Tambopata National Reserve The Tambopata National Reserve (TNR) is part of a 3.7 million acre reserve in southeastern Amazonian Peru, created in 1990 by the national government working in partnership with local grassroots and international conservation organizations.This reserve protects the biological diversity of the entire watersheds of the Tavara and the Candamo rivers and most of the watershed of the Tambopata River. The declaration and the design of the reserve includes an underlying philosophy of sustainable development and conservation of forest resources.

The TNR protects habitats ranging from the Andean highlands around the rivers' headwaters through some of the last remaining intact cloud forests to the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin. Over 1,300 bird species (including 32 parrot species - 10% of the world's total), 200 mammal species, 90 frog species, 1,200 butterfly species and 10,000 species of higher plants are protected within this reserve.

The world's largest known mineral clay lick, where hundreds of parrots and macaws of up to 15 species congregate daily to ingest the detoxifying clay, is also within the reserve, less than 500 meters from Tambopata Research Center.

Adjacent the northwestern corner of the reserve is the Ese'eja Native Community, adding its 10,000 hectares of communally owned and managed tropical rain forests to the Reserved Zone.

Pacaya Samiria Spreading over 2,080,000 hectares, the crown jewel of Peru's northern Amazon region natural reserves, Pacaya-Samiria is also the nation's largest. It was created in 1982 to conserve the region's exuberant and diverse animal wildlife, including its huge variety of fish species that are the main source of protein for the local population. This protected area contains 85 lakes that are home to 250 species of fish as well as both pink and gray fresh-water dolphins. In the jungle and flooded forest of the reserve 132 mammal species (13 of which are primates), 449 bird species and 150 reptile and amphibian species have been documented. There are three distinct eco-systems in the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve and the largest variety of flora in Peru, including 22 species of orchids.

The area originally set aside in 1940 became a National Reserve in 1972. A number of ranger stations were set up to enforce Reserve laws and monitor wildlife. The objectives of the Reserve are to foster research and protection for all species of wildlife, foster socioeconomic help for the local people and utilization of resources and tourism. Nature Conservancy of Peru plays a major role in meeting these goals. One of their more successful programs is the protection of taricaya and charapa turtle eggs and conservation of these endangered species. To date they have released 450,000 turtle hatchlings.

Tourism plays an important role as it brings in funds through an entrance fee that helps support the various programs and promotes awareness of the wildlife and plant resources within the reserve and the need for its continued protection.

Paracas Established in 1975 on 335,000 hectares, Paracas is the only natural area protecting the Peuvian portion of the cold Humboldt Current. Located on the coastal desert strip, this unique life zone comprises of the world's richest seas, a condition made possible by the upwelling of  huge masses of marine plankton that provide vital nourishment to innumerable fish species. Paracas is the land of the guano birds and vast colonies of seals. It provides a station for tens of species of migratory birds and is the final refuge for many epizootic and endangered species, including the marine otter or chingungo, the Humboldt penguin and the common flamingoes. Paracas was home to a major pre-Columbian civilization who left a superb legacy of spectacular textiles and pottery.

Lake Titicaca Since 1978, this reserve has helped to conserve the region's plant and animal wildlife as well as its scenic beauties while promoting the rational use of resources. The Titicaca Reserve's 36,180 hectares spread almost totally over the highest navigable lake in the world. The reserve is divided into two separate sectors. The first, surrounding and including the bay of Puno, aims to protect the totora reed fields that provide sustenance to the Uros-Chulluni communities, while the second, in the Huancane area, preserves less frequently visited totora fields.

More than 60 varieties of birds, including the epizootic Titicaca flightless guebe,  have been identified in the lake's surroundings. Other species include 14 types of naive fish and 18 kinds of native fish species and 18 kinds of amphibians, among which are the giant Titicaca frog and a type of aquatic frog.

Peruvian Nature:

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Other Natural Wonders
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