Villa Carmen Biological Station

Photo of Villa Carmen
Photo by Adrian Tejedor

The Amazon Conservation Association (ACA), in partnership with the American Bird Conservancy and the World Land Trust, recently provided funding for the purchase of 7,576 acres (3,066 hectares) of land in southern Peru by ACA's sister organization, La Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónica (ACCA). Located near the Rio Pini Pini and the Rio Tono in the Manu Biosphere Reserve, the land is particularly esteemed for its bird activity, as it is home to more than 600 known species. This purchase will help to ensure the protection and prosperity of wildlife in the region.

The property, known as Villa Carmen, contains old-growth rainforest, streams, waterfalls, and a wide variety of flora and fauna. It also has an all-weather road and an airstrip, accessible by both car and plane. ACCA is overseeing management of Villa Carmen, which will be used to promote sustainable agroforestry and aquaculture, host educational programs, serve as a biological research station, and further incorporate local communities into conservation efforts.

Quick Facts about Villa Carmen

Location: Geographic coordinates of the Villa Carmen (-12.8955, -71.4038), 1.5 km N of the town of Pillcopata, district of Kcosñipata, Cuzco, Peru.

Elevation: 520-1200 meters

Precipitation: Annual precipitation 3000-6000 mm (5419 mm in 2011); rainy season November-March; rainiest month February; driest month August. See 2011 rainfall data (.xls) from Villa Carmen.

Temperature: Annual average 22 °C; maximum temperature 32°C (during sunny days August to November), minimum temperature 10°C (during cold fronts May to August)

Prevailing wind: NNE

Vegetation: Lowland rainforest, lower mountain rainforest, bamboo forest, riparian succesional vegetation, secondary succesional vegetation, crops and pasture.

Area of reserve: 3,066 hectares (7,576 acres)

Percent forest cover: 92%

Trail system: 20 km, elevation gain 680 m, easy to difficult

Accommodations: Currently we can provide three double cottages with private bathroom, four double rooms with shared bathrooms, and a camping platform for 10 double tents with shared bathrooms. Accommodations will be expanded over the following years.

District population: 4,700 inhabitants, 97% of which are Andean colonos, 2% Machiguenga and Wachiperi, and 1% from coastal/northern Peru or other countries

Mammal sightings: See maps of mammal sightings at Villa Carmen from September 2011, October 2011, November 2011, or December 2011.

To learn more:

Interested in visiting Villa Carmen? Email reservas@conservacionamazonica.org
Interested in volunteering at Villa Carmen? Also see our volunteer blog.
Visit Villa Carmen's page on Facebook.
Read about ACA's 2011 Birdathon - which passed through Villa Carmen in August 2011.
Current visitors, download our Visitor Services Guide and Code of Conduct (pdf).

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Resident macaws (Ara macao) at the Hacienda. Photo: Adrian Tejedor

Clouds over the mountains of Villa Carmen

Clouds roll over the hillsides of Villa Carmen. Photo: Adrian Tejedor

Jaguar caught passing a camera trap at night at Villa Carmen in October 2011. Photo: ACA

Morpho helenor butterfly at Villa Carmen. Photo: Adrian Tejedor

Cave Swift Waterfall at Villa Carmen. Photo: Adrian Tejedor