Location: 190 mi (306 km) Southwest of Iquitos, Loreto Region Map
Area: 20 000 km²
Tel. 065 232 980
Info: INRENA, Calle Putumayo 1156, Iquitos
The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve (RNPS) is a protected area of
Peru located in the department of Loreto in the Amazon. With an
area of 2,080,000 ha (20,800 km²), it is the largest National
Reserve in Peru, the second protected natural area in the country
(after the Alto Purús National Park) and the fourth protected area
in all of South America. Likewise, it is the most extensive
protected area of the flooded Amazon (ecosystem known as várzea)
in South America, due to which it was designated a RAMSAR site on
August 28, 1986. According to the categories of protected areas of
the IUCN, it is considered a protected managed resources” (VI).
Together with the nearby Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve, the RNPS
forms a biodiversity hotspot in the Amazon jungle.
The
extension of the reserve represents 1.5% of the Peruvian territory
and 6% of the Loreto region, it is also somewhat larger than the
surface of Slovenia and comparable to 50% of the territory of
Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands or Costa Rica or the 23% from
Portugal, which ensures the ecological and genetic
representativeness of the region.
It comprises around 208
populated centers with approximately 40,000 people living within the
area and 50,000 in the buffer zone. There are 56 native communities
affiliated with indigenous organizations: AIDECOS, AIDEMA, ACOIBAHM,
ADECOP and ACODECOSPAT. Both the native population (belonging to the
Cocama-Cocamilla ethnic group) and the mestizo population subsist on
the use of the natural resources of the reserve.
According to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
Master Plan, prepared by the National Institute of Natural Resources
(INRENA), a state entity that was in charge of Natural Protected Areas,
now replaced by the National Service of Natural Protected Areas
(SERNANP), the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve was established on land
that had previously been declared Reserved Zones with the main objective
of conserving the paiche (Arapaima gigas).
Supreme Resolution No.
68 of June 2, 1940 declared the fluvial area of the Pacaya River from
500 meters before the mouth of the Yanayacu lake to the place called
Zancudo, located in the course of the same river, a Reserved Zone for
the multiplication and breeding of the mentioned fish.
Supreme
Resolution No. 887 of October 23, 1944 and Supreme Resolution No. 217
provided for the expansion of the Reserved Zone and included the
hydrographic system of the Pacaya and Samiria rivers.
Through
Supreme Decree 210-68-AG of October 10, 1968, it was decided to
establish a National Reserve for the comprehensive conservation of
natural resources in the Pacaya river basin, especially the paiche
(Arapaima gigas), the black lizard (Melanosuchus niger) and the river
otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), in which "forest exploitation, hunting
and fishing by individuals" were prohibited. The same Supreme Decree
declared the Samiria River area a Pilot Fishing Exploitation Zone and an
Official Hunting Reserve, for the rational use of its natural resources.
On February 25, 1972, Supreme Decree 06-72 declared the entire
hydrographic system of the Samiria River a reserved zone by the State,
which, together with the Reserved Zone of the Pacaya River, formed the
Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Article 2 of this Supreme Decree
established its geographical limit.
The Pacaya Samiria National
Reserve was established by Supreme Decree No. 016-82-AG of February 4,
1982. Thanks to this regulation, the extension of the national reserve
is extended to 2,080,000 ha with the primary objective of conserving
natural resources. of flora and fauna as well as the scenic beauties
characteristic of the humid tropical forests.
Objectives
Promote studies of flora and fauna in
the area.
Improve and extend education about the area.
Interest
the local population in the benefits of conservation and good management
of fauna.
Promote and improve the use of natural resources according
to appropriate ecological development.
Conserve representative
ecosystems of the lowland jungle of the Peruvian Amazon and preserve its
genetic diversity.
Protect species of flora and fauna of the Amazon
that have disappeared, such as the black lizard, river wolf and piache.
Location
The limits of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve are
defined by the Marañón River to the north and the Ucayali to the south,
in the Loreto region, northeast of Peru.
Achievements
Information on wild fauna and flora has been generated.
Methodologies
have been developed for the recovery of aquatic turtles such as the
charapa (Podocnemis expansa) and taricaya (Podocnemis unifilis), which
have been successfully replicated in other areas of the country.
A
significant recovery has been achieved in primate species such as the
box monkey (Alouatta seniculus) and woolly monkey (Lagothrix
lagotricha), ungulates, river otters (Pteronura brasiliensis), pink
(Inia geoffrensis) and gray (Sotalia fluviatilis) dolphins and other
hydrobiological species.
The conservation and sustainable management
of palm species such as aguaje (Mauritia flexuosa), yarina (Phytelephas
macrocarpa) such as tagua or vegetable ivory and huasaí (Euterpe
precatoria) have been promoted.
It has been possible to involve the
local population in the sustainable management of resources such as
paiche (Arapaima gigas), arahuana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum), taricaya
(Podocnemis unifilis), yarina (Phytelephas macrocarpa) and aguaje
(Mauritia flexuosa), promoting sustainable development, decreasing the
pressure on these area resources.
Climate
It can be hot and
humid, with temperatures often exceeding 34°C. Like all of the Amazon,
it has two well-defined seasons: the empty one, the dry or summer season
(from May to October) is known as the Amazonian summer due to the
formation of white-sand fluvial beaches, and the other is the of rains
(from November to April), known as the Amazonian winter. The average
annual temperature ranges between 20° and 33° C. The average annual
rainfall fluctuates between 2,000 and 3,000 mm. In the RNPS, high
temperatures can be recorded at any time of the year, but they are more
frequent during the dry season (July to September). The best season to
visit the national reserve is between May and January.
Hydrography
There are two main rivers in the reserve: The Pacaya
River, a tributary of the Ucayali, flows into the left bank of the
Puinahua channel. The Samiria River, a tributary of the Marañon, flows
on the right side of this river. There are about 80 lakes. At the
confluence of the Marañón and Ucayali rivers, in front of the community
of Mariscal Castilla, the Amazon River is nominally born.
Biodiversity
Flora
In the reserve it is easy to find large
extensions of aguajales, flooded areas where the aguaje palm tree
(Mauritia flexuosa) abounds, of great value for carbon sequestration and
an important species in the food chain of terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems.
Species of timber or economically important trees
protected in the RNPS:
Cedar (Cedrela odorata)
Husk (Cinchona
officinalis)
Mahogany (Maena capimori)
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao)
Chuchuhuasi (Noxythece sp.).
Caspi ant (Durdia eriophila).
Huairuro (Ormosia amazonica).
Lupuna colorada (Cavanillesia
hylogeiton).
White lupuna (Ceiba pentandra)
Machín sapote
(Quararibea bicolor).
Fauna
The presence of more than 1,025 vertebrate
species has been reported, which represents 27% of the diversity of
these species in Peru and 36% of the total registered for the Amazon. It
is home to important species of wildlife considered to be indicators of
the good state of conservation of their territories, such as the sea cow
or manatee (Trichechus inunguis), the pink dolphin (Inia geoffrensis),
the gray dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis), the yellow-fronted maquisapa
(Ateles beltzebuth), the otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), the puma (Puma
concolor), the sachavaca (Tapirus terrestris), the otorongo or jaguar
(Panthera onca), the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), the peccary
(Tayassu tajacu) , the red deer (Mazama americana), the maquisapa
(Ateles paniscus), the monkey preserve (Alouatta seniculus) and the
woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagothricha).
The ornithological fauna
is made up of 449 species, where the populations of birds related to
aquatic environments stand out, which are also excellent indicators of
the state of conservation of wetlands. Among them, the white heron
(Egretta alba), the gray heron (Ardea cocoi), the puma heron (Tigrisoma
lineatum), the cushuri (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) and several other
species stand out. the charapa turtle (Podocnemis expansa), the taricaya
(Podocnemis unifilis), the black lizard (Melanosuchus niger) and the
white lizard (Caiman crocodylus). Hydrobiological resources are the most
important in the RNPS both for their role in ecological processes and
for their economic value, they are also the basis of food for local
people.
The main species for human consumption can be categorized
into two types: the large ones such as the paiche (Arapaima gigas), the
dorado (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii), the doncella (Pseudoplatystoma
fasciatum) and the tower fish (Phractocephalus hemiliopterus); and those
of medium and small size such as the gamitana (Colossoma macropomum),
the sábalo (Brycon melanopterus), the croaker (Plagioscion
squamosissimus), the boquichico (Prochilodus nigricans), the palometa
(Mylossoma duriventris), among other highly appreciated species.
Also noteworthy is the presence of a large number of ornamental fish for
export, such as the tiger dwarf (Tigrinus peruvianus), the arahuana
(Osteoglossum bicirrhosum), the skate (Potamotrygon motoro), the tetra
(Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) and dozens of other species.
Access
The RNPS is mostly accessible from Lagunas, a town near
Yurimaguas, and Nauta, a city two hours south of Iquitos. There are
other entry points to the reserve such as San Martin de Tipishca and
Brittany, but they are far from the main support cities (Iquitos, Nauta
and Yurimaguas).
Tourism
It currently has 6 Tourist Use Areas. Of
these, Nauta Caño, Yanayacu-Pucate and Tibilo-Pastococha are the most
visited by tourists due to their proximity to the cities of Iquitos (the
first two) and the other way to get there is from Lima to Tarapoto by
air and then by land. Yurimaguas and then the river to Villa Lagunas,
the entrance gate to the Reserve through PV 12 (the third).
In
the Tourist Use Areas there are organized groups of residents, dedicated
to the rational management of Amazonian palm trees and the provision of
tourist services. In relation to the second, these residents have been
adequately trained by different government and international
organizations to be able to put together tourist packages within the
RNPS and provide good care and attention to national and foreign
visitors. Likewise, comfortable shelters with the capacity to
accommodate a small number of visitors (no more than 8) were set up to
reduce the impact.
It is not possible to enter the RNPS on your
own, it is always necessary to purchase the services of an authorized
travel agency, a hostel, a cruise ship (luxury boats) or contact
directly with organized groups within the reserve who, upon request,
they can pick up the tourist in Nauta or Iquitos or in Tarapoto at the
airport or bus terminals The investment for the visit is between
S/.250.00 when they are in a group and when it is one only to S/.500.00
Peruvian Nuevos Soles per person per day (approximately from USD 76.21
to 152.41 US Dollars), the cheapest rate being that of local tourism
groups (from S/.150 to 350.00 Nuevos Soles) (approximately from USD
45.72 to 106.69 Dollars Americans), This rate is usually all-inclusive:
transportation from the city to the protected area, food, accommodation
and guide in the reserve. The rate may be reduced depending on the group
and length of stay. The minimum time required to visit this protected
area is 3 days Pacaya Samiria Express for those who do not have much
time and it is recommended to take 5 - 7 - 13 - 15 days. Likewise, the
Maximum Tour is 22 days. Entering through the PV 12 Villa Lagunas and
exiting to Nauta - Iquitos, you can also do tours from one month to more
days according to the visitor's time, it is possible to enter the
reserve as a volunteer park ranger.
visiting seasons
It is
possible to visit the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve throughout the
year. In the growing season (November-April) birds, monkeys and
amphibian animals can be observed, although in general, the species are
sheltered in the restingas (high lands that are not subject to
flooding). In the dry season (May-October), river beaches are formed
where aquatic turtles spawn, lizards, taricayas and charapas are
observed.
Between (July and November) is the spawning season of
the taricayas. In this season, the residents organized in the Fishing
Units (UP) set up the so-called "incubation banks", where they will
place the eggs of these turtles to protect them, wait for them to hatch
and return to the river, thus avoiding indiscriminate collection. It
should be noted that there is a maximum limit of duplication that was
established on the basis of studies, so that the remaining eggs are
destined for consumption and commercialization by the inhabitants. This
is because the excessive release of a single species into the natural
environment is not possible since the Amazon has a fragile balance.
The eggs hatch in November, being an impressive spectacle for locals
and strangers.
Volunteering
The Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
has a volunteer program administered by the head of the protected
natural area (in turn dependent on SERNANP). One of the requirements for
foreigners is to have an intermediate command of spoken Spanish. To
access the program it will be necessary to contact the head of the
national reserve. The volunteer will live with the park rangers and will
support them in carrying out their work by training local communities,
executing natural resource management programs, etc.