The Tingo María National Park is located 6 kilometers southwest of the city of Tingo María, in the districts of Mariano Dámaso Beraún and Rupa Rupa, province of Leoncio Prado, in the vicinity of the mouth of the Monzón River in the Huallaga Valley.
It is one of the oldest protected natural areas (ANP) in Peru and is made up of the mountain range of the Sleeping Beauty, known as the silhouette of its peaks, which resemble the profile of a woman lying on her back. In Quechua it is known as Puma Ringri, which means "puma ear". It is one of the most notorious tourist attractions in the city of Tingo María.
Legend tells that the figure of a woman, who is Princess Nunash, is seen on her land. A young man named Cuynac fell in love with this maid and crossed the jungle from the city of Huánuco to seal his love with her. They lived together in a palace built in honor of her until the father of the princess attacked them. Thanks to Cuynac's knowledge in sorcery, he managed to turn Nunash into a butterfly so he could escape, while he transformed himself into stone. She flew into the jungle to seek help and after defeating her father and returning to her original form, she realized that her beloved could not do it. Nunash stayed at his side and became a stone to accompany him to eternity, thus forming the figure of Sleeping Beauty.
It has varied fauna typical of the high jungle region with an area of more than 4,700 hectares that you can enjoy during the tourist circuit of Tres de Mayo. You can observe 104 species of wild animals such as 38 species of birds, 36 mammals, 9 kinds of fish and 21 species of batrachians and reptiles. It is perfect for birdwatching or bird watching.
In addition, the park is home to Cueva de las Lechuzas, a gigantic limestone grotto where an important colony of birds known as guacharos or santanas live, endemic birds of the area similar to owls. There are also parrots, swallows and bats.
Another attraction of the Tingo María National Park is the Gloriapata Waterfall, whose entrance is made by the hanging bridge of Tambillo Grande. Then you walk 45 minutes to the waterfall. During the trip you will appreciate the Tres de Mayo micro-basin, surrounded by rocky mountains and abundant biodiversity such as timber trees, medicinal plants, orchids, variety of insects and different types of butterflies.
If you prefer to avoid hiking, you can go to the viewpoint of Cerro San Francisco, in the northern part of Tingo María. From there you will have a panoramic view of the whole green landscape of this wonderful national park.
When to go
You can visit the whole year, although it is recommended to avoid traveling between January and March due to the rainy season, which makes walking difficult.
The visiting hours of the Tingo María National Park are from Monday to Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Climate
The climate is hot and humid almost all the year, with minimum temperatures of 18 ° C and maximum of 29 ° C. The average annual temperature is 24.5 ° C. The rainy season goes from October to April.
How to get there
The Tingo María National Park is located 6 kilometers southwest of Tingo María, through Cueva de las Lechuzas.
Another entry option is from the Tres de Mayo sector, where the entrance is 17 kilometers from Tingo María.
Recommendations
Take oportunity of visiting it during the month of May, as part of the anniversary of the Tingo María National Park.
Wear light clothing, insect repellent, sunglasses, hat and sunscreen during your visit. Also do not forget a good bottle of water.
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