Tunari National Park, National park in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia
Tunari National Park is a protected area in Cochabamba Department that covers five provinces with mountain landscapes rising from 2,200 to 4,000 meters (7,200 to 13,100 feet). The total area of 300,000 hectares shows deep valleys, gentle slopes and bare highlands dotted with patches of native trees.
The area received national park status in March 1962 through Supreme Decree 6045 to control annual flooding affecting neighboring communities during rainy periods. This decision linked conservation with watershed protection for nearby urban areas.
The reserve takes its name from Quechua words meaning mountain and strength, reflecting how local people view these peaks. Visitors can watch families tending potato and quinoa plots on steep slopes while herding sheep through narrow valleys.
The best time to visit is spring or autumn when trails are drier and temperatures hover around 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit). Visitors should bring warm clothing for higher elevations and be ready for narrow paths winding through rural settlements.
Four bird species live only here, including the endangered Cochabamba Mountain Finch, which nests exclusively in Polylepis besseri forests. These trees grow in scattered clusters near the upper elevation limit and provide the only habitat for these rare birds.
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