Oxapampa-Ashaninka-Yanesha

Oxapampa-Ashaninka-Yanesha is a biosphere reserve in central Peru that covers a vast area across multiple ecological zones ranging from Amazon lowlands to misty mountain forests. The landscape shows dramatically different habitats and elevations packed into one large protected area.

The area became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2010, building on a national park established in 1986 that forms its protected core. These two milestones marked the beginning of coordinated protection for this region.

Three indigenous groups live in this region and maintain their traditional ways while sharing the area with descendants of European settlers who arrived centuries ago. Their presence shapes the villages and the rhythm of daily life here.

The reserve has many hiking trails at different difficulty levels, and accommodations plus local guides are available in nearby towns. Visitors should prepare for changing weather and varied terrain as they move between different elevations.

The reserve is home to an extraordinary variety of orchids, with hundreds of species found nowhere else that thrive in the misty forest areas. These rare plants are a surprising discovery for many visitors exploring the humid mountain zones.