Rio Abiseo National Park
The Rio Abiseo National Park is home to a large number of species of flora and fauna, as well as the location of over 30 pre-Columbian archaeological sites.
Since 1986, the park has not been open to tourism due to the fragile nature of both the natural and archaeological environment.
There are at least seven climate zones in the park, including montane forest, tropical alpine forest, montane rainforest, high Andean grasslands (puna), and dry forest.
The Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey (Oreonax flavicauda), previously thought to be extinct, is known to live in the park and appears to be endemic to the region. It was mostly due to this monkey's critically endangered status that the area gained national park status and was placed on the list of World Heritage Sites.
The most famous archaeological site in the Rio Abiseo park is Gran Pajatén, a ruined settlement that has been occupied between 900 and 200 BC, and 200 BC-AD 600. This and other archaeological remains identified in the park are usually attributed to the Chachapoyas culture.
Map of Rio Abiseo National Park
Legend
- ●● Mixed
Community Reviews
Warren Church USA -
My understanding is that the Rio Abiseo National Park is closed to tourism while a park management plan is being developed by Peru's Institute of Natural Resourses (INRENA) and National Institute of Culture. The natural environment and archaeological sites are extremely fragile. Lack of road access means that only backpackers will be allowed to enter, after paying a supervision fee. The archaeological sites and few points of access are all patrolled by park guards.
Again, this is my present understanding about access to the park. I usually keep informed of developments since I have been doing research at the archaeological sites. Those who wish more information should contact INRENA directly. A Web page listing publications devoted to the park's natural and archaeological resources can be viewed at:
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Site Info
Full name: Rio Abiseo National Park
Unesco ID: 548
- Country:
- Peru
Inscribed: 1990
Type: Mixed
Criteria: 3 7 9 10
- Categories:
- Archaeological site - Pre-Columbian
- Natural landscape - Forest
Site History
- 1992 - Criteria To include cultural heritage criteria (iii) as well
- 1990 - Referred Additional info on Archeological sites
- 1990 - Revision Derived from 2 former TWHS: Pajaten Archaeological Complex and Rio Abiseo National Park
- 1990 - Inscribed
Site Links
Unesco Website
Official Website
Related
- Extensive info on Gran Pajaten
- Animal Info - Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey
In the News
- Update on visiting Gran Pajaten ancient ruins (14.10.17)
Connections
The site has 27 connections. Show all
Constructions
- Tombs: Los Pinchudos
- Mosaic art: Gran Pajaten: slate mosaics displaying human, bird and geometric motifs
- Cultural sites connected to Cliffs
Ecology
- Critically endangered fauna species: Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey - "Fewer than 250 individuals are thought to survive today." Link
- Cloud forest: The cloud forest is considered a relic of the preglacial Huallaga Pleistocene refugium, and the reason for the area's high degree of diversity and endemism (UNEP-WCMC)
- Orchids
- Rainforests
- Bears: spectacled bear
- Sloths: brown-throated sloth, two-toed sloth
- Anteaters: southern tamandua
- Jaguar habitat
Geography
- Andes: (500- 4200mtrs)
- Highest cultural WHS: Gran Pajaten 2900 m
- Individual Rivers: Rio Abiseo
History
- Pre-Inca cultures: Chachapoyas
- Paleo-Indian: Cueva Manachaqui
Human Activity
- Man-made Terraces: Gran Pajat
Timeline
- Built in the 4th century BC: "constitute an outstanding example of pre-Hispanic human occupation at high altitudes in the Andean region from as early as the 4th century BC" (ICOMOS); Gran Pajaten is dated from -900-200 BC and 200 BC-AD 600, but the ruins that can be seen today were constructed in the Inca times (1200-1500 AD) Link
Trivia
- Not open to tourists: "Since 1986, the park has not been open to tourism due to the fragile nature of both the natural and archaeological environment." (wiki)
- Excavated by American Universities: Gran Pajated is excavated by the Colorado University
WHS on Other Lists
- World Monuments Watch (past): Los Pinchudos Archaeological Site, Rio Abiseo National Park (2002, 2000)
- World Heritage Forest Programme
- Biodiversity hotspot: Tropical Andes
- World Biosphere Reserves: Gran Pajatén (2016)
World Heritage Process
- Derived from more than one TWHS: Pajaten Archaeological Complex and Rio Abiseo National Park
- Mixed sites which became so after original inscription: Natural extended to Cultural
Visitors
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