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Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

 

The reflection of hundreds of snow White great egrets flashes off of the black-glass lake. Large flights of ducks take wing amongst the egrets. Not far from the boat pink dolphins surface briefly. Kingfishers skim along the shore line in search of something to eat. In the distance, pairs of macaws call out with their distinctive “screech”... Birds of all sizes and colors flit through the air…

This is the “The mirror of the Jungle” – the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve of Peru is considered one of the most important areas of biodiversity in the world. The largest reserve in the country encompasses 2’080,000 hectares (5’139,680 acres) between the Marañon and the Ucayali rivers. This protected area contains 85 lakes which are home of 250 species of fish as well as both pink and grey fresh-water dolphins. In the jungle and flooded forest of the reserve 132 mammal species (13 of which are primates), 449 bird species and 250 reptile and amphibian species have been documented.

 

The Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is part of the National System of Natural Areas and is protected by the Peruvian Government. Its administration is in hands of INRENA (National Institute of Natural Resources) which has offices in Lima and Iquitos. According to the Master Plan for the Conservation of the Biological Diversity and Sustainable Development of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, tourists have access only to determined zones of the Reserve -previous payment of an entrance fee.

 

In the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve there are 94 communities, 21 of them of the Cocama - Cocamilla ethnic group. The total population of the Reserve is 42,000 people and their main economic activities are centered on fishing, agriculture, gathering and hunting, being the first, their most important activity and main source of food. The closest towns to the Reserve are Nauta and Requena.

The Pacaya-Samiria national reserve is a good place to see pink dolphins, birds like cormorants, kingfishers, white egrets, toucans and macaws, hawks and eagles; as well as go fishing for some piranhas and other fish species.

 The large number of lakes, creeks and swamps, the unique untouched scenery, the exuberant forest and the rich wildlife make the reserve and attractive destination for ecological ecotourism, scientific expeditions, exploration and adventure cruises.