Wildlife Watching in Sajama National Park

Information

The Sajama National Park is excellent for wildlife watching, as there are many species that can be easily seen. In addition, there are paths and trails that allow you to visit various environments such as 'queñua' forests (a native plant species), wetlands, etc.

Among the mammals, vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) are very common. It is common to see southern mountain viscachas (Lagidium viscacia), some of them very trusting, in the rocky sectors at high altitudes. At night, a puma (Puma concolor) usually descends from the heights, which is why the villagers must protect their herds of llamas and alpacas.

As far as birds are concerned, the giant coot (Fulica gigantea), Andean gull (Larus serranus), northern silvery grebe (Podiceps juninensis), crested duck (Lophonetta specularioides) and Andean negrito (Lessonia oreas) are common in the bodies of water. The Puna ibis (Plegadis ridgwayi) frequents the vicinity of streams. In different sectors, the cordilleran canastero (Asthenes modesta), glacier finch (Chionodacryon speculiferum), white-fronted ground-tyrant (Muscisaxicola albifrons), ash-breasted sierra-finch (Geospizopsis plebejus) and plumbeous sierra-finch (Geospizopsis unicolor) are often sighted. Of great interest is the presence of the diademed plover (Phegornis mitchellii) in areas of wetlands and fumaroles.