Peru is considered to be among the most diverse countries in the world. With over 1,700 species of birds, for example, it has the one of the world’s most varied avian communities. Peru has twelve national parks, eleven national reservations, seven national sanctuaries, four historical sanctuaries, two wild life refuges, two landscape reserves, six protected forests and seven communal reserves. Below are 5 of the most beautiful national parks to visit in Peru.
Cutervo
Cutervo is the oldest of all national parks in Peru and famous for its Cueva de Guachero, a huge cave that houses a colony of nocturnal birds. The park is also an important place to see some very rare and often endangered species, such as jaguars and ocelots.
(Cutervo Province)
Huascaran
This UNESCO world heritage site contains the highest mountain in Peru of the same name at 6,768 meters and is the place to see the gigantic Puya Raimondi, up to 10 meter high plants with more than 3,000 flowers in each plant.
(Ancash Province)
Manu
Another world heritage site and the largest national park in Peru is Manu at 15,328 square kilometers. It’s one of the most authentic and unspoiled locations in Peru as even to this day it’s still fairly inaccessible by road. With over 1,000 different species of birds, it’s the destination for birdwatchers from all over the world.
(Madre de Dios and Cusco Provinces)
Cerros de Amotape
The Cerros de Amotape Park is the best preserved plot of equatorial dry forests along the entire Pacific Rim. Orchids as well as snakes and American Crocodiles are among the main attractions here.
(Piura and Tumbe Provinces)
Abiseo River
Yet another UNESCO world heritage site and the location of over 30 pre-Columbian archaeological sites is the Abiseo River. It is unique in that it is not open to mass-tourism to protect the fragile state of nature as well as the historic sites. The most famous inhabitant is the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey, previously thought to be extinct.
(Missiones Province)
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