I was very fortunate to have a few hours last week to find out a bit more about the private conservation area ACP Copallín in Amazonas region of northern Peru and here are some shots from that visit. Unfortunately, I didn’t realise before I went there just how big the ACP is and how much time you need even to reach the ACP from the trailhead, let alone experience all of its wonders. So before I show any pics, let me just make one point – when you decide to visit ACP Copallín, do yourself a favour: make an appointment to visit with the ACP committee, pack a tent and supplies and then give yourself a whole week with one of the ACP park rangers to explore this enormous natural gem. It’s not for the unadventurous – it’s real jungle wilderness with testing terrain and conditions but there is a wealth of wildlife and natural wonders waiting to be discovered. It’s got Oso Anteojos (native Peruvian Spectacled Bear), puma, sajino (pecari), snakes, Gallito de la Roca (Andean Cock-of-the-Rock), and huge varieties of frogs, birds, insects, orquids etc – as well as caves, peaks and enormous waterfalls. I had only half a day there – not even enough to make it from the trailhead to the start of the ACP itself (you need a walk of about 7 hours just to get there so a minimum stay of 3 days / 2 nights is recommended – and a week or two desirable). Here are a few of the things I came across in my very short visit:
To get to ACP Copallín, visit their web page for contact details: http://www.conservamospornaturaleza.org/area/copallin/ – request a visit – then travel to Jaén in northern Peru (overnight buses from northern Peru cities of Trujillo and Chiclayo and all major cities or fly from Lima to Jaén airport); from Jaén to Bagua Capital (or Bagua Chica as it’s sometimes known) is a matter of auto colectivo (shared taxi) or combi (7 seater public transport) which takes about 40 minutes. From Bagua Capital take an auto colectivo to Comunidad Campesino Copallín (20 minutes) from where the ACP will welcome you, orient you and organise a taxi to take you to the trailhead (40 minutes).
Thank you so much for visiting us and for writing about it. For communities like Copallín this means so much.
Our pleasure, Karen. I look forward to seeing Copallín go from strength to strength – it really is an exceptional natural resource that is being very well looked-after by the community there.