The Cordillera de Sama Biological Reserve / Reserva Biológica Cordillera de Sama lies to the west of Tarija City in Tarija Department in the far south of the country. It covers 108,000 hectares and protects Central Andean puna, dry and semi-dry inter Andean valleys and forest habitats. Among its notable features are the altiplano lakes of the Tazjara basin (which is also a designated Ramsar Wetland Site) and the steep, forested valleys of the eastern slopes of the cordillera that often have impressive waterfalls in the rainy season and soon afterwards. The Reserve provides much of the water for the city of Tarija and also contains various archaeological sites, the best known of which is a well preserved section of Inca Trail. Both newer paved main road and old dirt road via the Cuesta de Sama that approach Tarija from the north pass through the Reserve where they cross the spectacular ridges and canyons of the northern part of the Cordillera de Sama.
