Illescas Reserved Zone

Illescas Reserved Zone is a protected area located on the Illescas peninsula along Sechura Bay, covering land with rocky coastlines and sand dunes. The territory is managed by Peru's environmental authority SERNANP and serves to protect the different habitats found across this coastal region.

The area was first protected in 2010 and later became an official National Reserve in 2021. This status reflects growing recognition of the ecological importance of this coastal landscape.

The place brings together ocean and desert life, shaping how fishing communities in the region have lived and worked for generations. Local people have developed their daily practices around the rhythms and resources of this coastal environment.

Visitors should prepare for rough coastal conditions and exposed terrain, as the area is windswept and undeveloped. Access typically requires coordination with the managing authorities to arrange proper entry to the site.

The area holds the largest known colony of Andean Condors in the world, which feed on young sea lions inhabiting this protected space. This unusual connection between mountain birds and ocean life reveals the interconnected nature of this ecosystem.