Location: Yambrasbamba
Size: XXX? hectares
Elevation: XXX? meters
The villages of Yambrasbamba lie at the heart of the tropical Andean cloud forest in Northern Peru, two hours northwest of Moyobamba, and are home to many animal species that can’t be seen anywhere else in the world. The communities are currently working with NPC to create a new private conservation reserve, Pampa del Burro, and offer the opportunity for visitors to experience the incredible biodiversity of the area. The magnificent critically endangered yellow-tailed woolly monkey, the unique Andean owl monkey, and the endemic long whiskered owlet – the smallest owl in the world are some of the fascinating endangered animals that you will only be able to see at this site.
Hikes through the area offer incredible views of the cloud forest and white sand forest, with an impressive quantity of orchids, waterfalls, lakes, and caves to explore. You may also have the chance to see the endangered white-bellied spider monkey, spectacled bear, hairy long-nosed armadillo, and lowland taper. The area is also home to a paradise of birds, including species endemic to Peru such as the speckle-chested piculet, rusty-tinged antpitta, and Johnson’s tody-tyrant, Inca flycatcher and Peruvian tyrannulet, as well as species endemic to the broader region of Peru and southern Ecuador such as the royal sun angel humming bird, cinnamon-screech owl, and bar-winged wood-wren. For a full bird list, please visit: http://neoprimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/Bird%20List,%20La%20Esperanza.pdf. The communities also have extensive knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants in the area and offer a tour of their botanical garden and reforestation efforts. The terrain is rugged and muddy, but well worth the effort!
Food and accommodation are basic and in the houses of local people, giving you a unique opportunity to connect with the friendly community. The people in Yambrasbamba are committed to the conservation of their forests and are fully involved in the yellow tailed woolly monkey conservation project. Your visit will give important income to families and support sustainable livelihood opportunities that aid conservation of the region.
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LOGISTICS
VISITS MUST BE ARRANGED IN ADVANCE BY EMAIL (info@neoprimate.org) SO THAT WE HAVE TIME TO PREPARE GUIDES & ACCOMMODATION.
There are two ways to reach Yambrasbamba. The budget option from Lima is to take a bus (~24 hours) to Pedro Ruiz and then a 1 hour car ride to Yambrasbamba. The quicker option is to fly into Tarapoto and take a car 4 hours to Yambrasbamba. The villages of Yambrasbamba are located just off the main highway between Pedro Ruiz and Nueva Cajamarca, about 2 hours northwest of Moyobamba.
Once you arrive in one of the villages of Yambrasbamba (which village will depend on which animal or area you are most interested in seeing!), you will have accommodation at a family’s house, and opportunities to take different day trips with a guide depending on your interests, including trips to see the yellow tailed woolly monkey, Andean night monkey, long whiskered owlet, cock of the rock, and many other species, as well as caves, lakes, and waterfalls in the area!