Natural Protected Areas in San Martin

 

In the department of San Martin is located the Rio Abiseo National Park, Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site (UNESCO). Cordillera Azul National Park, Alto Mayo Protected Forest, Cordillera Escalera Regional Conservation Area and the private conservation areas as Tambo Ilusión and Juningue. Areas to protect the rich biodiversity that correspond to the high rainforest zone (cloud forest), especially the endemic species.

 

Abiseo River National Park - Grand Pajatén

Location: Department of San Martin, province of Mariscal Cáceres.
Area: 274.520 hectares.

Establishment: Year 1983.

 

Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Protected area of ​​outstanding beauty and intangible, historic and biological wealth, protection of fauna and flora of the cloud forests. Within the park lies the archaeological site of Gran Pajatén. The park is crossed by the Abiseo river and its tributaries.

 

Gran Pajatén

The archeological complex is attributed to the Chachapoyas (1200 A.D. – 1500 A.D.) recently discovered in 1963 by Charles Torrealba, and is found on the right bank of the Montecristo River, at 2850 m.a.s.l. / 9350 f.a.s.l. within the Rio Abiseo National Park. It was declared a Natural and Cultural World Heritage Site by UNESCO respectively in 1991 and 1992. Upon seeing it for the first time, the place seems to be covered by dense vegetation. The works extend to the flanks of the mesa to the sector called Las Palmas and feature buildings constructed on different levels. The architecture is dominated by circular floors and paved platforms and features high decorative reliefs of geometric, zoomorphic, and anthropomorphic motifs.

 

The citadel is located on a plateau surrounded by steep slopes on the right bank of the Montecristo river to 2,850 m.a.s.l., circular buildings arranged in different levels, paved platforms, monoliths, stone built beautiful paintings slab of slate, flagstone steps made, decorations geometric designs in high relief. All the archaeological site is very unique and artistic sense that is not consistent with other expressions of known cultures in Peru. The buildings range from the flanks of the plateau to an area called Las Palmas and has buildings constructed at different levels. The plant architecture is predominantly paved circular platforms, and has a high relief with geometric, zoomorphic and anthropomorphic as decorative elements. At first glance, the place seems to be covered by dense vegetation.

 

The most direct route is via Trujillo (30 minutes by small plane) to the town of Chagual. Another 40 km / 25 miles is needed to reach the town of Pataz (2 hours by car). From there, take a 15 km / 9 miles dirt road (30 minutes by car and 2 hours and 30 minutes on foot or on horseback) until Chigualen. Then, there is another 35 km / 22 - mile hike or horseback ride to Puerta del Monte (9 hours). The next leg is to La Playa, 10 km / 6 miles (3 hours on foot) and then another three hours’ walk to Camp Macedonio.

 

It will take another two - hour hike to reach the archeological site. You can only enter the site with previous authorization. There is no tourist access.

 

A 20 - minute walk from Camp Macedonio takes you to the Pinchudos Burial Sanctuary (2800 masl / 9186 fasl), an important location because it was built on a large cliff and features colorful friezes and anthropomorphic wood carvings.

 

Cordillera Azul National Park (Blue Mountain Range)

Location: Departments of San Martin, Loreto, Ucayali and Huanuco.
Area: 1'353, 190 hectares.
Creation: 2001.

 

Protected area for conservation of the regional ecological systems for areas of high and low jungle. It is the 2nd largest park in Peru and an extraordinary variety of habitats of immense biological wealth. Protection highland swamps, forests spongy, elfin forests, cloud forests. It is estimated that some 6,000 plant species, 71 species of mammals, 516 species of birds, 82 species of amphibians and reptiles and 93 species of fish, some of these species are endemic to the area. Inside the park and its perimeter 17 native communities live.

 

Protected Forest of Alto Mayo

Location: Department of San Martin - Moyobamba and Rioja provinces.
Area: 182.000 hectares.
Establishment: Year 1987

 

Conservation area to protect water resources in the upper watershed of the Mayo River, flora and fauna. There are forests, waterfalls, lagoons. This area has as the main species of flora rupiña, Manching ojé, faceted, chimicua, uvilla, screw, scale, sanango, capella, huamansamana, amasisa, quinilla, marupa, tortilla, ingaina, yurac ciprana, espintana, chontaquiro, sapote, achiote, caspi, copal, yacushapana, ucshaquiro, lignum vitae, gutta percha, sangre de grado, yellow Moena, Moena black and tan, palms, ferns. Also great variety of orchids, 168 species of birds and numerous mammals. His visit is more accessible through Moyobamba and Rioja .

 

Regional Conservation Area Cordillera Escalera

Location: Department of San Martin - San Martin and Lamas provinces.
Area: 149.870 hectares.
Creation: 2005

 

Area of forest conservation and protection of high cloud forest for the conservation of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds, and species living there very restricted distribution, and it is considered that the area still requires further investigation. The area has a rich diversity of wildlife, emphasizing mammals such as spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), the common woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha), jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), red deer (Mazama americana); birds like the Yellow-browed Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus huallagae), the Ash-throated Antwren (Herpsilochmus parkeri), Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), Military Macaw (Ara militaris), Southern Pochard (Netta erythropthalma), Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana), and amphibians like frogs colors (Dendrobates sp .), among others. In Cordillera Escalera abound various species of bromeliads, heliconias and orchids of different colors, sizes and shapes, which are associated with trees as pona (Dictyocaryum ptariense), screw (Cedrelinga cateniformis), copal (Dacryodes sp .) shimbillo (Inga sp .) cumala (Iryanthera sp .), Moena (Nectandra spp .) and strangle (Coussapoa spp.), forming an ecosystem with high potential for development of eco-businesses such as floriculture. Within this area are located Ahuashiyacu Falls,and is easily accessible from the city of Tarapoto (14 km)

 

The Northern Peru Birding Route

Few places on earth can match northern Peru for bird diversity. From the coast to the tropical lowlands the variety of ecosystems and birding destinations provides a near endless experience, which for most avid birders takes at least two trips to fully appreci-ate. The route traverses eight political departments from the coast, across the Andes and into the Amazon lowlands with: Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque and La Libertad along the coast, then moving east we find Cajamarca, Amazonas, San Martin and finally Loreto. These eight departments alone hold some 1,600 bird species; approximately 85% of Peru´s c.1,840 species. This impressive diversity is coupled with an outstand-ing 140 restricted-range species, from 10 endemic bird areas. Not surprisingly such diversity and endemism is due to a complex combination of climatic factors; with the El Niño and Humboldt ocean currents influencing the coast, and topographical features; the relatively low altitude Andes and inter-Andean valleys such as the Marañón, Utcubamba and Huan-cabamba, and not forge¢ing the mega-diverse tropical lowlands. However some 75 species are globally threatened (plus c.50 near-threatened species) and the route provides an interesting insight into many local conservation initiatives working to protect these birds. (Map of Northern Birding Route).

 

BIRDS OF TARAPOTO PHOTO GALLERY

 

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