Protected Areas in South America

The territory of Guiana Amazonian Park covers 40% of French Guiana, making it the largest national park of France and the European Union. Difficult to access, it protects one of the strongest biodiversity zones on the planet.

Hornopirén National Park is located in the Palena Province of Chile's Los Lagos region. As part of the Andes chain, the park contains rugged mountains, lakes, and unspoiled Valdivian temperate rainforests. Glacier-carved mountains and active volcanoes dominate the park.

Situated in the Cordillera Blanca, Huascarán National Park and Biosphere Reserve protects the heart of the world's highest tropical mountain range in the central Peruvian Andes. The deep ravines, glacial lakes and variety of vegetation make it a site of spectacular beauty.

Huayllay National Sanctuary in Peru is a geological masterpiece and a biodiversity haven. The sanctuary spans the Bombón Plateau and features the stunning rock forest of Huayllay, shaped by wind, water, and ancient glaciers. This rich Central Andean wet puna ecosystem hosts various flora and fauna adapted to the challenging altitudes.

Huerquehue National Park is located in the La Araucanía region of south-central Chile. Situated in the foothills of the Andes, it is characterized by its lush, mountainous relief. Popular with hikers, its hills and streams enclose numerous lakes and lagoons with crystalline waters.

The Iguaçu National Park in Paraná State, Brazil, shares with Iguazú National Park in Argentina, one of the world’s largest and most impressive waterfalls. Clouds of spray soak the surrounding area, and islands in the river are consequently covered by luxuriant vegetation.

Iguazú National Park, located in the northeastern tip of Argentina, is on a basaltic line spanning the border with Brazil. Iguazú Falls, the semicircular waterfall at the heart of this site, comprises many cascades producing vast sprays of water and is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world.

Nestled amidst the rugged and arid landscapes of the Cuyo region in central Argentina, the Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks emerge as awe-inspiring monuments to the Earth's ancient past, offering a glimpse into the distant worlds of the Triassic Period. These two adjoining protected areas, spanning an expansive pristine wilderness, form a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized and celebrated for their profound geological and paleontological significance.

Situated off the Colombian Pacific coast, the island of Gorgona once hosted a notorious prison. Today, it is a National Natural Park of Colombia, designated to preserve its endemic species, the richly varied tropical forest wildlife, and the offshore coral reefs.

Itatiaia National Park, located in southeastern Brazil within the Serra da Mantiqueira range, protects significant remnants of the endangered Atlantic Forest in its lower elevations and the unique flora of the high mountain plains in its upper elevations.