speaks your native language.
- Cutervo National Park – Covering 32 square miles, this is the oldest national park in Peru, established in 1961. In this park you’ll find jaguars, ocelots, mountain tapirs, the spectacled bear, and the national bird – the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. There are many caves located within this park, where bird watchers can find the near-extinct nocturnal guacharo species.
- Tingo Maria National Park – Situated in the Huanuco Region, this park also has a cave as its main attraction, where a number of guacharos live. Also look for the mountain known as “Sleeping Beauty.” Just four miles from the charming city of the same name, Tingo Maria National Park is one of the busiest, with plenty of tourists visiting daily during the dry season.
- Manu National Park – Located in the extreme western Amazon region of Peru, Manu National Park is the most biologically diverse area of the Amazon as far as terrestrial life is concerned. Formed in 1973 and boasting 3.7 million acres, Manu is home to 1,000 species of birds, more than 200 species of mammals, 13 species of monkey, many varieties of butterflies and 15,000 species of flowering plants. The park is actually park of the Manu Biosphere Reserve, which also includes a Cultural Zone. To visit, catch a boat from Boca Manu, about two hours upstream. Bird watchers especially love this place!
-
Huascarán National Park – In the Cordillera Blanca region of the Andes,
this park is home to the highest peak in Peru, bearing the same name as
the park. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Huascarán
National Park boasts about 800 species of high-Andean plants, 112
species of birds, and about a dozen different species of mammals,
including several endangered animals. Hiking, horseback riding, skiing,
and guided archeological excursions are offered here.
- Amotape
Hills National Park – Considered one of the finest examples of
equatorial dry forest, Amotape Hills is home to boa constrictors, the
American crocodile, and the giant sloth bear, just to name a few of its
rather unfriendly inhabitants. It’s best to visit from April through
September as summertime temperatures can be unbearable.
- Rio Abiseo
National Park – Established in 1983, this National Park contains seven
different eco-zones, reaching up to almost 14,000 feet above sea level
and including
montane forest, tropical alpine forest, montane rainforest, high Andean
grasslands (puna), and dry forest. It is also home to a number of
archaeological sites including Gran Pajáten, a Chachapoyas pre-Columbian
ruin.
- Yanachaga Chemillén National Park –
Accessible to tours, the
Yanachaga Chemillen Park is home to about 2,000 species of plants and
1,000 species of animals and birds. Camping may be enjoyed within the
park for groups with a guide.
-
Bahuaja-Sonene National Park – Located in southeastern Peru, this park
includes tropical forests, tropical foothills, dwarf forest, and pampas.
One of the country’s newest national parks, it was designated as such in
1996. It has a tropical and sub-tropical climate, with high temperatures
and humidity. Annual rainfall can be as high as 96 inches. It is rich in
rare species as well as natural resources like gold, timber, and rubber.
- Alto
Purus National Park – Connected to Manu National Park, this is an
extensive park that includes a variety of eco-systems and scenic
landscapes. Threatened and endangered species are plentiful in Alto
Purus NP and, sadly, the park is overrun by loggers, many of them taking
part in illegal practices.
Return to Peru Travel Guide Main Page