Oxapampa is a historic and cultural curiosity for most Peruvians. Founded in 1853 by German and Austrian immigrants, the community still retains much of its founders’ heritage.

In 1944 the Oxapampa-Asháninka-Yanesha Biosphere Reserve was created to conserve this unique piece of the Peruvian Amazon. It’s best known for its biodiversity and the spectacled bear. Scientists have documented 127 species of mammals, 321 species of birds, 17 species of fish, 75 species of amphibians and 306 species of butterflies. There are over 5,000 species of plants, including over 600 species of orchids.

The best times to visit are during the Santa Rosa festival on August 30th and the biosphere’s birthday on June 2nd.

Transport

Most people take a bus from Lima to La Merced and from there take another bus to Oxapampa. This is one of the places in Peru where I recommend renting a car because it’s more comfortable than the bus and it’s helpful to have a car when you get there.