St. Maarten

CULTURE

Museums and culture

San Martin invites you to discover its history and culture through unique spaces. In Moyobamba, the Departmental Museum of San Martin preserves valuable archeological and historical pieces that reveal the region's pre-Hispanic past. In Tarapoto, the Ayahuasca Museum offers an in-depth look at traditional Amazonian medicine, while the Regional Museum houses a pre-Inca mummy and ancestral ceramics. In Lamas, the Chanka Museum and the Wayku Native Neighborhood preserve the culture quechua-lamista alive. Finally, the petroglyphs of Polish show ancient stone engravings with symbols of the jungle.

Abyssus River National Park: UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Abiseo River National Park, in San Martin, is a natural and cultural treasure declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It encompasses cloud forests, rivers and unique species, as well as more than 30 archeological sites, including the Gran Pajaten and Los Pichudos, linked to the Chachapoyas civilization and the Inca period. This park protects an exceptional biodiversity and vestiges of ancient civilizations such as Chachapoyas and the Inca period, offering a unique experience for those seeking untouched nature, pre-Hispanic history and amazing landscapes in the high jungle of Peru.

Values, knowledge, know-how and practices of the Awajún people associated with the production of ceramics: a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Discover the living cultural wealth of the Awajún people, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Their values, knowledge and ancestral techniques in the production of ceramics reflect a deep connection with nature and Amazonian identity. Each piece is molded by women, transmitting knowledge from generation to generation. Traveling to San Martin is an opportunity to learn about this unique and authentic tradition, rooted in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon.

NATURE

Lago Sauce (Blue Lagoon): Water that creates and connects

In Lago Sauce (Blue Lagoon), you will find a unique Amazonian paradise to enjoy with your family or couple. Its fresh, warm water and surrounded by nature, It is ideal for swimming, kayaking or boating. The more adventurous can go jet skiing, canopy or zip-lining, as well as explore waterfalls like “Ojos” and soak in medicinal mud baths. Complement your experience with sport fishing and hiking through jungle trails. A complete destination between ecotourism and relaxation in San Martin.

Alto Mayo Protected Forest: Exploration and bird watching trails:

The Alto Mayo Protected Forest, in the north of San Martin, offers you a unique experience among mist-covered mountains, wild orchids and Amazonian fauna. This cloud forest is ideal for ecotourism, with activities such as hiking, bird watching, swimming in natural pools and exploring waterfalls like Gera and Paccha. From viewpoints such as Morro de Calzada or Punta Tahuishco, you will be able to contemplate amazing landscapes. Also, at the Ahuashiyacu Waterfall, refresh yourself in a natural paradise. These are unmissable destinations for those who are looking for living nature and adventure in its purest form.

Hot springs:

In San Martin, wellness is combined with nature in three special thermal spas. In Moyobamba, the San Mateo Thermal Baths offer sulfurous waters surrounded by jungle, ideal for relaxation and revitalization. Also in Moyobamba, relax in the sulfurous waters of Oromina, immerse yourself in its natural pools surrounded by jungle for wellness and connection with nature. Nearby, the Jepelacio Thermal Baths surprise with natural pools in a quiet and accessible environment.

ANCESTRAL COMMUNITIES AND RURALITY

In Sint Maarten, the following coexist ancestral communities of remarkable cultural richness. The Awajún, mainly in Alto Mayo and in places such as the Nuwas Forest (Shampuyacu), preserve traditional medicine and forest knowledge. The Quechua-Lamistas (descendants of Hanan-Chancas) inhabit the native Wayku neighborhood in Lamas, where they preserve traditional architecture, Quechua language and typical pottery. There is also the presence of Chachapoyas, heirs of the pre-Inca civilization that left sites such as Gran Pajaten, still protected in cloud forest areas.

Forest of the Nuwas in Shampuyacu:

Immerse yourself in the Nuwa Forest, in the native community of Shampuyacu, an ancestral refuge managed by Awajún women. Walk through trails among trees and medicinal crops, discover more than 100 medicinal native species and learn about their healing properties. Enjoy traditional songs and dances, taste Amazonian fruits and typical lunches. This ecotourism project is an authentic experience of living culture, conservation and female empowerment in the Alto Mayo jungle.

Holidays:

San Martin celebrates its identity with three unmissable festivals. In June, the Feast of St. John pays homage to St. John the Baptist with river rituals, gang dances and the traditional juane. It is the most important festival in the Peruvian Amazon, a symbol of purification and spiritual renewal. Families gather to share typical dishes, regional music and cultural expressions that strengthen the Amazonian identity. That same month, the Moyobamba Tourist Week offers gastronomic fairs, folkloric festivals and tours of orchids and viewpoints. In July, join the festivity of the Santísima Cruz de los Motilones de Lamas, which fills the streets with music, dances and processions, experience the deep devotion and cultural pride in this unique festival.

GASTRONOMY

Traditional Andean cuisine:

Get ready to savor the authentic Amazonian cuisine with the most emblematic dishes of San Martin. It begins with the inevitable juane, the star dish of the Feast of San Juan, prepared with seasoned rice, chicken, boiled egg, olives and spices, all wrapped and cooked in a bijao leaf. Its round shape symbolizes the head of San Juan Bautista, and it is a tradition to share it with the family by the river. Enjoy the classic tacacho with jerky and chorizo, a potent combination of fried green plantain and smoked meats. And delight in the juicy patarashca, Amazonian fish roasted in a bijao leaf. In San Martin, every dish celebrates the living identity of the Peruvian jungle.

CRAFTS

San Martín preserves a rich handicraft tradition that reflects its cultural diversity. In Lamas, the Quechua-Lamistas make colorful textiles and embroidery with Andean-Amazonian motifs that are part of their living identity. In Chazuta, the traditional pottery made with clay coils, decorated with natural pigments in red, white and black, and fired with ancestral techniques, stands out. In addition, the Awajún communities of Alto Mayo have been recognized by UNESCO for their knowledge and practices related to the production of ceramics such as intangible cultural heritage.

Chumbi and watu belts: Andean weavings

The chumbi and watu of the Kichwa people of San Martin, recognized as National Cultural Heritage, continue to be emblematic and functional textiles. The chumbi, a thin 2-meter sash, serves as a belt to hold light objects and is also part of daily and festive clothing. The watu, a wider waist belt (4-6 cm and up to 6 m long), is worn over the head to carry heavy loads. These handcrafted pieces, woven mostly by women of the community, keep alive an ancestral tradition with aesthetic, symbolic and functional value.