San Martín
Practical Guide for Travelers
San Martín
Location
Peru’s Northeastern Amazon Rainforest
Capital
Moyobamba (at 2,822 ft / 860 m)
Altitude
Min.:
623 ft (190 m) (Pelejo)
Max.:
14,764 ft (4,500 m) (Eastern Mountains)
Weather
Temperature
Max.:
Min.: 68 °F (22 °C)
86 °F (30 °C) Sept-Dec Jun-Sept
How to get here?
By land Dec-Mar Mar-Jun
Lima-Moyobamba: 777 miles (1,250 km) / 26 h
Lima-Tarapoto: 847 miles (1,363 km) / 28 h
Chiclayo-Tarapoto: 408 miles (656 km) / 14 h
Trujillo-Tarapoto: 550 miles (885 km) / 17 h
Chachapoyas-Tarapoto: 219 miles (353 km) / 8 h
Tingo María-Tarapoto: 296 miles (476 km) / 8 h
By air
Lima-Tarapoto: 1 h 15 min
Iquitos-Tarapoto: 50 min
From Iquitos to Yurimaguas
Through the Amazon, Marañón and Huallaga rivers: 2.5-3 days then 85 miles (136 km) by car to Tarapoto: 2 h
Lamas is considered the folkloric capital of the Peruvian Amazon and the city of the three natural floors, where nature, folklore and culture intertwine.
Artisan of Lamas © Juan Puelles / PROMPERÚ
San Martín
Department capital
Province capital
District capital
Tourist attraction
Provincial border
Main road
Paved road
Dirt road
Airport
Protected Natural Area
River
Bosque de Protección Alto Mayo
Alto Mayo
Mirador del Bosque de Protección Alto Mayo Puesto de control Venceremos
Reserva Ecológica
Arena Blanca
Reserva Ecológica Tingana
MOYOBAMBA
Reserva Ecológica
Santa Elena
Cueva de Palestina
Nueva Cajamarca
Naciente del río Tioyacu
to Chiclayo
LORETO
RIOJA LAMAS
Yuracyacu Posic
Yantalo
Embarcadero Puerto de Tahuishco
Puntas de San Juan y Tahuishco
Vivero de Orquídeas Amazónicas
Museo departamental de San Martín
Moyobamba Rioja
Morro de Calzada
Baños sulfurosos de Oromina
Baños termales de San Mateo
Cascada Paccha
AMAZONAS
Jepelacio
Baños termales de Jepelacio
Cascada de Lejiayacu
Cascada de Chapawanki
San Roque de Cumbaza
Lamas
Catarata de Huacamaillo
San José de Sisa
EL DORADO
Tarapoto
HUALLAGA
Rí o Huayab
Cataratas el Breo
Alto El Sol
MARISCAL CÁCERES
Circuito Churo-Shiringal
Saposoa
San Pablo
Yurimaguas
Cascadas de Carpishuyacu / Baños termales de San José
Parque Nacional Río Abiseo Área de Conservación Regional Cordillera Escalera
Juanjuí
Bellavista
Sauce
Catarata de Ahuashiyacu
Chazuta
Wayra Sacha o Bosque de los Vientos
Catarata de Pucayaquillo
Laguna El Sauce
PICOTA
Picota
Shamboyacu
SAN MARTÍN
Huicungo
Campanilla
Rí o Hual l a ga
BELLAVISTA
Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul
LA LIBERTAD
Pólvora
TOCACHE
Cascada San Juan Ishanga
Tocache
Centro de producción de cacao Nuevo Bambamarca
Tambo de Paja
Uchiza
Cascada Velo de Plata
CONDORCANQUI
Cascada Atusparia
Mirador Atusparia
Nuevo Progreso
Cordillera Azul
Cordillera Azul
Cordillera Azul
Distances
DESTINATION
Rioja (Rioja Province)
Tarapoto (San Martín Province)
Lamas (Lamas Province)
San José de Sisa ( Province at El Dorado)
Bellavista (Bellavista Province)
Picota (Picota Province)
Juanjuí (Mariscal Cáceres Province)
Saposoa (Huallaga Province)
Tocache (Tocache Province)
15 miles (24 km)
72 miles (116 km)
72 miles (116 km)
93 miles (149 km)
133 miles (214 km)
109 miles (176 km)
157 miles (253 km)
158 miles (254 km)
247 miles (398 km)
Juanes
Tours
1/2 day
2
days (minimum recommended stay)
Moyobamba Province: San Mateo hot springs
San Juan and Tahuishco natural viewpoints
Rioja Province: source of the Tioyacu river
San Martín Province, from Tarapoto: Ahuashiyacu waterfall and Carpishuyacu waterfall
Tocache Province: San Juan Ishanga Waterfall and Nueva Bambamarca
Cacao Production Center
1 day
Moyobamba Province: Tingana and Morro de Calzada Ecological Reserve
Province of Rioja: Palestine Cave and Santa Elena Ecological Reserve
San Martin Province, from Tarapoto: Blue Lagoon/Lake Sauce
Lamas Province: Mirador de la Cruz, Lamas Castle, Chanka Museum and Chapawanki Waterfall
Mariscal Cáceres Province: El Breo waterfall
in the Festivity of San Juan © Flor Ruiz / PROMPERÚ
Agenda
Feb-mar Rioja carnival
Mar-Apr Easter Week in Lamas
June
Aug
Sept 8
Tourist week in Moyobamba and the Feast of San Juan
Santa Rosa de Raymi (Lamas)
Virgen de la Natividad (Tabalosos-Lamas)
Oct-Nov Orchid Festival (Moyobamba)
What to eat?
The juane, a typical dish throughout the Amazon, finds in the regional cuisine of San Martín variants such as the avispa juane (cooked rice, mixed with ground pork, regional spices mixed with egg, with a piece of regional chicken, all wrapped in bijao leaf), the chunchullijuane (cassava and culantro dough stuffed with giblets), the chontajuane (chonta and paiche dough), inchicapi de gallina (peanut soup and cornmeal) and the sarajuane (corn and peanut, stuffed with pork). Some traditional drinks are masato (yucca cooked and fermented with sweet potato or sugar) and chuchuhuasi (brandy made from the bark of the tree of the same name).
What to buy?
There are craft markets in the cities, but you can also buy the products when visiting the communities. Traditional hats, baskets and even necklaces are made with bombonaje straw. Other popular works are woodcarvings and pieces of jewelry with roots and seeds. The Waska Waska Warmi Wasi Craft Centre in Lamas sells garments and ceramics made by women from the community.
What to visit?
Moyobamba Province
Museo Departamental San Martín
1,877 ft (572 m) north of the Plaza de Armas of Moyobamba at Jr. Benavides 380. Mon-Fri, 8:00-13:00 and 14:30-17:30 / Sun, 8:00-13:00. Entrance fee charged, except on the first Sunday of each month (entrance free).
The museum of San Martín exhibits the icons of regional culture, such as the Gran Saposoa, the Gran Pajatén and the funerary urns of Chazuta. It also has a paleontological room where fossils of prehistoric fauna and collections of ceramics, lithics, textiles and wood are displayed.
Punta de San Juan and Tahuishco viewpoints
1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of Moyobamba Square, Zaragoza neighborhood (20 min walk)
In the surroundings of the city of Moyobamba are these two natural viewpoints from where you can see the valley in all its splendor. Visit is at sunset is highly recommended.
Aguas termales de San Mateo
2.5 miles (4 km) south of the city of Moyobamba (8 min by car).
Mon-Sun, 5:00-20:00. Entrance fee charged.
The temperature of San Mateo thermal water ranges from 90 °F to 104 °F (32 °C to 40 °C). The baths are visited by people who look for alternative treatments to arthritis, muscle pain and stress.
Aguas sulfurosas de Oromina
4 miles (7 km) southwest of the city of Moyobamba (20 min by car / 1 h walk).
Mon-Sun, 8:00-17:00. Entrance fee charged.
On the slopes of the Oromina hill there is a source of sulfurous waters that give life to these baths. They are known for their medicinal properties.
Morro de Calzada
9 miles (14 km) north of the city of Moyobamba to the Calzada district (20 min drive), then 1 h 20 min walk to the top.
Mon-Sun, 8:00-16:00. Entrance fee charged.
After a walk among almond trees, orchids, bromeliads, and other species of flora, you reach the natural viewpoint of Calzada hill (1,970 ft / 600 m). There is a wide variety of birds to watch.
Reserva Ecológica Tingana
39.6 miles (63.7 km) northeast of the city of Moyobamba, in the district of Yantalo, at the mouth of Huascayacu, one of the ports of the Mayo river (40 min by car), then 45 min by motorboat to Tingana (Avisado river).
Entrance fee charged and prior coordination. Capacity to 60 visitors. Visits are arranged through authorized travel agencies.
The ecologic reserve of Tingana is located at an altitude of 2,625 ft (800 m). In this unique wet ecosystem in the world, aguaje and renacos abound. During the guided tour you will see river wolves, squirrel monkeys, saddle-back tamarins (pichicos), black capuchins, and sloths in their natural habitat.
Cascada Lejiayacu
16 miles (25 km) southwest of the city of Moyobamba, in the town of Pacaypite (1 h by car and 50 min on foot)
Lejiayacu cascade has three crystalline falls of 197 ft (60 m), 26 ft (8 m), and 197 ft (60 m) high.
Paccha Falls © Ronald Hinostroza / PROMPERÚ
Cascada Paccha
17 miles (28 km) southeast of the city of Moyobamba (1 h drive / 10 min walk). Mon-Sun, 8:00-16:00. Entrance fee charged.
Nearby Paccha cascade you can buy handicrafts, and taste the flavor of local products, chestnuts, exotic fruits, and its gastronomy.
Rioja Province
Reserva Ecológica Santa Elena
7 miles (11 km) northwest of the city of Rioja (20 min drive / 5 min walk).
Entrance fee charged. Visits with local guides from the Asociación para la Conservación del Aguajal y Renacal Río Romero.
Admire the natural forests and water mirrors of Santa Elena ecoreserve during the boat ride through its swampy and flooded area (between December and April). The most abundant species are aguaje and renacos.
Naciente del río Tioyacu
10 miles (16 km) northwest of the city of Rioja (20 min by car and 10 on foot).
Entrance fee charged.
The source of Tioyacu river, with cold and crystalline waters, is at an altitude of 2,946 ft (898 m), on the slopes of a mountain. From there, it flows through pools and waterfalls that form along the way.
Cueva de Palestina
19 miles (30 km) northwest of the city of Rioja (50 min by car and 10 on foot).
Entrance fee charged.
Visiting Palestina cave include walking for 2,625 ft (800 m) inside the cave. Tourist guide is needed, you can find one in the village of Palestina. It is made up of limestone, the same material that gives rise to the various forms of stalactites and stalagmites in the grotto, so that some form striking pillars or columns that embellish the place. The tour ends with a spring of crystal-clear water.
Bosque de las Nuwas
30.4 miles (48.9 km) northwest of the city of Rioja (approx. 1 h and 30 min by car and 15 min on foot). Visits prior coordination. Bosque de las Nuwas is an entrepreneurship founded by 52 women with the aim of recovering the traditional knowledge of the native community of Shampuyacu (upper basin of the Mayo river). Community nurseries have been implemented in nine hectares of territory to produce medicinal plants and plant varieties of native plants.
Mirador turístico del Bosque de Protección Alto Mayo
Fernando Belaúnde Terry Highway, at kilometer 375
The viewpoint of Alto Mayo Protection Forest is at an altitude of 6,325 ft (1,928 m). It is the perfect place to get a panoramic view of the mist forest and the density of its vegetation.
San Martín Province
Área de Conservación Regional Cordillera Escalera
Alto Shilcayo route. Visits are arranged through authorized travel agencies. Entrance fee charged.
There are two ways to make the visit in one day: you may start 1,969 ft (600 m) away from the central square of Tarapoto and travel 3 km (by car or on foot), the route will lead you to Orquídeas Amazónicas orchid nursery, the Urku Center and the Ayahuaska Museum. The second way is to access the buffer zone of the Escalera mountain range and walk among immense trees, along an impressive stretch, until you reach the Alto Shilcayo viewpoint or the Tamushal waterfall. Along the way, you can observe a wide variety of birds, frogs, ants, and other types of insects.
Catarata de Huacamaillo
7 miles (12 km) northwest of the city of Tarapoto (25 min drive / 1 h walk). Mon-Sun 8:00-15:00. Entrance fee charged.
Huacamaillo crystalline waterfall runs between a dense vegetation and has a fall of 66 ft (20 m) that ends in a well of 7 ft (2 m) deep.
The vegetation is lush and typical of humid tropical forests, with several types of ferns and orchids. A wide variety of birds and butterflies can be easily observed.
Catarata de Ahuashiyacu
9 miles (15 km) northeast of the city of Tarapoto (20 min drive and 15 min walk). Mon-Sun, 8:00-17:00. (Ticket sales until 16:20). Entrance fee charged.
A trekking route of around 15 minutes through the Cordillera Escalera Regional Conservation Area, amidst the flora and fauna of high jungle, leads to Ahuashiyacu waterfall (131 ft / 40 m high), surrounded by ferns, orchids and a wide variety of trees.
Catarata de Pucayaquillo
22 km northeast of Tarapoto, in the district of Shapaja, entering to the right of the Colombia bridge on the road to Chazuta. Mon-Sun, 9:00-15:00. Entrance fee charged.
It has a fall of 66 ft (20 m) high and a one-meter deep pool. Its water flows through dense vegetation. You can walk along a plane of a secondary mountain, where you can see a great diversity of trees, such as screw, cedar, ishpingo, capirona, pashaca, vines and copal.
Reserva Privada Aconabikh
24 kilometers northeast of Tarapoto, on the Tarapoto-Yurimaguas highway Mon-Sat, 8:00-16:00. Entrance fee charged.
Aconabikh is a beautiful private reserve of 40 hectares of rainforest in the buffer zone of the Cordillera Escalera Regional Conservation Area, with a temperature of 43 °F to 45 °F (6 °C to 7 °C) lower than in the city of Tarapoto. This is a must-visit spot for bird watching, especially the endemic Koepcke’s Hermit Hummingbird, and many more varieties.
Cascada de Carpishuyacu
21 miles (34 km) northeast of Tarapoto (1 h drive), within the Conservation Area Regional Cordillera Escalera, caserío San José. Mon-Sun, 8:00-15:00. Entrance fee charged.
Carpishuyacu cascade is located on a natural landscape surrounded by extensive vegetation and lush trees. The cascade is composed of two falls of approx. 20 ft (6 m) that form a pool of 13 ft (4 m) deep. Suitable place for bathing and resting.
Sunset at Sauce Lake © Gihan Tubbeh / PROMPERÚ
Centro Cultural Wasichay en Chazuta
31 miles (50 km) south of Tarapoto (1 h by car) on the Fernando Belaúnde Terry Sur road to the detour at the Colombia bridge in the direction of the Shapaja district. Mon-Sat, 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00 / Sat-Sun, prior coordination at 976-538-545. Entrance fee charged.
Wasichay Cultural Center has an ethnographic space with ceramics, the handmade vessels will serve as a model for future artisans. There is also a Traditional Ceramics Workshop where you can appreciate the skill of the Chazutina artisans, their way of using colors and designs to make jars, pots, mocahuas and other objects. You even can make your own vase and buy finished products.
Lago Sauce or Laguna Azul
33 miles (53 km) southeast of Tarapoto (2 hours and 30 minutes) in the town of Sauce, at an altitude of 2,625 ft (800 m). Mon-Sun, 6:00-17:00.
Sauce lake or Azul (blue) lagoon is a beautiful water mirror of 350 hectares with pleasant temperature and surrounded by vegetation on most of its banks. Its color varies between diverse types of green and blue. It is the habitat of herons, kingfishers, sachapatos, eagles and fish. Ideal place to practice water sports, such as fishing, rides in outboard motorboats and inflatable boats.
Tocache Province
Cascada San Juan Ishanga
10 miles (16 km) southwest of the town of Tocache (1 hour walk). Mon-Sun, 8:00-15:00.
San Juan Ishanga cascade is located among abundant flora, where varied species of orchids stand out. It has six falls that form refreshing wells. In Tocache you can also visit the Nueva Bambamarca cocoa production center.
Lamas Province
Lamas City
14 miles (22 km) northwest of the city of Tarapoto (30 min by car)
Lamas was founded in 1656 and is one of the oldest cities in the Peruvian Amazon, characterized by its steep streets and terraced layout. The Wayku neighborhood is home to the descendants of the Chancas, the only Quechua-speaking community in the entire Peruvian Amazon, and to the Waska Waska Warmi Wasi craft center. Remember to visit the viewpoint of the Cross, Lamas castle and the Chanka and Lamista Diversity Museum.
Cascada de Chapawanki
3 miles (5 km) north of Lamas town (20 min drive), then 200 m to the waterfall (15 min walk). Mon-Sun, 8:30-17:00. Entrance fee charged. Its 13 ft (4 m) high fall forms a perfect pool to welcome bathers. This area, adorned by its majestic flora (pashaco, orchids and ferns), is home to a wide variety of birds, butterflies, and insects.
San Roque de Cumbaza
11 miles (17 km) northwest of the city of Tarapoto (45 min by car)
A town where perfect pools are formed to cool off, surrounded by mountains of dense vegetation.
Mariscal Cáceres Province
Museo Etno Histórico de Pachiza
11 miles (18 km) south of Juanjuí, Pachiza district (30 min by car). Mon-Fri, 7:30-13:00 and 14:00-17:30
The ethnohistorical museum is just a few steps from the Plaza de Armas of Pachiza, one of the oldest towns in the province. The exhibition includes fossil remains of mastodons and ammonites, lithic objects of the first inhabitants —hibitos and cholones ethnic groups.
Catarata El Breo
12 miles (20 km) south of Juanjuí to Huicungo (40 min by car), then 26 miles (58 km) to the falls (3 h by motorboat) / 5 miles (8 km) on the Juanjuí-2 de Mayo-falls route (3 h by slider). Visits are arranged through authorized travel agencies.
On its way, the flow of the Huayabamba river falls in four levels, a total of 460 ft (140 m) high. It is surrounded by typical vegetation of the primary forest, such as ferns, giant epiphytes, orchids, and trees where the yellow-rumped caciques make their nests.
Parque Nacional del Río Abiseo
Southwest of the Juanjuí district (6 h by boat). Visits are arranged through authorized travel agencies.
The national park of Abiseo river has 274,520 hectares. It is a preservation site of cultural resources and scenic beauties, and also an excellent platform to promote research.
You can visit the Churo-Shiringal circuit, a route that includes the El Shiringal interpretive trail, the mouth of the Churo gorge, the Timon waterfall, the Oso waterfall, the San Gerónimo rapids, the Cueva de los Franceses and the El Otorongo cave. It was declared a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990.
Moyobamba
City Center
Catedral
Museo Departamental San Martín
Mirador Punta de Tahuishco
Mirador Punta de San Juan
Centro Cultural Moyobamba (CUMO)
Jr.Agricultura
Prlg. Trujillo
Jr Arequipa Jr Ayacucho
Parque Botánico
Jr. Apurímac
San Francisco Parque Recodo
Cl. 8deFebrero
Jr . 28deJulio
Jr . Miraflores
Plaza San Martín
Jr PedroTejada
Jr . Callao
Jr. Trujillo
Jr.Dorado
Jr DamiánNájar Jr Vicente Nájar
Prlg. El Dorado
Cl.BellaAurora
Prlg.Independencia
Jr. Cusco
Jr. Emilio Acosta
Plazuela Amor y Paz
Mercado
Jr Sargento Tejada
Av Ignacia V elásquez
Jr.ReyesGuerra
Jr . Independencia
Parque Subterráneo
Jr . AlonsodeAlvarado
Plazuela Libertad
Jr. DelMayo
Jr.Esperanza
Jr . SimónBolívar
Jr . Sucre
Jr . EmilioSanMartín
Jr. Varacadillo
Jr 25 de Mayo
Parque
OFITUR
Plazuela Bolognesi
Central DIRCETUR
Prlg. 25 de Mayo
Belén Plaza de Armas
P edro Canga
Jr . SerafínFilomeno
Jr Óscar Bena vides
Jr . SanCarlos
Jr Santa María
Jr Coronel Secada
Jr . PedroNoriega
Jr. San Martín Jr Piura
Jr . Lamas
2
Jr San Luis
Jr Chachapoyas
Jr . Cajamarca
Jr.28deJulio Cl. Porvenir
Jr. 20 de Abril
Jr . ManueldelÁguilaDurand
Jr . Andalucía Jr Puno
Jr . San Marcos
Av. Almirante Miguel Grau
3
4
Mercado Ayaymama
Prlg.SanCarlos
Jr. Iquitos
Jr Almirante Miguel Grau
Jr. Tumbes
Jr . Libertad
Prlg. Iquitos Prlg.Bardales
Jr . Cajamarca
Road to Tarapoto
Prlg. 20 de Abril
3
2 Jr. Maynas
Terminal terrestre
San Martín Center
(+51-1) 616-7300, ext. 1899
Jr. Ramírez Hurtado s/n, Tarapoto Main Square
Mon-Sun, 9:00-18:00 iperutarapoto@promperu.gob.pe
(+51-1) 574-8000 (+51) 944-492-314
iperu@promperu.gob.pe
The information contained in this brochure has been updated in September 2023. To prepare it, PROMPERÚ has used information from the Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism (DIRCETUR) - San Martín and other official sources.
The opening hours and telephone numbers are subject to vary at each tourist attraction. Confirm the hours and telephone numbers with IPERÚ.
Published by PROMPERÚ - Peru for Exports and Tourism Promotion Agency
Calle Uno Oeste 50, 14th Floor, Urb. Córpac, San Isidro, Lima, Perú Tel. +511 616-7300 www.promperu.gob.pe © PROMPERÚ. All rights reserved
Legal Deposit in Biblioteca Nacional del Perú No. 2023-10870
Printed by WORK UP E. I. R. L. (Calle Albert Einstein 165, Ate, Lima) Lima, October 2023