Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge, Protected wetland area in Chorrillos, Peru.
Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge is a protected area in Chorrillos, south of downtown Lima. Wooden walkways run through reed beds and connect several observation towers where visitors can overlook open water and muddy shorelines.
The area received protection status in 1977 under city parks management and gained international Ramsar recognition in 1997. This second step committed Peru to maintaining the ecological health of the marshes despite surrounding urban growth.
The name reflects Villa, the district at the southern edge of the city where brackish springs feed the marshes. Local school groups often visit during field trips to use the observation towers and watch waterbirds searching for food in the shallow lagoons.
The best time to visit falls between May and October when there is less rain and birds are easier to spot. A visit typically takes two to three hours to walk the main paths and pause at the towers.
The refuge hosts more than 210 bird species, including migratory visitors from Arctic regions who overwinter or rest here on their way south. Small penguins from colder Pacific coasts occasionally appear in the channels, even though Lima sits in tropical latitudes.
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