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Ecoturism
From Wiki Sumaq Peru
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Natural protected Areas
Currently Peru has 60 natural areas protected by the governmenr in total , which take up 14.80 % of the national territory.
Rivers and Canyons
Rivers in Peru are sources of life, beauty and fun. There are plenty of them for all preferences and all kinds such as dry rivers which carry water only during certain periods of time,like "El fenómeno del Niño";other rivers are black, red, white and murky, salty and bitter; navigable and strong, quiet and romantic, enormous like Amazon and Ucayali Rivers, and even sacred like the ones in Vilcanota Sacred Valley.
The beauty of Peruvian rivers root in the canyons, they have been forming for centuries, due to the erosion of the waters. The most known and important are
- Colca, Valley and Canyon
- Cotahuasi, Valley and Canyon
- Apurimac,Valley and Canyon
Lakes and Lagoons
The Geography of Peru is shown trough its uncontless lakes and lagoons, which particular features according to the place they are located.
- Parinacochas Lagoon- Ayacucho
- Paca Lagoon- Junin
- Llanganuco Lagoon- Ancash
- El Sauce Lake- San Martín
- Rimachi Lake- Huanuco
- Las Huaringas lagoon- Piura
- Inka Thermal baths- Cajamarca
Waterfalls
In the path from the Andes Mountain Range to the river, sea or lake that take their its waters. Some waterfalls form in mountain environments where the erosive water force is high and stream courses may be subject to sudden and catastrophic change. In such cases, the waterfall may not be the end product of many years of water action over a region, but rather the result of relatively sudden geological processes such as landslides, faults or volcanic action.
- Gocta Waterfall- Amazonas
- Yumbilla Waterfall- Amazonas
- Velo de Ángel Waterfall- Huánuco
- Sirena encantada Waterfall- Huánuco
- San Miguel Waterfall- Huánuco
- Ahuashiyacu Waterfall- San Martín
- Huacamaillo Waterfall- San Martín
- Gera Waterfall- San Martín
- Tunun Tunumba Waterfall- San Martín
- Tirol Waterfall- Junín
- Bayoz Waterfall- Junín
- Velo de la Novia Waterfall- Junín
- Parijaro Waterfall- Junín
- Pala Cala Waterfall- Lima Department
- Zárate Cascade - Lima Department
- Huallhuas Cascade- Lima Department
Animals and Plants
For its astonishing variety of climates and ecosystems, Peru belongs to the select group of eight megadiverse countries, where it is possible to find 84 of the 104 life zone existing on the planet.
Primates
In Peru there are 32 species of primates, distributed in the three great taxonomic families grouping primates of the New World: Callitriche,such as pichica and leoncillos; Callimicónidos, represented by a single kind (of the false pichica Goeldi) And the bait, the largest of all, consisting of squirrel monkeys, musmuquis,choros and spider monkeys, among others.
Sea Mammals
A total of 33 Sea Mammals live in Peru,like the small otters inhabiting the rock zone of beaches whose access is almost impossible, or the big whales swiming trough the Pacific Ocean.Scientists have determined 9 taxonomic families.
They can be see in
- Palominos Islands - Lima
- Ballestas Islands -Ica
- Punta San Juan - Ica
Wildflowers
The Andes, which cuts across countless valleys that run down to the coast on one side and down to the jungle on the other, have made it possible for wildlife to adapt to a series of eco-systems by developing survival strategies.
The department of Tumbes features a tropical forest inhabited by plants from other regions, such as the cedar and fig trees as well as other species native to the Amazon forests such as the ceibo and guayacan, also found in the Equatorial dry forest. What is more, the forest also features several species of bromelias and fillandsias not to be found anywhere else in the country. Access to the Tumbes jungle is via a dirt road that runs out of the city of Tumbes itself.
The dry forest, located in the departments of Tumbes, Piura and Lambayeque, enjoys a dry, warm climate, with rains during summer, which favors the growth of abundant and unique plantlife. This territory features species such as the Begonia (Begonia pleioetala), the Cardenal (Euphorbia cotinifolia) and wild grenadine (Passiflora tenella).
In the Andes, regions between 1,000 and 3,500 meters are transit areas, where for topographical and climactic reasons, flowers from the valleys and highland plain grow alongside each other. The area features a large diversity of wild species from the tiny yareta flower (Azorella yareta) to the teeming clumps of flowers on the Puya Raimondi (Puya raimondii), delicate porporos (Passiflora trifoliata) or the colorful chochos (lupinus mutabilis).
Peru's cloud forests, between 2,000 and 3,000 masl, are home to the rarest flowers on Earth, including the bromelia (Aechmia SP) or giant begonia (Begonia sp.). There are several cloud forest regions in Peru, including the Chanchamayo Valley in the department of Junín.
Butterflies
For those in the know, to talk about butterflies is to talk about Peru. One of every five species of butterflies in the world is found here. However, more than just another world record of bio-diversity, this constitutes one more reason to encourage nature lovers to take a journey through the Peruvian forests.
Today, butterflies make up the best-known group of land invertebrates and much of this knowledge is attributable to scientists working in the remote jungles of Peru. In recent years, theories stating that the natural diversity of the Amazon region increases in relation to its proximity to the Andes have been proven true by overwhelming statistics.
Orchids
In Peru, the Orchidaceae family features some 3,000 species, most of which grow in the tropical jungle on the eastern slopes of the Andes: the cloud forest region. There, amidst the exuberant vegetation produced by nearly 5,000 mm of rainfall a year, orchids multiply, forming veritable natural gardens.
In the far northwest of Peru, in the departments of Tumbes y Piura, one can find several attractive species of orchids such as the Cattleya maxima, with large, violet flowers. To the east, the department of Amazonas features vast stretches of cloud forest which are a haven for a series of striking orchids such as the Masdevalia. The Mayo River Valley, in the department of San Martín, has been dubbed "the land of orchids", where one can find the Cattleya rex, considered a symbol of the region's wildflowers.
Andean Camelids
A typical inhabitant of the Andes, the South American camelid has for the past 6,000 years served as a source of food, clothing and as a beast of burden for Peruvians. Moreover, the animal is a quintessential part of the personality of the highlands, and has wielded a major influence on the serene and contemplative idiosyncrasy of its tamers. Over the centuries, various Andean cultures have crafted images of llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas, from the cave paintings of Toquepala, depicting hunting scenes, to the more sophisticated Inca pottery.
Bird Watching
North Zone
With a total of 1200 species - the North route is home to some of the most sought-after Peruvian endemics such as the Marvelous Spatuletail and the White-winged Guan. The North also includes the endemic rich Tumbesian and Marañon areas, and the mega-diverse Iquitos region from where many new species have been described in recent years.
The Abra Patricia pass is becoming one of the best-known birding hotspots, with excellent forest habitats next to the road. Remote Awaruna territories along the lower Marañon river and its tributaries, hold specialties such as the Orange-throated Tanager and the White-masked Antbird. For a birder who wants to combine with other non-birding activities, the north has a lot to offer. The North-Amazonian route contains a number of culturally interesting sites such as Chan Chan, Sipan and Kuelap; not to mention infinite trekking possibilities through cloud forest trails to hidden Chachapoyas culture treasures such as Laguna de Los Condores.
In Tumbes and Piura, there are fine beaches and resorts that serve as good bases for families, with excellent birding nearby in the Amotape and Tumbes forest reserves, as well as the mangroves of Tumbes. The North is the new Peruvian birding destination. It is a must for all serious birders.
Center Zone
No flights are needed to bird the Center. It is truly a low-budget birding route, with a very rapid West to East journey, lots of birding alternatives at different altitudes and habitats, and with many excellent lodging possibilities or inexpensive camping or basic hostels. You can find rare and endemic species like the Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager and Junin Grebe. Legendary Ted Parker made the Central Highway route famous in the 80s covering Santa Eulalia Canyon, Marcapomacocha, Ticlio, Lake Junin, Unchog, Carpish pass, Tingo Maria (with its accessible oilbird cave) and lowland rain forest in Pucallpa.Further away are the Cerros de Sira with an endemic Tanager and Cushabatay with the newly discovered Scarlet-banded Barbet.
Also belonging to the Center are the numerous destinations near Peru's capital, Lima, such as pelagic birding, Pantanos de Villa, Pucusana, Paraiso and Lomas de Lachay. The Chanchamayo region includes San Ramon, La Merced, Villa Rica, Oxapampa and Pozuzo and it has very good infrastructure and excellent birding possibilities that are just gaining popularity amongst birders.
The Center also includes the Satipo region, where both subtropical and tropical birding can be done, and where there are still many species yet to be described (there are at least 5 species known that still have no 'official' name).As the forest next to the road is still in very good shape and the communities in the area have discovered that eco-tourism has enormous potential, this area is destined to boom as a birding destination in the coming five to ten years. Presence of budget birders today will definitely inspire the communities to improve amenities for tourists in a very near future
South Zone
This is the best-known Peruvian birding route, with Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Abra Malaga, Manu and Tambopata, only to name a few.(No creo que debería repetir lo que ya has leído arriba)It is characterized as a very good route for cultural experiences. Key features include Polylepis forest specialists, Macaw-licks, Hummingbird feeders, Titicaca Grebe and many, many more. These birding resources have been known for a long time and are likely the ones that will bring the birder to Peru the first time. But there is more to discover in the south; new areas and possibilities are opening up. San Fernando, near Nazca, has the possibility to become an alternative to Paracas and Ballestas. The wildlife is certainly outstanding.
Apurimac with Bosque Ampay and nearby Polylepis forests make it quite interesting to complete the circuit back to Lima on a new tarmac road over rolling high-altitude plains full of Vicuñas. Las Piedras river is accessible from Puerto Maldonado and a budget alternative to Tambopata and Manu with a few lodges. The road via Abra Malaga to Quillabamba gives access to both lowland and subtropical birding on minor roads and via river. In Puno, the remote Sandia community and neighboring valleys close to the Bolivia border, hold both the endemic Green-capped Tanager and many Bolivian birds that are harder to see in Bolivia . Infrastructure for tourism is almost nonexistent, so this is something for the more experienced adventurer.
References
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