🌎 General Presentation
Just 23 km southwest of Iquitos, the Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve protects a unique ecosystem: the white sand forests (locally known as "varillales") and the flooded forests of the Peruvian Amazon. With its 58,070 hectares, it's a biodiversity hotspot housing:
- 1,800 plant species, 30% of which are endemic
- 522 bird species (world record for bird diversity in an area of this size)
- 145 mammal species
- 83 amphibian species
- 120 reptile species
🐦 Ecological Particularities
The reserve is particularly famous for:
- The rarest bird in Peru: the "Salvin's Curassow" (Crax salvini)
- 17 endemic bird species in the white sand forests
- Poor nutrient soils creating unique plant adaptations
- Two distinct ecosystems: high non-flooded forests and low flooded forests
🚗 How to Visit Allpahuayo Mishana?
Access is easy from Iquitos:
- Land transportation:
- 45 minutes by car or mototaxi to the control post
- Iquitos-Nauta road (km 25-28)
- Organized tours:
- One-day excursions from Iquitos
- 2-3 day circuits with overnight stay in a lodge
🎟️ Fees & Regulations
- Entrance fee: 30 soles (approximately $8 USD)
- Local guide required (available on site)
- Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily
- Restrictions:
- No collection of plant or animal species
- No fires allowed
- Take your trash with you
🧭 Practical Tips
- 📅 Best time:
- Dry season (June to November) for trails
- Rainy season (December to May) for amphibian observation
- 🎒 Recommended equipment:
- Lightweight long-sleeved clothing (insect protection)
- Closed waterproof shoes
- Powerful insect repellent
- Hat and sunscreen
- Poncho or rain jacket
- Binoculars (essential for birdwatching)
- Camera with zoom
- Water bottle (2L minimum)
- 🐦 Birdwatching:
- Hire a specialized guide to maximize observations
- Optimal hours: 5:30 AM - 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Silence and patience required
🌳 Trails and Activities
Main visit options:
- Varillal Trail (1.5km) - Discovery of white sand forests
- Mishana Trail (2km) - Flooded forest and primate observation
- Observation tower (20m high) - Panoramic view of the canopy
- Night visit - Discovery of crepuscular fauna
The Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve offers an accessible Amazonian experience from Iquitos, while presenting unique ecosystems worldwide. It's a paradise for ornithologists and nature lovers, with an exceptional concentration of endemic species.
Its proximity to Iquitos makes it an ideal destination for those with limited time but wanting to discover authentic Amazonian biodiversity, away from traditional tourist circuits.
🌱 Scientific importance: The reserve serves as a natural laboratory for studying species adaptation to poor soils, an ecosystem still understudied in the Amazon.
