SAN MARTIN

GENERAL DATA

Location: The department of San Martin is situated in the high jungle of northeastern Peru.
Area: 51 253 km2
Capital: Moyobamba (874 masl)
Altitude: 190 masl (Pelejo) Lowest town.
3 080 masl (Agua Blanca) highest town.
Average annual temperature: 24º C (30º C maximum and 15º C minimum).
Rainy season: December to March.

ACCESS ROUTES

By land: There are two roads from Lima:
Lima – Chiclayo – Olmos – Bagua – Rioja – Moyobamba – Tarapoto (1 445 km) along the North Pan-American Highway and then branching off on the Marginal Highway. About 24 h by car.
Other route is Lima – Huánuco – Tingo María – Tocache – Tarapoto (1 020 km) along the Central Highway and then branching off on the Marginal Highway. About 20 h by car.
By air: There are flights from Lima (flying time about 55 minutes); there is also an air taxi service within the region.
By river: The Huallaga river flows into the Marañon river, therefore it is used for river traffic connections with the Amazon area and neighboring countries.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The cradle of pre-historic civilizations, the San Martín department was created on September 4th,1 906.
Moyobamba, capital of the San Martín department and known as the City of Orchids, was the first Peruvian city founded in the jungle shortly after the conquest. It was the seat of the first religious orders that established missions in this area, making Moyobamba and surrounding areas the target of their catechism efforts and, subsequently, the base for the colonization and development of the region.

ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF TARAPOTO

Ahuashiyaku Waterfalls

15 km from the town of Tarapoto, Banda district (about 30 minutes by car).
A beautiful spot with lush vegetation and a main pool formed by an impressively beautiful waterfall.

Laguna Azul. (Blue Lagoon)

40 km from Tarapoto, Sauce district (about 2 ½ h by car).
Crossing the Huallaga river at Puerto Lopez, a beautiful mirror lake covers 350 hectares, surrounded by lush vegetation on the shores of the picturesque town of Sauce.

Lago Lindo

A 750 ha ecological reserve located within the domain of the Kanchiskucha Indians, 40 km from Tarapoto on the road that leads to the famous Laguna Azul.
Polish Petroglyphs
Archaeological ruins situated 8,5 km from Tarapoto, with inscriptions of animal and plant figures.

Lamas:

Located 21 km from Tarapoto, is one of the oldest cities of the Peruvian jungle, it was founded in 1 656 and it is known as the three floors city

Lamas Ethnic Museum
22 km, from Tarapoto (about 30 minutes by road).
The native community in this area has preserved intact a wide variety of ancestral rituals, despite the passage of time.

Wayku District
A native community of the Chankas tribe of great anthropological importance.

Chapawanka Waterfall
Located 2.5 km from Lamas, this is a singularly beautiful waterfall.

ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF MOYOBAMBA

Gera Waterfalls

in the Jepelacio district 21 km from Moyobamba, about 40 minutes by car and then a 20 minute walk. It has three impressive waterfalls, approximately 120 m tall. The volume is developed for power generating purposes.

San Mateo Thermal Baths

Highway to the Jepelacio district, km 5.
Located 3 km From the city of Moyobamba (about 5 minutes by car). The water in the baths has therapeutic properties and tourist facilities are available.

Oromina Sulfurous Baths

Located 6 km From Moyobamba, these waters have great medicinal properties.

Las Puntas

Lookout points at either end of the city, providing a view of the wonderful landscapes and splendid evenings.

Rioja:

Cueva del Diamante (Diamond Cave)
58 km from Rioja, in Naranjos (40 minutes by car).
Visits: Monday to Sunday 8:00-18:00.
Inside the cave there are compartments with stalactites and stalagmites shaped like Roman columns, formed over time.

Incipient River Tioyacu
Opposite the Segunda Jerusalén settlement
Visits: Monday to Sunday 8:00-18:00.
14 km from Rioja, about 10 minutes by car and then a 10 minute walk, leads to a river rising from underneath a hill, amidst exuberant vegetation.

The Cave of los Huacharos
Located 24 km from Rioja in the Palestina settlement. A subterranean river crosses the inside of this cave, with very cold water.

The Amazon Sanctuary
Situated alongside the Aguas Claras watercourse, 78 k. from Rioja along the North Marginal Highway. It has two entrances that lead into the depths of the Eastern Andes range.

Del Breo Waterfalls
Located in the district of Juanjuí. Impressive waterfalls that flow through a stone ring.

Gran Pajatén
Situated in the San Martín department. Access to this area is difficult, expeditions visiting the constructions usually travel through the department of La Libertad. This complex contains circular buildings made of slate slabs decorated with figures of flying condors.

FOLKLORE

This area is characterized by its abundance of songs and legends, which are repeated at patron festivals. The most representative traditional dances are the pandilla, the jungle marinera and the tahuampa.

HANDICRAFTS

Fine pottery, straw hats, baskets, necklaces and wood carvings.

GASTRONOMY

Typical dishes:

• Juane with rice (chicken with rice wrapped in bijao leaves).
• Inchicapi (Chicken soup with peanuts, coriander and cassava).
• Avispa juane (Chopped pork mixed with garlic and spices, dipped in egg and flour and then wrapped in a parcel of achira leaves and baked).
• Tacacho con cecina (Baked or fried banana, mashed with lard and dried meat).
• Chunchulijuane (Mashed cassava with coriander and chicken giblets, wrapped in bijao leaves).
• Chontajuane (Mashed tucuma, palm and Paiche fish, all wrapped in bijao leaves).
• Sarajuane (Corn and peanut paste filled with pork and wrapped in bijao leaves).

Traditional beverages:

• Masato (Boiled and mashed cassava, fermented with sweet potatoes and sugar).
• Siete raíces. (Seven roots)
• El ceresachado.
• El chuchuhuasi (spirituous liquor made from a bitter root, very popular in northeastern Peru).
  Indanachado.

FESTIVALS

San Juan Festival (June)

St. John the Baptist takes on a symbolic nature in the jungle, given the predominance of water as a vital element throughout the Amazon. Typical bands play at parties and regional dishes are served.

SERVICES

• Airport
• Land Transport
• Railroad Transport
• Health Centers
• Police Stations
• Handicrafts Markets
• Post Office

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