UCAYALI

GENERAL DATA

Location: The department of Ucayali is situated on the left bank of the Ucayali river, in the mid-eastern jungle of Peru.
Area: 102 410 km2
Capital: Pucallpa (154 masl)
Altitude: 135 masl (Nueva requena) Lowest town.
350 masl (Esperanza) highest town.
Average annual temperature: 27º C (38º C maximum and 24º C minimum).
Rainy season: November to March.

ACCESS ROUTES

By land: The most advisable route is Lima-La Oroya-Cerro de Pasco-Huánuco-Tingo María-Pucallpa (786 km), about 20 h by car.
By air: Flights available from Lima to Pucallpa (approximately 55 minutes.).
By river: The distance between Iquitos and Pucallpa by river is 1 021 km and the trip takes 4 to 5 days in winter and 6 to 8 days in summer, during the low water flow.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The first settlers in this region were the Panos, who spread across the entire length of the Ucayali river and its tributaries. The 1 600 km long Ucayali river is one of the most important means of communication in the central jungle. It was discovered in 1 577 by Captain Juan Salinas de Loyola. The current population of the Ucayali region consists of various ethnic descendants of the Pano linguistic family, such as the Shipibo-Conibos. The native name Pucallpa derived from May-Ushin, the Shipibo word for red earth.
Ucayali is one of the most progressive towns in the jungle. The timber industry is the main activity.

ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF PUCALLPA

Plaza de Armas – Main Square

Corner of Jr. Tacna, Jr. Tarapacá.
Its architecture is modern, with an abundance of vegetation and artificial lighting. Prominent are its geometric obelisk, its fountain and the busts of Pucallpa’s founders and pioneers.

Public Clock Square

Corner of Jr. 9 de Diciembre and Malecón Pucallpa.
This is the oldest square in the city, built between 1 950 and 1 951. It has a 25 m tower in the middle with a large clock at the top, with a revolving light that previously served as a lighthouse to guide the vessels sailing into Pucallpa.

Home of Sculptor Agustín Rivas

Jr. Tarapacá 861.
Visits: Monday to Saturday 9:00-13:00 and 15:00-17:00.
Mr. Rivas was a famous sculptor who gained national and international acknowledgement for such works as the Christ of Petroleum which is kept in the Vatican in Rome. His wood carvings are made with the roots of local trees.

Natural Park – Regional Museum

Federico Basadre highway, km 4,2.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 9:00-17:00.
This is a protection and conservation area with a large variety of Amazon wildlife species, as well as ethnographic collections of the native groups who live in this department.

OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY OF PUCALLPA

Yarinacocha Lake

7 km from Pucallpa, in the Yarinacochas district, about 15 minutes by car on a hard-top road. Visitors are impressed by its clear water and surrounding tropical vegetation. It is an ideal place for recreation and leisure. There are lodges and facilities for water sports like water-skiing, swimming, rowing and fishing.

San Francisco Native Community

14 km from Pto. Callao.
A 45 minute ride in a peke peke (*) from the port of Yarinacocha and 15 minutes by car from Pucallpa. A Shipibo-Conibo ethnic community, dedicated mainly to handicrafts.

Chullachaqui Ethnic-Botanical Garden

9 km from Puerto Callao, Yarinacochas district (about 30 minutes by car).
After reaching the Porvenir settlement, a 25 minute walk leads to the garden situated on the right bank of the Yarinacocha lake, containing a large variety of medicinal and/or folkloric plants native to the area. Another 30 minute walk through the jungle leads to the Ishishimi Lagoon, surrounded by an abundance of flora and fauna.

Nuevo Destino Native Community

16,2 km from Puerto Callao, a two-hour ride in a “peke peke” (*), or a 30 minute drive from Pucallpa. Shipibo community handicrafts can be obtained in this area, under the barter trade System.

Santa Clara Native Community

14,8 km From Pto Callao (left bank of Yarinacocha lake)
55 minute ride on a peke peke (*). Considered to be one of the most organized communities in the area. Farming, handicrafts and fishing are the main activities, the latter being the main source of food.

Lake Cashibococha

20 km from Pucallpa, 1 ½ h by car or a one-hour ride in a peke peke (*) on Lake Yarinacocha, through the San Francisco canal. This is an ideal place to see ornamental fish, orchids, and lizards on night-time walks through the Lacre Canal.

Masisea

Situated 60 km from Pucallpa and a 2 ½ h ride in a motor boat on the Ucayali river. This is a good spot for adventure tourism. The mixed race population are kind and hospitable. An ideal place to relax.

Lake Imiria

200 km Southwest of Pucallpa, a 3 ½ ride on a motor boat on the Ucayali river and the Tamaya river. Native communities live on the shores, there are floating islands and beautiful landscapes. An ideal spot for fishing, boat rides and jungle walks.

Lake Chauya

2,3 km From Pucallpa, a one-hour boat ride from Lake Imiria. This lake has a wealth of hydro-biological resources, with an abundance of vegetation and wildlife.

Aguaytía

161 km from the town of Pucallpa along the Federico Basadre Highway. At 287 masl. there is a beautiful, 800 m long hanging bridge across the Aguaytia river. Home of the Cashibo-Cacataibo native communities, this area has splendid higher jungle landscapes.

Boquerón del Padre Abad

22 km from Aguaytía, a 20 minute drive by car (485 masl.). Among the thick vegetation in this area, there are waterfalls that fall into the river Yurac. Prominent among them are the 20 m waterfall Velo de la novia (Bride’s Veil), which forms a spring water pool ideal for swimming, and the 100 m waterfall Ducha del Diablo (Devil’s Shower).

Atalaya

Situated 476 km south of Pucallpa (a 1 h flight). This province, where the Tambo and Urubamba rivers join up to form the Ucayali river, is home to the Campa and Ashaninka native communities. The Sapani and Canuja watercourse are among the attractions.
(*) Peke Peke: Canoes with a stationary engine, which have become the mass means of transport in the Peruvian Amazon. They take 30 people and although they are slow and noisy, they are economical. Ideal for short trips.

FOLKLORE

This area is characterized by its festive dances - sitarakuy, changanacuy, chimaychi and pandilla.

HANDICRAFTS

Local craftsmen work with wood, seeds, bird feathers and sugar-cane tops. They use red clay for the perfect geometric figures hand-painted on their pottery.

GASTRONOMY

Typical dishes:

• Patarashca (fish wrapped in banana leaves and roasted over a fire)
• Inchicapi (chicken soup with peanuts, coriander and cassava).
• Juane (mushy rice cooked with Peruvian saffron and chunks of chicken wrapped and cooked in bijao leaves)
• Picadillo de Paiche (Cured paiche fish, shredded with onions, tomatoes and hot chili peppers).
• Majás (baked Amazon rodent)

Traditional beverages:

• Masato (Boiled cassava, mashed and fermented with sweet potato or sugar)
• Aguajina, (Delicious refreshment).
• El Chapo, (Banana and sugar refreshment, served cold).

FESTIVALS

Ucayali Carnival Festival ( February)

Competitions of typical dances are held around the humisha (like a Maypole)
During this festival a carnival queen is elected and there are typical floats and parades on the streets, to the tune of traditional music.

San Juan Festival in Ucayali (June)

This starts with the San Juan Regional Fair, where farming, agro-industrial and handicraft products are on sale.
Miss San Juan is elected at the gala feast, parades take place on the streets and there are cultural and folklore shows, water sports and cooking competitions, among others.

SERVICES

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

Send us an e mail for more details.