Quinoa is one of the healthy grains that is making waves in the world and has become a part of the diet of fitness enthusiasts. Well, health buffs should be grateful to Peru since Quinoa came from the region, particularly the area surrounding Lake Titicaca, which borders Peru and Bolivia. Peru has a land area of 1.3 million square kilometers (321 million acres) occupied by over 33 million people.
Peru also provides varied attractions for visitors with its arid plains and coastal area. The Andes mountains also pass through the Land of the Incas. The Inca is the largest empire in pre-Colombian America. Speaking of the Inca, one of the important food sources during the time of the Incas is the guinea pig, locally known as cuy. Peruvians eat over 65 million cuyas every year. So tourists who happen to be in Peru should taste the delicacy. Besides, Peru is known for having one of the best cuisines in the world. The World Travel Awards voted Peru the World’s Leading Culinary Destination for 2016.
Part of the Amazon Rainforest also runs through this South American country. But that is not the only natural gem in the country. Tourists should drop by the Peruvian national parks. Here are five of the undiscovered national parks in Peru:
1. Cerros de Amotape National Park
Tropical dry forests dominate this park located in the departments of Piura and Tumbles. It was established on July 22, 1975, as one of the earlier protected areas in Peru. It mainly protects the Tumbes-Piura dry forests, which is an arid eco-region. Among the trees present in the park are Algarrobo, Angolo, Cedro, ceibo, ebano, guayacan, hualtaco, Madero, and palo santo.
There are animals in the park that are not very common elsewhere like the red brocket, which is native to South America. The red brocket is not necessarily common in Peru, but this species is found in the park. Other resident animals are Guayaquil squirrels, jaguars, mantled howlers, neotropical otters, ocelots, white-fronted capuchins, and white-tailed deer. Over 100 species of birds were also documented in the park.
The lush flora and vibrant fauna population of the park make it a great place for hiking. Tourists rent mules for touring the park; it will be the perfect Peruvian experience.
2. Cutervo National Park
This is the oldest national park in Peru. It was established in 1961 and situated in the Cajamarca department. The park protects a large part of the Andean montane forests. The most popular of the plants within the park is the Andean wax palm, which is a flowering plant native to the Andes. Another eco-region Cutervo aims to protect is the Peruvian Yungas, a tropical forest with prominent moist broadleaf trees.
The park also has an alpine tundra ecosystem, which is a favored habitat of the spectacled bear also known as the Andean bear. This species is the only one that survived from the bear endemic to South America. This species is considered vulnerable, which is why the park is significant in Peru and the rest of South America. The mountain tapir, also known as the Andean tapir, also thrive in the same habitat.
The park features the mountain range Cordillera de Tarros with elevations between 1,550 and 3,500 meters. Within the mountains are caves that are favored habitats for the oilbird or the guacharo, a South American bird species that almost act like bats. There are also rivers and lakes in the area. The park is also known for its archeological sites. There were archeological remains found within the park, particularly from people in the Pre-Colombian era.
3. Gueppi-Sekime National Park
The park comprises of hills covered in forests and lowlands that are seasonally flooded. The park was established in 2012 but the area was also protected because of the Gueppi Reserved Zone, which was established in 1997. The park is a favored habitat among endangered species like the jaguar. Other animals in the park are black caimans and giant otters. The park is also a great birding area. Among the species that visitors will see in the area are a golden green woodpecker, green ibis, king vulture, sunbittern, undulated tinamou, among others.
4. Otishi National Park
This park is located within the Cusco and Junin departments. It was established on January 14, 2003, to protect a portion of the Vilcabamba mountain range, which features some of the highest mountain peaks in the country. The rivers within the park: Ene, Tambo, and Urubamba are also worth protecting for providing homes to various fish species and some reptiles. Also, these rivers are beautiful and refreshing basins that are worth visiting. The park is also an important settlement for the Ashaninka and Machiguenga indigenous people.
5. Yaguas National Park
This is Peru’s youngest national park. It is located in the Loreto Region, near the Colombian border. It is mostly a tropical forest with some water bodies. The forest and water bodies are favorite habitats of the birds. There are 600 species of birds documented within the park. A lot of them thrive amongst trees. Among the most common tree population in the park is the Ceiba pentandra, also known as kapok. The tree grows as much as 77 meters tall. There are also a lot of birds in the aquatic park. So the park is a great birding area.
The more common animals in the park are brown woolly monkeys, which are native in four South American countries: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. There are also anteaters, giant otters, and South American tapirs. The water bodies are also habitats for the Amazonian manatees, caimans, and yellow-footed tortoises. There are also over 300 species of fish, among them the Arapaima gigas or the pirarucu. This species of fish is native to the Amazon River and it is an air-breather, which means that it has to come up for air once in a while. It is also among the largest freshwater fish species.