Vilacota-Maure

Vilacota-Maure is the sole protected natural area in Peru's Tacna region, encompassing 124,313 hectares of high Andean landscapes across the provinces of Tacna, Tarata, and Candarave. Established on August 27, 2009, through Supreme Decree 015-2009-MINAM and administered by the Regional Government of Tacna, the conservation area protects a remarkable altiplano environment featuring volcanic peaks reaching 5,700 meters, high-altitude wetlands, thermal springs, and glacial lagoons. The area serves as critical habitat for threatened Andean species including the suri (lesser rhea), taruca (Andean deer), and vicuña, while also safeguarding the headwaters of the Maure River basin that provides water resources to downstream communities in one of Peru's driest regions.

Vilacota-Maure supports approximately 80 documented bird species, with the suri or lesser rhea being the flagship species whose conservation was a primary motivation for the area's establishment. Three species of Andean flamingos, including the Chilean, Andean, and James's flamingos, congregate at the area's high-altitude lagoons during seasonal migrations. The vicuña, Peru's national animal, grazes across the puna grasslands in herds that have recovered significantly under protection. Other notable mammals include the taruca or Andean deer, Andean foxes, viscachas, and the elusive Andean mountain cat, one of the rarest wild cats in the world. Wetland habitats known as bofedales support unique aquatic invertebrate communities and serve as breeding grounds for numerous waterbird species including Andean geese, giant coots, and various species of ducks and grebes adapted to the extreme altitude.

The vegetation of Vilacota-Maure is dominated by tola shrublands, composed of resinous Parastrephia and Baccharis species that form dense cushion-like mats across the wind-swept altiplano. At higher elevations, ichu bunchgrass pajonal covers extensive areas, providing critical grazing for vicuñas and domestic camelids. The most ecologically significant plant communities are the queñual forests, groves of Polylepis trees that represent the highest-altitude forests in the world, with some stands growing above 4,500 meters. High-altitude wetlands or bofedales support dense carpets of cushion plants, mosses, and grasses fed by snowmelt and underground springs, creating green oases in an otherwise austere landscape. The yareta, a dense cushion plant that grows only a few millimeters per year, forms remarkable bright green dome-shaped masses on rocky slopes, with some individual plants estimated to be thousands of years old.

The geological landscape of Vilacota-Maure is dominated by volcanic activity associated with the Central Andean Volcanic Zone, with numerous stratovolcanoes, lava flows, and pyroclastic deposits shaping the terrain. Prominent volcanic peaks include Yucamane, Tutupaca, and Barroso, with the highest elevations reaching approximately 5,700 meters above sea level. The altiplano surface, generally between 4,000 and 4,500 meters, is underlain by thick sequences of Tertiary volcanic rocks and ignimbrites deposited during explosive eruptions over the past several million years. Geothermal activity is evidenced by the Valley of Geysers, which contains 85 thermal springs including the Blue Lagoon where water temperatures reach up to 80 degrees Celsius. Glacial features including moraines, cirques, and U-shaped valleys record the advance and retreat of ice during Pleistocene glaciations, while the Vilacota lagoon occupies a depression formed by a combination of volcanic and glacial processes.

Vilacota-Maure experiences an extreme high-altitude Andean climate characterized by intense solar radiation, large daily temperature swings, and generally dry conditions. Daytime temperatures during the warmer months of November through March can reach 15 to 18 degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures routinely plunge well below freezing year-round, with winter lows reaching minus 20 degrees Celsius at the highest elevations. Annual precipitation ranges from approximately 200 to 400 millimeters, concentrated during the austral summer wet season from December through March when moisture from the Amazon basin is carried westward over the Andes. Strong winds are common, particularly during the dry winter months from May through September, when clear skies produce extreme diurnal temperature variations. Snowfall occurs at higher elevations, and the thin atmosphere at altitudes above 4,000 meters results in intense ultraviolet radiation that shapes both the ecology and the visitor experience.

The high Andean plateaus of Vilacota-Maure have been inhabited by Aymara-speaking peoples for millennia, with evidence of pastoral activities dating back to pre-Inca times. The Aymara communities developed a pastoral economy centered on llama and alpaca herding, supplemented by the hunting of vicuñas and the harvesting of wild plants for food, medicine, and fuel. During the Inca period, the region was incorporated into the Tawantinsuyu as part of the Collasuyu quarter, with the Inca state managing vicuña roundups known as chacu for the fine fiber production reserved for royalty. Following Spanish colonization, the area was exploited for mineral resources and subjected to colonial tribute systems that disrupted traditional pastoral practices. The modern communities in and around the conservation area maintain many traditional Aymara practices including communal land management, traditional ecological knowledge of high-altitude ecosystems, and ceremonial relationships with the volcanic peaks they regard as protective deities known as apus.

The establishment of Vilacota-Maure as a protected area was driven by concerns over the declining populations of suri (lesser rhea) and other threatened Andean species in the Tacna region. Conservation assessments in the early 2000s identified the area as the most important remaining habitat for suri in southern Peru, with populations that had been severely reduced by hunting pressure and habitat degradation. The Regional Government of Tacna, working with the National Service of Natural Protected Areas and conservation organizations, developed a proposal for regional conservation area status that would balance biodiversity protection with the needs of local Aymara communities. On August 27, 2009, the Peruvian Ministry of Environment established the conservation area through Supreme Decree 015-2009-MINAM, making Vilacota-Maure the only nationally recognized protected area in the entire Tacna department. The designation gave the Regional Government management authority while requiring the development of a master plan addressing both conservation objectives and sustainable community development.

The Valley of Geysers is the most spectacular attraction within Vilacota-Maure, featuring 85 thermal springs that emit steam and hot water amidst a surreal high-altitude landscape, with the Blue Lagoon standing out for its striking coloration and water temperatures reaching 80 degrees Celsius. The Vilacota lagoon offers opportunities to observe flamingos, Andean geese, and other waterbirds against a backdrop of snow-capped volcanic peaks. Scenic routes traverse the altiplano through vast grasslands where herds of vicuñas can be observed grazing in the wild, and the queñual forests provide sheltered areas for birdwatching. The volcanic peaks of Yucamane and Tutupaca attract mountaineers seeking challenging high-altitude ascents with panoramic views across the altiplano to the Pacific coast. Ancient Aymara rock art sites and pre-Columbian ceremonial platforms are scattered across the landscape, offering cultural interest alongside the natural attractions. The clear skies at extreme altitude make the area exceptional for stargazing.

Vilacota-Maure is accessible from the city of Tacna, which has an airport with domestic flights from Lima and is also reachable by bus from Arequipa and other southern Peruvian cities. From Tacna, visitors travel by road through the towns of Tarata or Candarave to reach the conservation area, a journey of approximately three to four hours on paved and unpaved mountain roads. There are no formal visitor centers or tourist infrastructure within the conservation area itself, though basic accommodations can be found in the towns of Tarata and Candarave on the periphery. Visitors should be prepared for extreme altitude, bringing warm clothing, sun protection, and sufficient food and water. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for exploring the area's dirt tracks and accessing remote sites like the Valley of Geysers. Altitude acclimatization is essential, as most of the area lies above 4,000 meters, and visitors arriving from sea-level Tacna should allow time to adjust before undertaking strenuous activities.

Conservation efforts in Vilacota-Maure focus primarily on the recovery of suri populations, which had declined to critically low numbers due to egg collection, hunting, and habitat loss before the area's establishment. Monitoring programs track suri nesting success and population trends, while community agreements restrict hunting and disturbance during breeding seasons. The conservation area also works to manage vicuña populations sustainably, with controlled live-capture and shearing events that provide economic benefits to local communities while maintaining healthy wild herds. Overgrazing by domestic livestock, particularly cattle and sheep introduced during the colonial period, remains a significant ecological challenge, and management plans promote the replacement of these introduced species with traditional camelids better adapted to the fragile altiplano ecosystems. Mining exploration in the surrounding region poses a potential threat to water resources, and the conservation area management works to ensure that upstream watershed protection remains a priority. Collaboration with Aymara communities integrates traditional ecological knowledge into conservation planning and helps ensure that protection measures align with local cultural practices and economic needs.