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Calipuy
The Callipuy National Sanctuary was established on January 8, 1981 by Supreme Decree No. 004-81-AA. It is situated near the Calipuy National Reserve, in the department of La Libertad, province of Santiago de Chuco. It has an area of 4 500 hectares.
 It protects one of the largest areas where the Puya Raimondi grows. Recognized as a highly-prized biological resource, this plant is a rare species of wild flora with the largest inflorescence in the world. It belongs to the bromeliad family and only grows in sun-exposed slopes and well-drained soils. It lives more than 100 years; however, it only blooms once in life in a process that lasts 9 months, and then dies gradually.
Its blooming is a spectacular event since its inflorescence can reach up to 10 meters high. This giant candle-shaped species is covered with thousands of white-cream flowers. During this phase, dozens of hummingbirds and other birds can be seen fluttering around.
Other plants in this sanctuary are medium-sized or small, semi-ligneous and herbaceous, and grow in stony or rocky soils. Hillsides are principally covered with semi-ligneous vegetation.
Among the species of wild fauna we can find mammals such as the Andean fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus), the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and the Peruvian mountain vizcacha (Lagidium peruanum).
Some of the birds we can mention are the Puna Tinamou (Tinamotis pentlandii) from the Tinamidae family; the Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) and the white-throated caracara or chinalinda (Phalcoboenus megalopterus albogularis) from the Falconidae family; and the Andean Parakeet (Bolborhynchus sp) from the Psittacidae family.
The principal objective of this National Sanctuary is to protect the densest area of Puya Raimondi, which is a valuable biotic potential of this species.
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