17:27 | Tingo Maria, May. 11.
Tingo Maria National Park is on the verge of celebrating the 41st anniversary of its designation as Protected Natural Area on May 14 and claims to be home to 178 species of birds, including the Andean cock-of-the-rock, the guacharos, and several species of parrots, woodpeckers and toucans.
According to Peruvian State-run National Service of Natural Protected Areas (Sernanp), the King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) and the blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota) can be found here, too. The best places to watch birds are Tres de Mayo and Cueva de las Lechuzas.
The most outstanding mammals in the area are the South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris), the red brocket (Mazama americana), the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu), the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), the black-capped squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis), and the brown-mantled tamarin (Saguinus fuscicollis).
Likewise, the park is home to an impressive number of butterflies —Peru boasts the greatest number of butterfly species, according to experts.
Its flora includes different varieties of plants typical of the high jungle and is characterized by the development of very humid forests covered by mist at over 1,800 meters above sea level. In many places, the forest becomes smaller and trees are covered by plants, moss, and lichens due to humidity.
The most important tree species within this protected natural area include the Huaira Caspi (Cedrelinga cateniformis), the Moena, and the Castelo Boxwood (Calycophyllum multiflorum).
Tourist routes
The Cueva de las Lechuzas (Cave of the Owls), located 6.5 km from Tingo Maria City, is a cavern stratified into 6 rooms with stalactites and stalagmites slowly formed over thousands of years. They display fanciful shapes that look like natural sculptures, which stimulate visitors’ imagination. The cave houses an important number of guacharos (Steatornis caripensis), bats and insects.
Tres de Mayo tourist circuit, in the South, is home to insects, birds, as well as medicinal forest and ornamental plants. The place has beautiful waterfalls like Gloria Pata and Sol Naciente.
Climate
The rainy season stretches from October to April, which explains the limited access because it is difficult to explore the area at this time.
More than 80,000 people are expected to visit Tingo Maria National Park to experience its biological diversity and wonderful landscapes.
The park’s head biologist Carlos Sanchez said over 73,000 visits were recorded in 2015, of which 50% came from Lima and other regions, 40% from Huanuco, and 10% from abroad.
(END) LZD/MAO/RMB/MVB
Published: 5/11/2016