The Pacaya – Samiria National Reserve is the largest reserve in Peru with 2,080,000 ha. It is located in the “Y” section formed between the two main rivers forming the great Amazonas (Ucayali River and Marañon River) and their inflow point, the birth of the Amazonas itself.
Its countless lakes, swamps and aguajales (watering through land) serve as shelter to the 132 species of mammals, mainly rodents and monkeys; 330 bird species; approximately 220 species of fish, main source of protein for the inhabitants of the region; and 150 species of reptiles and amphibious animals.
Prominent are the charapa turtle, the paiche (the largest freshwater fish in the world), the Amazonian manatee or sea cow, the red river dolphin, the otters and the black caiman, all of them presently endangered species. The Reserve can only be reached by river and it takes at least one week to visit it.
