It is situated in the heart of the Plateau of Bombon, with the background scenery of the Huayhuash Mountain Chain, in the department of Pasco, province of Pasco. It has an area of 6,815 hectares. One of the Sanctuary's attractions is the Bosque de Piedra de Huayllay, a rocky region with a number of attractive formations, which have been sculptured by the erosive actions of wind, water, and shifting of glaciers. It is like an immense oasis petrified in the middle of a cold and desolate puna. In this place, the indefatigable nature has sculptured several figures of men, animals and many other fanciful shapes, such as porticos of different sizes; some of the archs are so huge that a horseman could easily ride through them.
It is one of the best geological museums in the world. Due to its great extent and unique formations, it is said to be as interesting as the Garden of the Gods in the U.S.A, and the Shilin Rock Garden in the Popular Republic of China. In the middle of the Bosque de Piedra de Huayllay there is a beautiful thermal spring with healing properties, located 13,12 feet above sea level, with water temperatures over 60º C.
Some areas are covered with grass, mainly from the family of the Poaceae and others like the Asteracea, Brassicaceae, Cyperaceae, etc. The only arborous species existing within the boundaries of the Sanctuary is the quenual (Polylesis sp.). Among the semi-ligneous species we have the huamanpinta (Chuquiraga spinosa), the putaga (Rumex peruvianus), and the mata mata or pargash (Tafalla thujoides).
Mammals such as the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), the Peruvian mountain vizcacha (Lagidium peruanum), the Pampas Cat (Oncifelis colocolo), and the hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) are representatives of its wild fauna. Among the birds we can mention the red-tailed hawk (Buteo sp.) and the ornate tinamou and the Puna tinamou (Nothoprocta ornata and Tinamotis pentlandii). The main objective of the Sanctuary is to protect the geological formations of the Bosque de Piedra de Huayllay, as well as the native flora and fauna.
It is one of the best geological museums in the world. Due to its great extent and unique formations, it is said to be as interesting as the Garden of the Gods in the U.S.A, and the Shilin Rock Garden in the Popular Republic of China. In the middle of the Bosque de Piedra de Huayllay there is a beautiful thermal spring with healing properties, located 13,12 feet above sea level, with water temperatures over 60º C.
Some areas are covered with grass, mainly from the family of the Poaceae and others like the Asteracea, Brassicaceae, Cyperaceae, etc. The only arborous species existing within the boundaries of the Sanctuary is the quenual (Polylesis sp.). Among the semi-ligneous species we have the huamanpinta (Chuquiraga spinosa), the putaga (Rumex peruvianus), and the mata mata or pargash (Tafalla thujoides).
Mammals such as the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), the Peruvian mountain vizcacha (Lagidium peruanum), the Pampas Cat (Oncifelis colocolo), and the hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) are representatives of its wild fauna. Among the birds we can mention the red-tailed hawk (Buteo sp.) and the ornate tinamou and the Puna tinamou (Nothoprocta ornata and Tinamotis pentlandii). The main objective of the Sanctuary is to protect the geological formations of the Bosque de Piedra de Huayllay, as well as the native flora and fauna.
