Pantanos de Villa

The Pantanos de Villa are around 260 hectares of freshwater marsh, lagoon and reedbed in the Chorrillos district of southern Lima, fed by groundwater from the Rímac and Lurín aquifers surfacing near the coast, and they are a Ramsar site inside a city of ten million. Something over two hundred bird species have been recorded - resident coots, gallinules, herons, ibis, grebes and the many-coloured rush tyrant, with large numbers of North American migrants from around November to March, and Chilean flamingo among the more visible. There are trails, boardwalks, observation towers and a visitor centre. The pressure on the site is the thing to understand: Lima has expanded around it on every side, informal settlement, road building, groundwater extraction and pollution have all encroached, and the reserve exists in continuous negotiation with a city that has repeatedly proposed building on it.

What you actually see

• The marsh - 260 hectares of lagoon and reedbed inside the city.
• The bird list - over two hundred species, with migrants from November to March.
• The trails and towers - boardwalks and observation points across the reserve.
• The encroachment - Lima built up against the boundary on all sides.

When to go

November to March for the northern migrants; residents are present year-round. Early morning is best. Two to three hours covers the trails and hides.

Honest expectations

The city is visible and audible from everywhere in the reserve, which surprises visitors expecting wilderness. Small entry charge. Water quality and encroachment are ongoing problems. Bring binoculars - the birds are at distance.

Nearby

Chorrillos and the Costa Verde are west; Miraflores and Barranco are north.