The National Sanctuary of Ampay is part of the second group of protected natural areas, together with the Junín National Reserve and the Tingo María National Park, which adds to the tourist offer of 10 emblematic nature spaces that since last October 16 have progressively resumed its activities in the Ancash, Junín, Ica, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Moquegua, Pasco and Tumbes regions.
Emblematic Destination
Known as the “biological island of the Andes”, the Ampay National Sanctuary is located in the district of Tamburco in the Apurimeña province of Abancay. It was created on July 23, 1987 with the aim of conserving an intangible relict of Intimpa or "tree of the sun" in Quechua, a plant species native to Peru, in association with a unique wild mountain flora and fauna, as well as such as the hydrographic basin of the Pachachaca River.
With an extension of 3,635.50 hectares, this natural area protected by the State is part of the concatenation of the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera de Vilcabamba and the southern Andes. The altitude range goes from 2,900 to 5,235 meters above sea level, where the Ampay glacier is located, guardian of the Abancay valley.
Inside the National Sanctuary of Ampay there is an enormous diversity of streams and springs that give the place a unique beauty and importance. In the southern and lower section of the area is the majestic intimpas forest (Podocarpus glomeratus), the main conservation object of the protected natural area.
In the National Sanctuary of Ampay you can see the white-tailed deer, the Andean fox, the vizcacha, the skunk, the wild guinea pig, the taruca, and the puma; these last two species listed as endangered.
In birds, the Abancay spinetail hummingbird is commonly observed, considered endemic; the pololoco, the huallata and the condor.
Regarding the flora, the representative species of the sanctuary, the intimpa forest, the unca, the chachacomo, the wancartipa, mosses, ferns, lichens and various types of orchids are observed.
The tourist circuit begins at the Visitor Center and leads along a pedestrian path that allows the visit of the intimpas forest, between 3,200 and 3,600 meters of altitude. It has three natural viewpoints: Chuyllurpata, located in sector II, at an altitude of 3,150 meters, which offers a panoramic view of the city of Abancay and the sectors of Pucaorcco and Negromonte, as well as the upper part of Accoccasa in the sector of Corhuani.
The second natural viewpoint is Condortiana (sector II), located at an altitude of 3,250 meters, which offers a panoramic view of the Cerro San Cristóbal forest and the upper part of the Pucaorcco forest. The third is Accoccasa, located in sector I, at 3,450 meters above sea level. From there you can see the associated forest of native species of Ccanchispuquio, Ñacchero and Pacopata, as well as the upper part of Chupapata, Ullpuhuaycco and San Cristobal, being the viewpoint with the most extensive views within the National Sanctuary of Ampay.
Admission to the National Sanctuary of Ampay is free until December 31, 2020 for children and adolescents, as well as for older adults and public sector workers. The rate for adults is 11 soles and for foreigners it is 30 soles.
As part of the health protocol, all visitors are required to present, in printed or digital format on their mobile phone, the affidavit of health before entering the protected natural area.
The Ampay National Sanctuary has three natural viewpoints: Chuyllurpata, located in sector II, at 3,150 meters above sea level, which offers a panoramic view of the city of Abancay and the sectors of Pucaorcco and Negromonte, as well as the upper part of Accoccasa in the Ccorhuani sector.
The second natural viewpoint is Condortiana (sector II), located at an altitude of 3,250 meters, which offers a panoramic view of the Cerro San Cristóbal forest and the upper part of the Pucaorcco forest.
The third viewpoint is Accoccasa, located in sector I, at 3,450 meters above sea level. From there you can see the associated forest of native species of Ccanchispuquio, Ñacchero and Pacopata, as well as the upper part of Chupapata, Ullpuhuaycco and San Cristobal, being the viewpoint with the most extensive views within the National Sanctuary of Ampay.
The Headquarters of the Ampay National Sanctuary specified that the development of ecotourism activities such as hiking, camping in defined areas, observation of flora and fauna, photography, relaxation, yoga, among others that do not generate negative impacts on the environment, is allowed.
To access the Ampay National Sanctuary, you must take, from Lima, the highway towards Nasca-Puquio-Abancay in a route of approximately 940 kilometers. Another access route is from Cusco in the direction of Abancay, where about 200 kilometers are traveled.
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