Peru: 7 beautiful national parks

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14 national parks are designated in Peru and about 17 percent of the country's land area is nature reserve. In addition to the national parks, there are also national reserves, landscape reserves and reserve zones. The areas to be protected are mostly located in the rainforest regions, in the Andean highlands or in the tributary areas of the Amazon. Three of the 14 national parks are even UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park

With 122,000 hectares, the park is the second smallest national park in the South American country, but despite this small area it is home to a great geographical diversity. It stretches from the mountain ranges of the Andes to the beginning of the Amazon plain. For this reason, the park is one of the protected areas with the greatest diversity of ecosystems in the country and the planet. You can find about 500 bird species and about 100 mammal species like the jaguar, dwarf deer or puma. The flora is equally diverse, with over 2000 species, including orchids, ferns and medicinal plants.

National Park Cerros de Amotape

The national park is home to one of the last major stands of tropical dry forest on the South American continent. On the western side, the dry and hot landscape in the dry forest is characterized by thorny shrubs and trees, as well as succulents. In the midst of this drought, there are also larger oases that are visibly filled with life. On the eastern side there is rainforest with a lush jungle. This has allowed the formation of a unique flora and fauna, which has been recognized by UNESCO. The area is considered an important biodiversity zone for birds and plants.

Cordillera Azul National Park

The park is located between the two rivers Huallaga and Ucayali. It spreads like a green blanket between the Andes and the Amazon. It is a habitat for numerous plant species such as ferns, orchids, lianas and bromeliads, as well as animal species such as pumas, Andean bears, otters and red deer. Therefore, the park is considered one of the most biologically rich nature reserves in the world.

Manú National Park

The park is one of the three UNESCO World Heritage National Parks in Peru and is home to a unique diversity of animal and plant species in 1.5 million hectares. Some of them are still unknown. But rare animal species also find refuge in the park, such as the giant otter. This part of the Peruvian Amazon is still in its original state.

The park is divided into three zones. The "Zona Cultural", the cultural zone, is free for all tourists and visitors and passes by some villages. The second zone called "Zona Reservada" or "Zona Experimental" (buffer zone) is forbidden for individual travelers. This zone can only be entered and explored with an official guide. The last zone "Zona Restringida" covers over 80 percent of the World Heritage Site. This part is inaccessible to visitors. A large part of the indigenous population lives here. At the end of the 1980s, the park was declared a natural monument in order to protect one of the most important habitats for animals and humans.

Huascarán National Park

In 1985, the park was declared a World Heritage Site. It is located in the northern Andes of the country. What makes this place a breathtaking beauty are the deep gorges, glacial lakes and the diversity of vegetation. It is also home to all sorts of animal species such as the spectacled bear and the Andean condor. The park covers 340,000 hectares and includes a diverse mountain landscape.

Huascarán National Park, Peru

Río Abiseo National Park

This is the last of the three parks that belong to the UNESCO World Heritage. It was created in the 1980s to protect the flora and fauna typical of this Andean region. In this park, due to its topographic position, cloud forests are found that are home to a great variety of plant species. Many endangered species have settled here, such as the Puna Grebe and the Spectacled Bear. There are also 36 pre-Columbian sites of inestimable value in the park.

Surely now you really want to explore the nature of Peru. Do it with us! With our Peru trip you not only support local businesses, but also discover the country off the beaten tourist track.

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