The Peruvian Amazon region of Peru includes the departments of Loreto, Ucayali, Amazonas, Madre de Dios, Huanuco and San Martin. This is a vast, sparsely populated jungle region in the Amazon basin of northeastern Peru. This region is marked by a large degree of biodiversity. Peru has the second-largest portion of the Amazon rainforest after the Brazilian Amazon.
Cities
edit- 1 Aguaytia — a few miles towards Tingo María you can find the famous waterfall "Velo de la Novia" which is a nice place for a day trip
- 2 Atalaya — known for the Tambo Ushco cavern, the Piedra del Toro, the Three Windows, the Sapani natural pool and the Canuja ravine
- 3 Caballococha — every Sunday there is a community festival called Pollada
- 4 Iquitos — gateway to some of the top national parks and reserves for ecological conservation and wildlife viewing, and for Amazon boat rides, and a destinationfor those who are interested in the ancient shamanic ways of plant healing
- 5 Mazán — a transport hub for the upstream rivers of the Amazonas
- 6 Nauta — the primary destination of the only major road leading out of Iquitos, and is a staging area for several ecotourism lodges and ships on the Marañòn River, including boats to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve
- 7 Pucallpa — an excellent base for visits to Lake Yarinacocha
- 8 Santa Rosa — a small settlement on an island in Amazonian Peru at the triple border that includes Tabatinga in Brazil and Leticia in Colombia
- 9 Sepahua — a town with a diverse population that includes Arawak groups such as Yine, Asháninka and Machiguenga, and Pano groups such as Amahuaca, Nahua and Yaminahua
- 10 Yurimaguas — a gateway to the Peruvian Amazon that offers access to the rainforest and is known for its natural beauty and biodiversity
Other destinations
edit- 1 Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve — The largest protected area in Peru, accessible from Iquitos or Nauta.
Understand
editThe Peruvian Amazon jungle is one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth. As a nation, Peru has the largest number of bird species in the world and the third-largest number of mammals; 44% of bird species and 63% of mammal species inhabit the Peruvian Amazon. Peru also has a very high number of species of butterflies, orchids, and other organisms.
Many indigenous peoples, such as the Aguaruna, Cocama-Cocamilla and the Urarina,[4] inhabit the jungle, some in relative isolation from the rest of the world.
In the late 20th and early 21st century, illegal logging and illegal oil extraction have become serious problems in the Peruvian Amazon. In 2012 the World Bank estimated that 80% of Peru's timber exports are illegally harvested. This uncontrolled deforestation could negatively affect the habitats of indigenous tribes, the Peruvian biodiversity and contribute to climate change.