The museum holds a massive collection of type specimens, which are the original reference materials used to define and name new species.
It contains the fossilized remains of ancient marine giants, including early ancestors of whales discovered in the Peruvian desert.
The botanical department curates a vast herbarium containing thousands of preserved plant species native to the tropical and high-altitude regions of Peru.
The museum's research staff actively participates in identifying new species of insects, birds, and plants found within Peru's diverse cloud forests.
It maintains a specialized hall dedicated to the evolution of Peruvian mammals, highlighting species that existed during the Cenozoic era.
The Museo de Historia Natural, managed by the National University of San Marcos, is Peru's oldest natural history museum, founded in 1918. It houses one of the country's most significant collections of flora, fauna, and minerals, emphasizing biodiversity from the Andes, the Amazon, and the Peruvian coast. The institution functions as both a public exhibition space and a center for scientific research and taxonomic studies. The paleontological collection is particularly noted for fossils found in the Pisco and Sacaco regions. Exhibits are organized into specialized halls covering botany, zoology, ecology, and geology. The museum maintains significant herbarium and zoological type specimens used by researchers worldwide. Its architectural setting is housed in a historic building that once served as the home of the university's research faculty. The collection documents the evolution of Peruvian ecosystems over geological time.
The main hall's central display featuring the large skeletal reconstructions of prehistoric mammals.
Visit during the weekdays to avoid large school tour groups that frequently visit on weekend mornings.
Bring a light sweater, as the older building's ventilation can make the exhibition halls cooler than the outside temperature.
Check the official website for rotating temporary exhibitions before arrival, as these often feature research projects not permanently displayed.
Avoid arriving during local school holiday weeks if you prefer a quieter environment, as these periods see high attendance from organized student groups.
Open daily, but occasionally closed for national holidays or internal university events; always verify the university calendar before visiting.
Maintain a quiet volume within the exhibition galleries and do not touch any preserved specimens or display cases.
