San Matías–San Carlos Protection Forest, Protected forest reserve in Pasco Region, Peru

San Matías–San Carlos Protection Forest is a 145,818-hectare national forest in the Pasco Region districts of Palcazú, Puerto Bermúdez and Villa Rica. It runs from lowland rainforest at about 300 metres up to cloud forest at 2,250 metres, within the Peruvian Yungas and Ucayali moist forests. Ferns, orchids and epiphytes cover the higher slopes, while mahogany and cat's claw grow below.

This forest became a protected area in 1987 when authorities recognized its role in preventing erosion and supporting local communities. The designation reflected growing awareness of the need to safeguard these natural systems.

The forest is meant to maintain and develop the cultural values of the Ashaninka and Yanesha (Amuesha) communities, whose ancestors lived in this area. Its stated objectives include promoting economic activities that benefit these native communities. The reserve lies within the Oxapampa-Asháninka-Yánesha Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO in 2010.

You need permission before entering and should be ready for remote conditions with few marked paths and basic facilities. Plan ahead and bring appropriate gear for the environment you will encounter.

The forest rises from 300 to 2,250 metres, linking lowland rainforest with cloud forest. This corridor of highland habitat inside the Amazonian lowlands lets high-altitude species such as the spectacled bear, the northern pudu and the Andean cock-of-the-rock reach the reserve.