TOURIST INFORMATION
UCAYALI |
| GENERAL DATA |
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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
Altitude: 154
m.a.s.l.
Average annual
temperature: 25º C (38º C maximum,
24º C minimum). Rainy season runs from November through
March. |
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| ACCESS ROUTES |
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By land:
The most advisable route is Lima-La Oroya-Cerro de Pasco-Huánuco-Tingo
María-Pucallpa (860 km), about 16 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. |
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| HISTORICAL OVERLOOK |
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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. |
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| ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF PUCALLPA |
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Plaza de Armas
- Main Square
Crossing of Jr. Tacna, Jr. Tarapacá, Jr. Sucre
and Jr. Independencia.
Modern architecture, 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. |
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| OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY |
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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.
Phone: (064) 80-0601
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).
Phone: (064) 59-6627.
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 m.a.s.l. 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
m.a.s.l.). 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. |
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| FOLKLORE |
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| This area is characterized by its festive
dances - sitarakuy, changanacuy, chimaychi and pandilla.
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| HANDICRAFTS |
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| 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. |
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| GASTRONOMY |
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Typical dishes:
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Patarashca (fish wrapped in banana
leaves and roasted over a fire). |
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La Sarapatera. |
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Inchicapi (chicken soup with peanuts, coriander
and cassava). |
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Juane (mushy rice cooked with Peruvian saffron
and chunks of chicken wrapped and cooked in bijao
leaves) |
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Picadillo de Paiche (Cured paiche fish, shredded
with onions, tomatoes and hot chili peppers). |
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Majás (baked Amazon rodent) |
Traditional
beverages: |
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Masato (Boiled cassava, mashed and fermented with
sweet potato or sugar) |
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Aguajina, (Delicious refreshment). |
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El Chapo, (Banana and sugar refreshment, served
cold). |
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| FESTIVITIES |
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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.
(*) 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. |
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| SERVICES |
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Airport
David Armando Abensur Rengifo International Airport
Federico Basadre Highway, km 5,5.
Phone: (064) 57-5457.
Land Transport
Although there are no bus terminals, most transport
companies line up on blocks 8 and 9 of Jr. 7 de Junio,
blocks 6 and 7 of Jr. Raymondi and block 6 of Jr. Tacna.
Health Centers
Pucallpa.
Regional Hospital
Jr. Agustín Cauper, block. 4.
Phone: (064) 57-5211.
24 hour service
Police Stations
Pucallpa National Police Force
Jr. Independencia cdra. 3.
Phone: (064) 57-5211, extension: 105.
Yarinacochas National Police Force
Plaza de Armas – Main Square
Handicrafts Markets
Handicraft shops are located in:
Jr. Mariscal Cáceres, block 5
Jr. Ucayali, block 7.
Jr. 7 de Junio, blocks. 1 and 10.
Post Office
Av. San Martín 418, Pucallpa.
Phone : (064) 57-1382.
Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00-20:00, Sunday 8:00-14:00. |
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