Peru is recognized as one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, due to its high concentration of species and diverse ecosystems. Peru's protected areas are continental and marine regions formally designated by the State to conserve the country's biological diversity and associated cultural, scenic and scientific values, while contributing to sustainable development. These areas are administered at three levels: by the National System of State‑Protected Natural Areas (, SINANPE) under the National Service of Natural Protected Areas (SERNANP); by regional governments as regional conservation areas (, ACR); and by private individuals or communities as private conservation areas (, ACP).

, Peru has 258 protected natural areas covering terrestrial and marine environments: 77 managed nationally by SERNANP, 39 by regional governments, and 147 under private administration. These areas cover 22.15% of the country's terrestrial territory and 7.9% of its marine territory. The system includes 15 national parks, 18 national reserves, 9 national sanctuaries, 4 historic sanctuaries, 2 landscape reserves, 3 wildlife refuges, 11 communal reserves, 7 protected forests, 2 game reserves, and 6 reserved zones, representing the country's altitudinal gradients from the Amazon lowlands through Andean highlands to Pacific coastal deserts. Protected Natural Areas Day () is celebrated annually on 17 October, recognizing their critical role in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and sustainable development for present and future generations. This list includes all terrestrial and marine areas formally designated as protected under Peruvian law—at the national, regional, or private level—.

National System of State‑Protected Natural Areas

The National System of State-Protected Natural Areas is the only network of nationally administered protected areas, managed by the National Service of Natural Protected Areas, which is under the Ministry of the Environment. The system's objective is to support sustainable development by conserving representative samples of Peru's biodiversity. SINANPE sites, established with definitive status or with provisional status pending further study as reserved zones, are classified into ten legal categories, including national parks, reserves and sanctuaries.

National parks

National parks are areas established by law to preserve one or more representative ecosystems in their natural state, safeguarding associated wildlife, cultural features, and scenic values. Human activities are restricted to indirect uses: scientific research and regulated tourism in designated zones. Peru currently has 15 national parks.

+ Name Location (region) Established Area (2026) Annual visitors (2025) Cutervo National ParkCajamarca20 September 1961 Tingo María National ParkHuánuco14 May 1965 Manu National Park Cusco and Madre de Dios29 May 1973 Huascarán National Park Ancash1 July 1975 Cerros de Amotape National Park Tumbes and Piura22 July 1975 Rio Abiseo National Park San Martín11 August 1983 Yanachaga–Chemillén National Park Pasco29 August 1986 Bahuaja-Sonene National ParkMadre de Dios and Puno17 July 1996 Cordillera Azul National ParkSan Martín, Loreto, Ucayali, and Huánuco21 May 2001 Otishi National Park Junín and Cusco14 January 2003Unknown Alto Purús National ParkUcayali and Madre de Dios18 November 2004Unknown Ichigkat Muja – Cordillera del Cóndor National ParkAmazonas9 August 2007Unknown Güeppi-Sekime National ParkLoreto25 October 2012Unknown Sierra del Divisor National ParkLoreto and Ucayali9 November 2015Unknown Yaguas National ParkLoreto10 January 2018Unknown

National reserves

National reserves are legally constituted, permanent areas aiming both to conserve biodiversity and to permit sustainable use of wild flora and fauna. As direct‑use zones, they operate under management plans that authorize traditional resource use by local communities alongside conservation goals. There are 18 national reserves in Peru.

+ Name Location (region) Established Area (2026) Annual visitors (2025) Pampa Galeras – Barbara D'Achille National ReserveAyacucho18 May 1967 Junín National Reserve §Junín and Pasco7 August 1974 Paracas National Reserve §Ica25 September 1975 Lachay National ReserveLima21 June 1977 Titicaca National Reserve §Puno31 October 1978 Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve §Arequipa and Moquegua9 August 1979 Calipuy National ReserveLa Libertad8 January 1981 Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve §Loreto25 February 1972 Tambopata National ReserveMadre de Dios4 September 2000 Allpahuayo-Mishana National ReserveLoreto15 January 2004 Tumbes National Reserve Tumbes7 July 2006Unknown Matsés National ReserveLoreto26 August 2009Unknown Guano Islands, Islets, and Capes National ReserveAncash, Arequipa, Lima, Ica, Moquegua and Pacific Ocean31 December 2009 Pucacuro National ReserveLoreto23 October 2010Unknown San Fernando National ReserveIca9 July 2011 Dorsal de Nasca National ReservePacific Ocean5 June 2021Unknown Illescas National ReservePiura24 December 2021 Mar Tropical de Grau National ReservePacific Ocean26 April 2024Unknown

National sanctuaries

National sanctuaries safeguard the habitat of a particular species or community of plants and animals, as well as natural formations of scientific or scenic interest. They allow indirect uses only, such as scientific study and tourism, but strictly within zones designated for those activities. Peru is home to 9 national sanctuaries.

+ Name Location (region) Established Area (2026) Annual visitors (2025) Huayllay National SanctuaryPasco 7 August 1978 Calipuy National SanctuaryLa Libertad 8 January 1981 Lagunas de Mejía National Sanctuary §Arequipa 24 February 1984 Ampay National SanctuaryApurímac 23 July 1987 Manglares de Tumbes National SanctuaryTumbes 2 March 1988 Megantoni National SanctuaryCusco 17 October 2004 Pampa Hermosa National SanctuaryJunín 26 March 2009 Tabaconas Namballe National Sanctuary §Cajamarca 20 May 1988 Cordillera de Colán National SanctuaryAmazonas 9 December 2009Unknown

Historic sanctuaries

Historic sanctuaries preserve areas that combine significant natural values with archaeological or monumental heritage, or sites where key events in national history took place. Like other indirect‑use categories, they permit research and regulated tourism only in specified sectors. There are 4 historic sanctuaries in Peru.

+ Name Location (region) Established Area (2026) Annual visitors (2025) Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary Cusco 8 January 1981 Chacamarca Historic SanctuaryJunín 7 August 1974 Pampa de Ayacucho Historic Sanctuary Ayacucho 14 August 1980 Bosque de Pómac Historic SanctuaryLambayeque 1 June 2001

Wildlife refuges

Wildlife refuges protect areas of particular ecological importance, often rare habitats or breeding sites, to maintain or restore populations of wild species. They are direct‑use areas where, under management plans, local communities may continue traditional resource uses that support both livelihoods and conservation. Peru contains 3 wildlife refuges.

+ Name Location (region) Established Area (2026) Annual visitors (2025) Laquipampa Wildlife RefugeLambayeque 7 July 2006 Pantanos de Villa Wildlife RefugeLima 23 June 2006 Bosques Nublados de Udima Wildlife RefugeCajamarca 21 July 2007Unknown

Landscape reserves

Landscape reserves maintain geographic areas where human activity and the natural environment have coexisted harmoniously, yielding significant natural and cultural values. They allow sustainable traditional resource use by local populations under management plans that ensure both conservation and livelihood needs. Peru currently designates 2 landscape reserves.

+ Name Location (region) Established Area (2026) Annual visitors (2025) Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape ReserveLima and Junín 1 May 2001 Cotahuasi Subbasin Landscape ReserveArequipa 23 May 2005

Communal reserves

Communal reserves are managed through contracts between rural communities and SERNANP to conserve wildlife for the benefit of neighboring populations. Under these agreements and management plans, communities act as co‑administrators and carry out sustainable traditional uses of natural resources. There are 11 communal reserves in Peru.

+ Name Location (region) Established Area (2026) Annual visitors (2025) Yanesha Communal Reserve Pasco28 April 1988 El Sira Communal Reserve Huánuco, Pasco, and Ucayali22 June 2001Unknown Amarakaeri Communal ReserveMadre de Dios9 May 2002Unknown Asháninka Communal ReserveCusco and Junín14 January 2003Unknown Machiguenga Communal ReserveCusco14 January 2003Unknown Purús Communal ReserveMadre de Dios18 November 2004Unknown Tuntanain Communal ReserveAmazonas10 August 2007Unknown Chayu Nain Communal ReserveAmazonas9 December 2009Unknown Airo Pai Communal ReserveLoreto25 October 2012Unknown Huimeki Communal ReserveLoreto25 October 2012Unknown Bajo Putumayo Yaguas Communal ReserveLoreto26 September 2025Unknown

Protected forests

Protection forests conserve fragile lands such as upper watersheds, riverbanks, and other erosion‑prone areas to stabilize soils and safeguard water resources. These are direct‑use areas where sustainable, traditional harvests by local communities are allowed under formal management plans. There are 7 protected forests in Peru.

+ Name Location (region) Established Area (2026) Annual visitors (2025) Aledaño Bocatoma del Canal Nuevo Imperial Protection ForestLima19 May 1980Unknown Puquio Santa Rosa Protection ForestLa Libertad2 September 1982Unknown Pui Pui Protection ForestJunín31 January 1985Unknown San Matías–San Carlos Protection ForestPasco20 March 1987Unknown Pagaibamba Protection ForestCajamarca19 June 1987Unknown Alto Mayo Protection ForestSan Martín23 July 1987 Tijae–Río Nieva Protection ForestAmazonas and San Martín26 July 2026

Game reserves Game reserves are protected areas set aside for regulated sport hunting of wild species, governed by detailed management plans. They allow local residents to engage in traditional hunting practices within established quotas and seasons to ensure sustainable use. Peru has 2 game reserves.

+ Name Location (region) Established Area (2026) Annual visitors (2025) El Angolo Game ReservePiura1 July 1975 Sunchubamba Game ReserveCajamarca and La Libertad22 April 1977Unknown

Reserved zones

Reserved zones are areas that meet the basic criteria to be designated as protected natural areas but require further studies to determine their appropriate boundaries, category, and management feasibility. They are considered provisional protections pending full classification within the national system. Peru currently has 6 reserved zones.

+ Name Location (region) Established Area (2026) Annual visitors (2025) Chancaybaños Reserved ZoneCajamarca14 February 1996 Santiago-Comaina Reserved ZoneAmazonas and Loreto21 January 1999Unknown Cordillera Huayhuash Reserved ZoneAncash, Huánuco, and Lima20 December 2002Unknown Bosque de Zárate Reserved ZoneLima13 October 2010Unknown Cerro Khapia Reserved ZonePuno28 May 2011Unknown Ancón Reserved ZoneLima28 November 2011Unknown

Regional conservation areas

Regional conservation areas are protected natural areas administered by Peru’s regional governments and established by Supreme Decree at their request. As part of the Natural Protected Areas System, they are created on state lands free of exclusive rights and, under an approved management plan, allow sustainable use of resources, particularly by local communities, in accordance with conservation objectives.