List of protected areas of Peru

This is a list of protected areas in Peru.

Natural heritage

View of the beach in Punta Sal.

The Constitution of Peru of 1993 recognized the natural resources and ecosystem variety of its country as a heritage.[1] In 1990, the National System of Natural Areas that are protected by the Government (SINANPE) was created.[2] This entity depends on the National Service of Protected Areas by the State (SERNANP), Ministry of Environment.

Peru has 76 natural protected areas [3](more of 15% of the country surface area) that are preserved by the National Government: 15 national parks, 9 national sanctuaries, 4 historical sanctuaries, 17 national reserves, 3 wildlife refuges, 2 landscape reserves, 10 communal reserves, 6 protected forests, 2 hunting enclosed lands and 8 reserved zones. A map was also created containing the natural protected areas.[4]

Peru is considered to be among 17 of the most megadiverse countries in the world.[5] With over 1,850 species of birds,[6] it has the world's second most diverse avian community, after Colombia.[7]

National Parks are places where the wild flora and fauna are protected and preserved. Natural resources exploitation and human settlements are forbidden.

National System of Natural State Protected Areas

National parks

* Green – UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS)
† Blue – UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (BR)
‡ Purple – Park designated as both WHS and BR
National Parks of Peru
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8] Annual visitors (2023)[9]
Cutervo National Park Cajamarca 20 September 1961 8,214.23 1,104
Tingo María National Park Huánuco 14 May 1965 4,777.00 132,572
Manú National Park ‡ Cusco and Madre de Dios 29 May 1973 1,716,295.22 8,114
Huascarán National Park ‡ Ancash 1 July 1975 340,000.00 215,442
Cerros de Amotape National Park † Tumbes and Piura 22 July 1975 152,045.13 —
Rio Abiseo National Park ‡ San Martín 11 August 1983 274,520.00 802
Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park † Pasco 29 August 1986 122,000.00 5,234
Bahuaja-Sonene National Park Madre de Dios and Puno 17 July 1996 1,091,416.00 0
Cordillera Azul National Park San Martín, Loreto, Ucayali, and Huánuco 21 May 2001 1,353,190.85 137
Otishi National Park † Junín and Cusco 14 January 2003 305,973.05 —
Alto Purús National Park Ucayali and Madre de Dios 18 November 2004 2,510,694.41 —
Ichigkat Muja – Cordillera del Cóndor National Park Amazonas 9 August 2007 88,477.00 —
Güeppi-Sekime National Park Loreto 25 October 2012 203,628.51 —
Sierra del Divisor National Park Loreto and Ucayali 9 November 2015 1,354,485.10 0
Yaguas National Park Loreto 10 January 2018 868,927.84 —

National reserves

* Green – UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS)
† Blue – UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (BR)
‡ Purple – Park designated as both WHS and BR
National Reserves of Peru
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8] Annual visitors (2023)[9]
Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National Reserve Ayacucho 18 May 1967 6,500.00 1,039
Junín National Reserve Junín and Pasco 7 August 1974 53,000.00 500
Paracas National Reserve Ica 25 September 1975 335,000.00 473,088
Lachay National Reserve Lima 21 June 1977 5,070.00 36,238
Titicaca National Reserve Puno 31 October 1978 36,180.00 9,381
Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve Arequipa and Moquegua 9 August 1979 366,936.00 1,093
Calipuy National Reserve La Libertad 8 January 1981 64,000.00 352
Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve Loreto 25 February 1972 2,080,000.00 10,689
Tambopata National Reserve Madre de Dios 4 September 2000 274,690.00 44,144
Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve Loreto 15 January 2004 58,069.90 1,709
Tumbes National Reserve † Tumbes 7 July 2006 19,266.72
Matsés National Reserve Tumbes 26 August 2009 420,635.34
Guano Islands, Islets, and Capes National Reserve Ancash, Arequipa, Lima,Ica, Moquegua and Pacific Ocean 31 December 2009 140,833.47 508,090
Pucacuro National Reserve Loreto 23 October 2010 637,953.83
San Fernando National Reserve Ica 9 July 2011 154,716.37 608
Dorsal de Nasca National Reserve Pacific Ocean 5 June 2021 6,239,205.75
Illescas National Reserve Piura 24 December 2021 36,550.70
Mar Tropical de Grau National Reserve Pacific Ocean 26 April 2024 115,675.89

National sanctuaries

National sanctuaries are areas of national importance for the protection of the habitat of specific species of flora and fauna, and natural formations of scientific or scenic interest.[2]

National Sanctuaries of Peru
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8] Annual visitors (2023)[9]
Huayllay National Sanctuary Pasco 7 August 1978 6,815.00 34,951
Calipuy National Sanctuary La Libertad 8 January 1981 4,500.00 352
Lagunas de Mejía National Sanctuary Arequipa 24 February 1984 690.60 6,127
Ampay National Sanctuary Apurímac 23 July 1987 3,635.50 4,948
Manglares de Tumbes National Sanctuary Tumbes 2 March 1988 2,972.00 2,907
Megantoni National Sanctuary Cusco 17 October 2004 1,166.00
Pampa Hermosa National Sanctuary Junín 26 March 2009 11,543.74 292
Tabaconas Namballe National Sanctuary Cajamarca 20 May 1988 32,124.87 0
Cordillera de Colán National Sanctuary Amazonas 9 December 2009 39,215.80

Historical sanctuaries

* Green – UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS)
† Blue – UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (BR)
‡ Purple – Park designated as both WHS and BR
Historical Sanctuaries of Peru
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8] Annual visitors (2023)[9]
Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary * Cusco 8 January 1981 32,592.00 121,954
Chacamarca Historical Sanctuary Junín 7 August 1974 2,500.00 2,873
Pampa de Ayacucho Historical Sanctuary † Ayacucho 14 August 1980 300.00 199,546
Bosque de Pómac Historic Sanctuary Lambayeque 1 June 2001 5,887.38 9,432

Wildlife refuges

Wildlife Refuges of Peru
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8] Annual visitors (2023)[9]
Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge Lambayeque 7 July 2006 8,328.64 182
Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge Lima 23 June 2006 263.27 51,875
Bosques Nublados de Udima Wildlife Refuge Cajamarca 21 July 2007 12,183.20

Landscape reserves

Landscape Reserves of Peru
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8] Annual visitors (2023)[9]
Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve Lima and Junín 1 May 2001 221,268.48 126,940
Cotahuasi Subbasin Landscape Reserve Arequipa 23 May 2005 490,550.00 —

Communal reserves

Communal reserves are conservation areas for flora and fauna, allowing traditional use for the rural populations surrounding the areas. The use and marketing of the natural resources within the communal reserve is conducted by the same rural populations.[2]

Communal Reserves of Peru
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8] Annual visitors (2023)[9]
Yanesha Communal Reserve Pasco 28 April 1988 34,746.38 —
El Sira Communal Reserve Huánuco, Pasco, and Ucayali 22 June 2001 616,413.00 —
Amarakaeri Communal Reserve Madre de Dios 9 May 2002 402,335.96 0
Asháninka Communal Reserve Cusco and Junín 14 January 2003 184,468.38 —
Machiguenga Communal Reserve Cusco and Junín 14 January 2003 218,905.63 —
Purús Communal Reserve Ucayali 18 November 2004 202,033.21 —
Tuntanain Communal Reserve Amazonas 10 August 2007 94,967.68 —
Chayu Nain Communal Reserve Amazonas 9 December 2009 23,597.76 —
Airo Pai Communal Reserve Loreto 25 October 2012 247,887.59 —
Huimeki Communal Reserve Loreto 25 October 2012 141,234.46 —

Protected forests

Protected Forests of Peru
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8] Annual visitors (2023)[9]
Aledaño Bocatoma del Canal Nuevo Imperial Protection Forest Lima 19 May 1980 18.11 —
Puquio Santa Rosa Protection Forest Amazonas 2 September 1982 72.50 —
Pui Pui Protection Forest Junín 31 January 1985 60,000.00 —
San Matías–San Carlos Protection Forest Amazonas 20 March 1987 145,818.00 —
Pagaibamba Protection Forest Cajamarca 19 June 1987 2,078.38 —
Alto Mayo Protection Forest Amazonas 23 July 1987 182,000.00 348

Game reserves

Game Reserves of Peru
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8] Annual visitors (2023)[9]
El Angolo Game Reserve Piura 1 July 1975 65,000.00
Sunchubamba Game Reserve Piura 22 April 1977 59,735.00

Reserved zones

Reserved Zones of Peru
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8] Annual visitors (2023)[9]
Chancaybaños Reserved Zone Cajamarca 14 February 1996 2,628.00 —
Santiago-Comaina Reserved Zone Amazonas and Loreto 21 January 1999 398,449.44 —
Cordillera Huayhuash Reserved Zone Ancash, Huánuco, and Lima 20 December 2002 67,589.76 —
Sierra del Divisor Reserved Zone Loreto 5 April 2006 62,234.62 9,861
Río Nieva Reserved Zone Amazonas 1 October 2010 36,348.30 —
Bosque de Zárate Reserved Zone Lima 13 October 2010 545.75 —
Cerro Khapia Reserved Zone Puno 28 May 2011 18,313.79 —
Ancón Reserved Zone Lima 28 November 2011 2,193.01 —

Regional conservation areas

Regional Conservation Areas of Peru (ACR)
Name Photo Location Established[8] Area (ha)[8]
Cordillera Escalera Regional Conservation Area San Martín 22 December 2005 149,870.00
Ventanilla Wetlands Regional Conservation Area Callao 6 September 2012 275.45
Albúfera del Medio Mundo Regional Conservation Area Lima 6 June 2013 687.71
Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Communal Regional Conservation Area Loreto 15 May 2009 420,080.25
Vilacota Maure Regional Conservation Area Tacna 27 August 2009 124,313.18
Imiria Regional Conservation Area Ucayali 15 June 2010 135,737.52
Choquequirao Regional Conservation Area Cusco 23 December 2010 103,814.39
Puya Raymondi–Titankayocc Forest Regional Conservation Area Ayacucho 23 December 2010 6,272.39
Ampiyacu-Apayacu Regional Conservation Area Loreto 18 March 2011 434,129.54
Alto Nanay–Pintuyacu–Chambira Regional Conservation Area Loreto 18 March 2011 954,635.48
Angostura Faical Regional Conservation Area Tumbes 18 March 2011 8,794.50
Huacrupe–La Calera Forest Regional Conservation Area Lambayeque 22 June 2011 7,272.27
Moyán–Palacio Forest Regional Conservation Area Lambayeque 22 June 2011 8,457.76
Huaytapallana Regional Conservation Area Junín 21 July 2011 22,406.52
Dry Forests of Salitral–Huarmaca Regional Conservation Area Piura 21 July 2011 28,811.86
Huacachina Lagoon Regional Conservation Area Ica 6 August 2014 2,407.72
Maijuna Kichwa Regional Conservation Area Loreto 16 June 2015 391,039.82
Tres Cañones Regional Conservation Area Cusco 24 August 2017 39,485.11
Vista Alegre–Omia Regional Conservation Area Amazonas 17 June 2018 48,944.51
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests of the Marañón Regional Conservation Area Amazonas 17 June 2018 13,929.12
Shunté and Mishollo Forest Regional Conservation Area San Martín 15 December 2018 191,405.53
El Chaupe, Cunía y Chinchiquilla Forest Regional Conservation Area Cajamarca 1 October 2019 21,868.88
Lomas de Lima System Regional Conservation Area Lima 7 December 2019 13,475.74
Ausangate Regional Conservation Area Cusco 12 December 2019 66,514.17
Carpish Montane Forest Regional Conservation Area Huánuco 1 January 2020 50,559.21
Chuyapi Urusayhua Regional Conservation Area Cusco 25 March 2021 80,190.78
High Andean Forests and Páramos of Jaén and Tabaconas Regional Conservation Area Cajamarca 6 May 2021 31,537.23
Marañón Dry Forests Regional Conservation Area Cajamarca 13 May 2021 21,794.71
Pozuzo Bend Regional Conservation Area Huánuco 24 July 2021 10,543.95
Q’eros-Kosñipata Regional Conservation Area Cusco 24 July 2021 55,319.07
Alto Tamaya–Abujao Communal Regional Conservation Area Ucayali 24 July 2021 150,010.82
Amaru–Huachocolpa–Chihuana Cloud Forest Regional Conservation Area Huancavelica 6 November 2021 5,024.18
Inter-Andean Dry Forests of Cutervo Regional Conservation Area Cajamarca 17 May 2025 18,410.94
Putumayo–Algodón Regional Conservation Area Loreto 6 June 2025 283,594.76
Velo de la Novia Regional Conservation Area Ucayali 20 June 2025 14,399.96

See also

References

  1. ^ Article 66-69 of the Constitution of Peru Archived 2007-03-24 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 17 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b c SINANPE list of protected areas Archived 2012-04-24 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 17 July 2012.
  3. ^ Sistema Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado SINANPE (in spanish)
  4. ^ Map - Geographic Information of Protected Natural Areas - Geo ANP
  5. ^ Conservation International, South America Banks on Regional Strategy to Safeguard Quarter of Earth's Biodiversity Archived 2003-10-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on June 29, 2007.
  6. ^ Total number of bird species, by country - MONGABAY
  7. ^ Lambertini, A Naturalist's Guide to the Tropics, excerpt
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Listado de Áreas Naturales Protegidas del Perú - Actualizado al 02 de julio del 2025" (PDF) (in Spanish). SERNANP. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j National Service of Natural Protected Areas by the State (2024-07-09). Memoria Anual 2023 [Annual Report 2023] (PDF) (Report).
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