“Lachay” or “Hills of Lachay” is the only sample of the Peruvian coastal hills ecosystem that is protected by the government. It is a natural formation with very interesting, unique and important vegetation that depends on water supplied originated by the mist clouds form in the ocean 8km away. These clouds hit the hillside of the area at 150 – 700 m of elevation creating this “island” of incredible landscape in the middle of one of the driest deserts in the world.
The best time to go and visit this Reserve is between August and October (winter), because is the time where all the hills are covered with dense vegetation creating a feeling of being in a wet tropical forest. The rest of the year is very dry with scattered trees and scrubs. Temperature in winter time is around 15 C and in dry season 20 C.
Lachay is a good nature spot near Lima city for wildlife photography and wildlife observation. Birdwatching is one of the main activities that this place offers to the visitors, since several species are confined to this area like the endemics Thick-billed Miner, Coastal Miner, Raimondi’s Yellow-Finch and the Cactus Canastero. Among others species that can be seeing here are Least Seedsnipe, Mountain Parakeets, and some hummingbirds like Oasis Hummingbird, Peruvian Sheartail and Purple-collared Woodstar usually very active in the flowering plants. |
