The Pomac Forest Historic Sanctuary was created to conserve the unique landscape and cultural history of the Equatorial Dry Forest and Sican Archaeological Complex found in the Department of Lambayeque, Peru. A visit to the Historic Sanctuary begins at the Environmental Interpretation Center, in the La Curva sector of the park, where park guards and local tourism volunteers can help visitors with
orientation and information about the Pomac Forest. A short walk (< 1 km) along the road into the Sanctuary brings you to the Millinery Tree, the oldest Algorrobo tree in the park at around 500 years old. This sprawling, magnificent spectacle is a national symbol to which the locals attribute many miracles and legends. Continuing 3 km down the road, you arrive at the Scenic Viewpoint - Las Salinas where you can appreciate the majestic panorama of the Dry Forest, including the La Leche River and several pyramids. Next, the tour takes you to the historic house of Karl Wiess, the first beekeeper and honey producer of the region, who introduced the idea of sustainable use of the dry forest’s natural resources. Lastly, you arrive at the various pyramids or “huacas” left from various cultures. The Lucia and Cholote pyramids (1500-500 BC) form a religious monument complex, which includes the Column Temple. The El Oro, Las Ventanas, and La Merced pyramids, from the Sicán Culture (800-1050 AC) can also be observed. You might be lucky to see archaeological excavations in progress. The site at the Las Ventanas pyramid was were the famous “Tumi” ceremonial knives (depicted on the 1 sol coin) were found. The entire complex can be seen from a Scenic Viewpoint - La Cima de la Piramide (The Pyramid Point). Along the tour, you can see how the rich biological diversity of the Pomac Equatorial Dry Forest has been utilized in the development of different cultural groups since the beginning of advanced culture in the Andes, most famously the Sicán Culture. Between 750 and 1100 AC (between the Mochica and Chimú Cultures) the Sicán Culture dominated this zone, leaving behind a vast complex of pyramids and burial sites. The Sicán Archaeological Complex is the biggest in South America and the most important in Peru, with more than 20 mud and adobe pyramids over 45 km. While walking from one site to the next, keep your eyes open to spot some rare and endangered plants and animals! The flora of the Pomac Forest is characterized by vegetation designed to live in one of the most arid regions on the planet - with adaptations such as deep and wide root systems, slow growth, small leaves, thorns, etc. The Algarrobo, Sapote, and Faique tree species dominate. The Historic Sanctuary is the most important wildlife refuge for its ecosystem and houses a variety of endemic species, many of which are threatened/endangered. An exciting 89 species of birds can be spotted in the Forest. 16 are endemic to the Tumbes area of Ecuador & Peru, 5 endemic to Peru, and two of which are not found in any other protected areas -
• Peruvian Plantcutter (Phytotoma raimondii)
• Tumbes swallow (Tachycineta stolzmanni)
Among the 20 reptile species, you can find the:
• Green iguana (Iguana iguana)
• Spotted Monitor Lizard (Callopistes flavipunctatus)
• Boa Constrictor (B. constrictor)
• Barnett’s pit-viper (Bothrops barnetti)
• Coral snakes (Micrurus tschudii)
There are 7 mammal species, including the:
• Colocolo cat (Leopardos colocolo)
• Guayaquil squirrel (Sciurus stramineus)
• Peruvian Desert fox (Lycalopex sechurae)
• Gerbil Leaf-eared mouse (Phyllotis gerbillus),
• Northern Tamandua or Anteater (Tamandua mexicana)
• Vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus)
