Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve, Nature reserve in Maynas Province, Peru

Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve covers 58,069.9 hectares in Maynas Province, Loreto, 23 km southwest of Iquitos. It spans seasonally flooded lowlands and well-drained hills, with soils ranging from clay to almost pure quartz sand. The Nanay River drives flooding, peaking in May and dropping about 6 metres by September.

Peru established this protected area in 2004 to safeguard the diverse forest types and water sources that supply the city of Iquitos. The creation was part of efforts to ensure drinking water and biological diversity would remain available for the region's future.

The reserve's name combines Allpahuayo, a local term for a palm, with Mishana, a community on the Nanay River. The Iquitos gnatcatcher and Mishana tyrannulet, two birds found in the white-sand forests, are named after the area and are sought out by birdwatchers.

The reserve sits roughly 23 kilometers from Iquitos and can be reached by road, with basic lodging available near Nueva Esperanza and the Research Center. The driest months offer the easiest access and the most comfortable conditions for walking through the forest.

Scientists have measured the highest tree species diversity on Earth here, finding around 500 different tree types in a small area. This exceptional concentration makes this forest patch one of the richest in species found anywhere on the planet.