5 natural protected areas in Peru that you should know about

Fresh air, incredible landscapes, unique flora and fauna in the world and the energy that only nature gives, all this you can find in our reserves and natural parks. In Peru there are dozens of natural reserves whose mission is the conservation of ecosystems, besides having a great beauty, varied climates and a great geographical extension. It is important to remember that in the reserves the use of natural resources is allowed as long as it is done in a supervised and controlled way. Thus, for example, we can enjoy tourism in them in an active way.

While you are traveling to Peru you may need to keep communication. That’s why you may need to use one of our mobile phone plans for tourists to avoid high roaming costs. In order to make a nice trip here in PeruSIM, we will show you some natural protected areas in Peru that you should know about.

1. Cavinzas Islands and Islotes Palomino (Lima)

Besides the famous Paracas National Reserve, did you know that there is a group of islands that are also impressive and have a great variety of animal species? We present the Cavinzas Islands and Islotes Palomino, located just a few minutes from the port of Callao and La Punta. The trip to them is done in an exciting boat or yacht trip, where you can appreciate the natural habitat of sea lions, seals and seabirds. Among the activities you can do here are: visit a moon worship center, visit a guano bird sanctuary, swim with sea lions and visit an old prison (El Frontón), an unforgettable experience just a stone\’s throw from the city!

2. Huascaran National Park (Ancash)

To speak of the mountains and glaciers of our Cordillera Blanca is to speak of true works of nature that take our breath away. Our snow-capped Huascaran, the highest in Peru, is located in the Huascaran National Park, which includes the provinces of Huaylas, Yungay, Carhuaz, Huaraz, Recuay, Bolognesi, Huari, Asuncion, Mariscal Luzuriaga and Pomabamba, in the Ancash region.

This park holds many natural surprises: more than 600 glaciers, rivers, hundreds of species of flora and fauna, more than 300 lagoons of glacial origin with crystalline and turquoise water, such as the 69th lagoon, Llanganuco Lagoon or Parón Lagoon.

In addition, the Huascaran National Park is home to 33 archaeological sites that rest in the middle of the impressive nature. Among the activities you can do are: trekking, boating in the lagoons, and extreme sports such as mountain climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, among others.

3. Huayllay National Sanctuary (Pasco).

This is nothing less than the most important stone forest in Peru. The Huayllay National Sanctuary is located in the Central Andes, in the district of Huayllay, department of Pasco. It is impressive not only for its volcanic rock formations that surprise any visitor, but also for its unique flora and fauna.

There are also important archaeological remains that include more than 500 cave paintings, which illustrate the life of ancient Peruvians and their relationship with the nature of this place, making it one of the best geological museums in the world.

But, let\’s talk a little more about the incredible rock formations: there are six thousand hectares of extension with various animal figures, such as a bear, cobra, alpaca, toad, snail, turtle, elephant, among others. And also some formations reminiscent of human situations, such as the thinker, the nuns, the kiss of the bride and groom, the tourist and many more, all of great and special beauty!

In addition to appreciating these formations and learning about their cave history, you can also visit the Yanatuto thermal baths in Huayllay, made up of two pools: one natural and one built, located on a rocky slope, in the middle of a unique landscape. Totally unmissable!

4. Tambopata National Reserve (Madre de Dios)

From the central highlands we go to our hot tropical jungle. In the department of Madre de Dios is located one of the most beautiful national reserves of Peru: Tambopata. It, being of an enormous extension (more than 274 thousand hectares) contains a great diversity of habitats and, therefore, an enormous biodiversity. It is home to a thousand species of butterflies, 600 species of birds, 100 species of mammals, and hundreds of species of plants and trees.

So when you visit, you will inevitably come across animals such as monkeys, parrots, and insects of all types and sizes. Among the activities you can enjoy are boat rides on Sandoval Lake, where you will be impressed by the abundant vegetation, the animals in the water and the wonderful view. In this place there are lodging options that will allow you to have a unique experience in contact with nature.

You can also visit the Macaw Clay Lick, which are natural clay formations that attract these birds and many others to eat the minerals that abound there.

5. Pomac Forest Historical Sanctuary (Lambayeque)

And now it is time to talk about our beloved North! In the department of Lambayeque is located the Bosque de Pomac Historical Sanctuary, which in addition to having a special ecosystem, is home to 36 pyramids that belonged to the kingdom of the Lord of Sicán, a natural and historical wonder!

The purpose of these pyramids for the ancient inhabitants of the Lambayeque culture is still not known with certainty, but the large amount of gold objects that were discovered inside teach us that this culture was one of the largest in our territory.

Finally, we know that you have to keep communication with your relatives and friends, that you need to be able to orient yourself in new cities, that you might need help with translation and that you might need to search for restaurants or hotels. That’s why with PeruSIM you can buy a SIM card including the data plan of your need without having to worry about high roaming costs.