From Desert to Amazon Jungle, Peru has
a diversity of botanical flora. The most important contribution
to the world must be the potato of which it is estimated
that are over 3000 different varieties exist. The potato
is an important economic crop and sustains the diet of
it's residents. Take the opportunities in the markets
to see types of potatoes for sale and sample the varied
preparations in the restaurants.
It's estimated that 20% of South American
Flora is found in the mountains and lowlands of Peru.
Because of the seasonal fog that the coastal desert experiences,
there are rich formations of the species Lomas. Over 1200
species of Lomas have been discovered and many are endemic
to the formations that exist as islands of vegetation.
In Ica and the Ballestas Islands you may see examples
of the flora and fauna of the coastal desert region while
staying at the very comfortable Las
Dunas or Hotel
Paracas. A very good website that categorizes the
species in the Andes and coastal regions of Peru is www.sacha.org.
In the Amazon you can of course find tropical
species including orchids and bromeliads. For a treatise
on the species of Manu you may want to browse www.pbs.org/edens/manu/index.htm.
Our preferred lodge is the Manu
Lodge for exploration of the area and a more complete
tour includes a stop at the Manu
Cloudforest Lodge as well. In Chachapoyas, the capitol
of the Amazonas region in Peru, discover the species found
in the cloudforest and lowland areas of northern Peru.
In Huaraz and Huascaran National Park,
the mountains are covered with a green billowing ground
cover as well as the Puya
Raimondi the largest bromeliad in existence which
flowers only once in one hundred years. Our Chachapoyas
Adventure gives a general introduction to the the
culture and archaeology of the area but we can arrange
for a more specific emphasis on the botanical flora if
desired.From Puerto Maldonado at the Tambopata
Research Center your accommodations are deep in the
jungle where scientists are studying the flora and fauna.
