Cutervo National Park, Nature reserve in Pimpingos, Peru
Cutervo National Park is a protected forest reserve in the northern Peruvian mountains with three main landscape zones: mountain forests, cloud forests, and high grasslands. The park encompasses several distinct ecological areas that support different plant and animal communities at different elevations.
The park was established in 1961 as Peru's first officially protected natural area of this kind. Its creation followed years of advocacy by naturalists who recognized the ecological importance of these mountains.
The park represents a landscape shaped by centuries of Andean settlement and local knowledge about mountain life. Communities in the region maintain deep connections to these forests and their wildlife.
The park is most accessible during drier months when trails are in better condition for hiking. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and prepare for changing weather conditions at higher elevations.
Inside the park, the Gruta de los Guácharos cave system houses colonies of oilbirds, rare nocturnal birds that navigate through complete darkness using echolocation. This hidden underground world offers an unusual glimpse into animal life rarely seen by visitors.
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