Ucayali

Ucayali, located in the heart of the Peruvian jungle, is a fascinating destination that combines lush nature, ancient culture, and adventure. This Amazonian department has a population of approximately half a million inhabitants and is home to various native communities such as the Shipibos, Shetebos, and Conibos, with whom you can share authentic experiences, learn about their traditions, art, and ancestral way of life.

If you love adventure and direct contact with nature, Ucayali is the perfect place for you. The department has a wide variety of ecological tourist attractions, ideal for ecotourism and experiential tourism.

One of its main attractions is the Yarinacocha Lagoon, a beautiful body of water that is home to a traditional fishing port. Boats depart from here to connect with various native communities settled along the lagoon. Yarinacocha is also an ideal place for recreational and sporting activities such as fishing, water skiing, rowing, swimming, and observing pink freshwater dolphins, one of the most emblematic species of the Amazon.

Another must-see destination is Aguaytía, home to the two longest suspension bridges in the country. From here, you can enjoy spectacular views of the river and the traditional boats that ply its waters, the starting point for trips to various Amazonian villages and communities, offering an unforgettable visual and cultural experience.

Ucayali invites you to discover the Amazon in its purest form, enjoy unique experiences, and connect with nature and the ancestral culture of the Peruvian jungle.

Good to know

Location

It is located in the central and eastern part of the Peruvian territory, region of the Amazon jungle and is part of the lowland jungle.
Altitude

154 meters above sea level.
Climate

The climate of the region is warm, humid and with concentrated rainfall almost all year round.
Seasons

Hot weather (early may to early september), warm (october), cool (february 2 to april 5), and rainy (december to march).
Indispensable to bring

comfortable sneakers or trekking shoes, raincoats, warm clothes for cold nights, sun block, insect repellent, cash, necessary medicines.
Distance to other cities

Pucallpa - Lima: 724.6 km.
Fun fact

Ucayali is the only region that has a corridor with waterfalls, a route where you will see two of the most popular waterfalls in this region: El Velo de la Novia and La Ducha del Diablo.

Main tourist attractions

Yarinacocha Lagoon

It is a beautiful lagoon in which there is a coastal port from which you can take a boat to go to some of the various native communities that are linked by the lagoon. Yarinacocha is also an excellent place to practice sports such as fishing, water skiing, rowing, diving or watching the freshwater porpoises that are found in it.

Boquerón del Padre Abad

Located in the Cordillera Azul, 183 km from the city of Pucallpa. Its origin goes back to a geological fracture, which forms a narrow corridor of high rocky walls, more than 100 meters, which has been eroded by the Yurac or Yuracyacu river. Along this corridor you can observe more than a hundred waterfalls such as the Velo de la Novia and the Ducha del Diablo, which contrast notably with orchids and ferns of various sizes that hang from above. It is possible to observe cave paintings in some rocks. El Boquerón was discovered in 1757 by Father Francisco Alonso de Abad, and facilitated the construction of the Federico Basadre highway.

Cordillera Azul National Park

This place was created to preserve the high jungle of the country and its different habitats. It is a paradise in which to know a great variety of Peruvian flora and fauna, among the birds are the most diverse group which is the case of macaws and parrots (23 species), where the harpy eagle and the monkey eagle stand out. There is also an abundance of guans.

Among the mammals, primates and felines stand out, as well as the Andean bear, the river otter, the river wolf, the tapir or sachavaca, the peccary, the huangana, the red deer and large rodents such as the majaz and the ronsoco.

In terms of flora, about 1,600 plant species have been recorded. However, it is estimated that there are between 4,000 and 6,000 species in the PNCAZ. The vegetation is typically montane forest, although it also includes drier sectors to the west and Amazonian plain vegetation, characterized by large trees to the east.

Regalías Falls

The Regalías is one of the most beautiful and charming waterfalls that you can find in this region. They are waterfalls that reach 5 meters high and in addition to various waterfalls, here you can jump from the top of the waterfall to the pools below.