Chaparrí Ecological Reserve

Chaparrí covers dry forest and rocky hills in the Lambayeque foothills, and it was the first private conservation area recognised in Peru, run by the peasant community of Santa Catalina de Chongoyape. The reserve protects habitat for the spectacled bear, the only bear in South America, and keeps a rehabilitation enclosure for rescued animals alongside the wild population in the hills above. It is also one of the surest places to find the white-winged guan, a large forest bird that was thought extinct for most of the twentieth century. Community guides lead walks through algarrobo and cactus slopes where condors work the thermals and foxes appear at dusk.

What you actually see

• Spectacled bears - rescued animals in large enclosures, with wild ones in the hills above.
• White-winged guan - a bird once believed extinct, now seen fairly reliably here.
• Dry forest walks - guided trails through algarrobo, cactus and rock, led by community guides.
• Condors and raptors - birds working the thermals over the ridge behind the reserve.

When to go

April to November is dry and the tracks are firm. Wildlife walks start early, before the heat, and dusk is the other productive window. Access arrangements and services have changed over the years, so contact the reserve and confirm before setting out rather than turning up unannounced. Staying overnight makes the early starts considerably easier.

Honest expectations

Some of the bears you see are in enclosures rather than free, which is worth knowing before you arrive expecting wild sightings. The reserve has been through unsettled periods and services have varied, so confirm what is actually running. It is hot, dry and dusty, the road in is rough, and independent visits without a guide are not possible.

Nearby

The Pómac forest and the Chiclayo museums are both within a couple of hours.