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In Peru, a lot of natural and historical attractions, which will not be enough for a couple of months. People planning a trip to Peru may find it difficult to create an educational tourist route on their own.

We suggest visiting the city of Tarapoto, which is also known as “The City of Palms”. Here are 7 reasons to embark on your journey:

1. Pleasant tropical climate.
The city of Tarapoto is surrounded by mountains with rugged vegetation, where the national reserve “Cordillera Escalera” is located. The difference in altitude in the city and its surroundings is 300 to 1300 meters above sea level.

Tarapoto has a humid Equatorial climate that is perfectly tolerated. The average annual temperature varies between 22°C to 32°C, the rains here are not prolonged and fall mainly between December and April.

2. Diversity of flora and fauna.
A large conservation area stretches around Tarapoto, protecting the Amazon rainforest from the destructive actions of man. Here you can find unique species of trees and animals. We have written about Ayaymama, Shansho, Isula in our previous news. Some animals are on the verge of extinction, but at the same time their populations are protected by virgin forests.

3. Opportunity to meet local ethnic groups.
Travel agencies in Tarapoto offer excursions that introduce the lifestyle and culture of Peru’s indigenous peoples.

The “New Forest” Tourism Program is a day trip to the Alto Mayo Valley – Moyobamba, which is a Cultural and Natural Heritage. In addition, it is one of the most ecological and vibrant places in Peru. It is home to the Shampuyaku indigenous community.

Members of the community show tourists’ plantations with medicinal and shamanic plants, their lifestyle, food using the bonfire (fish from the river, seasonal fruits and vegetables). Finally, they perform local dances and sell souvenirs.

4. Shamanic traditions.
The region is known for its shamans. Every year, a large number of groups come to Tarapoto to perform spiritual practices (retreats) with local shamans. Among them are world-renowned doctors, such as Jorge Gonzalez who wrote the book “Soy Ayahuasca”. Shamanic markets can be visited in Tarapoto, there are places of power! In the “Museum of Ayahuasca”, you will be told many interesting things about the tradition of healers in South America.

5. About Waterfalls.
Within walking distance of the city, there are enough picturesque places with waterfalls. Some are famous and accessible to tourists, such as the “Ahuashiyacu” falls. But there are many waterfalls, the way to which is quite an adventure can take several hours of trekking through the jungle. One of these waterfalls is the “Wedding Veil”. You are unlikely to meet other tourists here.

6. Exotic cuisine and Amazonian tinctures.
Another advantage in favor of visiting Tarapoto is the regional cuisine with its classic dishes such as: Patarashca – river fish, Cecina – pork ham, juane – a combination of rice, chicken, eggs and olives wrapped in a bijao leaf. In addition, here you can try fried ants, caterpillars on skewers, turtle soup and many other unusual dishes. In Tarapoto, a large selection of tinctures in local roots and fruits: “Cuchuwashi”, “7 roots”, “Break Underpants”. According to local residents, tinctures have healing properties and can cure almost all diseases, including infertility.

7. Ecological species.
In the surroundings of Tarapoto there are hotels located on the picturesque slopes of the mountains. Here guests have incredible panoramas, in addition to enjoying the depth of space and a fusion with nature. Precisely, we can offer you all that welcome in our Ecolodge “Cordillera Escalera”.

What kind of wonders you will not find in the jungle! Here you will find pink dolphins and glowing trees, and what kind of legends the local old-timers tell you, you will believe in miracles completely. But behind all these incredible stories and legends are really wonderful manifestations of Mother Nature. Many of these stories are quite sad, but instructive, and one of them is about a mysterious bird that the locals of the Amazon call Ayaymama.

The name of this bird was not chosen by chance. Ayaymama is the very sound that this bird reproduces, deep at night in the deep jungle. This call is very similar to the very long and sad cry of a child calling for his mother. Translated from the local dialect, the phrase «ayaymama» translates as: «Mom, why did you leave us.» And if you add to this that this bird is nocturnal, then you can imagine how disturbing this sad singing sounds at night!

There are several versions of the legend about this bird. The most common of them tells about an Amazonian settlement, to which an unknown epidemic came, from which its inhabitants began to die. One young mother, who realized that she was infected, decided to save her two children. To do this, she took them far into the jungle, where she found a small lake surrounded by fruit trees where she could wait out the epidemic. She left her family there, and returned to the village herself. The children soon began to miss their mother and tried to find their way home, but to no avail. They began to cry from longing for their mother. Then the spirit of the forest came to their aid and turned them into birds. The children soared into the air and began to search for their village, and when they found it, they saw that everyone in their village, including their mother, had died. As the legend says, these children still fly at night and cry sadly — aaaayai-maaaaaama, aaaaaaaayai-maaaaaaaama.

In fact, the ayaimama is a bird of Nyctibius Leucopterus, from the family of Nyctibiidae. This species of nocturnal inhabitants is common in Central and South America. This bird has an excellent disguise, because in its appearance and color it resembles an old withered tree, which it uses perfectly, sitting on old dry trees and merging with them. Add to this two huge eyes and an incredibly large mouth, which, when open, divides the bird’s head in half, and you will understand that there are grotesques in nature! These birds feed on insects and are generally harmless enough. Ayaymamas should settle as far away from large settlements as possible, away from the jungle.

It is worth noting that two ayaymamas live on the territory of our ecolodge «Cordillera Escalera». This means that our hotel is located in a very peaceful place, in the middle of the Amazon jungle, where animals and birds feel comfortable and calm. Ayayama, this is one of the many incredible creatures that you can see and hear while staying at our hotel. Therefore, if you love nature and its wonderful manifestations, come to us and you will not regret it!

Amazing things happen in nature and watching them, you can get a lot of positive emotions consisting of positive atoms and molecules of admiration. An unusual story happened in our Ecologe «Cordillera Escalera», which we intend to share. New original pets have settled on the territory of the center and they are driven by a sense of affection or even love. And it all happened like this…

Our neighbor, the owner of the Tarapoto «Orchid Garden», Walter Hildebrant, bought a couple of years ago several guinea fowls (Latin Numida meleagris) or, as they say in Peru, Guinea hens. These birds bred, and we did not have time to notice how a couple of dozen troublesome creatures were already running around the territory. After a while, everyone realized that they were free birds and did not see obstacles in front of them. Freedom was so lacking that the birds began to fly over the fence into the territory of the Ecologe. But everything would be fine, until there was an acquaintance with a couple of our young peacocks!

The visits became more frequent and longer, and then the staff noticed at all: a couple of Guinea chickens finally fell in love and decided to stay! In the evenings, when the peacocks were locked in the pen, guinea fowls came to the door and spent the night nearby. After two months of such communication and futile attempts to escort the guests out, one thing became clear, the feelings are so strong that the Guinean will not return home. Don Walter had nothing left to do but take a small compensation and accept the fact that guinea fowls now live in Ecologe.

And what do we know about these colorful birds? It turns out that they come from Africa, to be more precise, from the areas south of the Sahara Desert. Studies have shown that the domestication of guinea fowl occurred more than 5,000 years ago! Due to their ability to adapt to various climatic conditions and unpretentiousness, today birds have taken root in Europe, South and North America and the Caribbean. In different parts of the globe, they are known by the names — koketa, kokena, Lebanese chicken, gayineta.

Guinea fowls are excellent guards, or as they say in Peru, «natural sirens». As soon as the birds see an unfamiliar person or a dangerous predator, the whole flock begins to scream shrilly, which more than once helped the guards to find out about the appearance of unwanted guests on the territory. In addition, they are very brave birds and in many cases, seeing a stranger, rush to defend the territory. They say that they are not afraid of snakes and this helps to clean the territory from reptiles scaly.

Guineas fowls are very interesting, friendly birds and they are often kept as pets. They liked the Ecologe «Cordillera Escalera», and we gladly accepted them. Come visit us and get acquainted with all the variety of Amazonian flora and fauna, as well as the species that have taken root here.

We are in a hurry to share the wonderful news – 2022 turned out to be an anniversary year for our city of palm trees and coconuts. Tarapoto will celebrate its 240th birthday! In connection with this event, August is filled with a wide variety of cultural, sporting and gastronomic events, which of course do not pass by our Ecolodge “Cordillera Escalera”. They celebrate a significant date all week, but official celebrations are scheduled for August 20.

240 years – the anniversary of the city of palm trees

The history of the founding of Tarapoto as a city began on August 20, back in 1782. The Spanish bishop Don Baltasar Jaime Martinez Compagnon and Bufanda gathered the tribes living in the area of Lake Suciche and founded a city called “Santa Cruz de los Motilones de Tarapoto” with his church parish in this place. This place in the era of the Spanish conquest was of crucial importance as a strategic point for research, trade and logistics with other parts of the Peruvian Amazon, such as Chachapoyas, Loreto and Ucayali. Therefore, from a small settlement, Tarapoto eventually turned into a regional center.

The city is famous for its mild climate, fertile land, unforgettable landscapes and the hospitality of local residents. This has helped Tarapoto become a priority tourist destination in Peru. Waterfalls hidden in the jungle, mountain lakes and rivers, observation decks, trekking routes and rafting are only part of the entertainment offered by local travel agencies. Travelers are captivated by unforgettable exotic cuisine and Amazonian liqueurs.

Our Ecolodge “Cordillera Escalera” is actively involved in the development of Amazonian culture and tourism in Tarapoto. Projects such as “Amazon Dinner”, “Ayahuasca Museum” and “Chakruna Park” are being implemented on the territory of the hotel. Each project is unique and does not leave tourists indifferent, and also helps to learn amazing facts about our selva.

We invite nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts to visit us to join the festive events dedicated to the 240th anniversary!

Peru is one of the most mysterious places on Earth. People have lived here since ancient times, surrounded by unique landscapes and real wonders of nature. Pacific Ocean, mountains, selva, rivers and lakes, rare flora and fauna, blend of native cultures with European heritage, incredible myths and beliefs, extraordinary traditions and rituals – this vibrant cocktail makes Peru a magnet for tourists.

Especially for you we have collected the top 30 of the most interesting facts about this magical country:

Peru is one of the largest countries in South America, with an area of almost 1,300,000 square kilometers. Of the neighboring countries, only Brazil and Argentina are larger than Peru.
Scientists believe that the first people settled in Peru 15 thousand years ago were hunters who lived in caves.
The Incas established their empire in Peru in the early 12th century. For three centuries, until the beginning of the Spanish conquests, it was one of the largest states on the planet.
Peru hosts one of the new wonders of the world, Machu Picchu, the mountain city of the Inca. It is located on one of the ranges of the Andes. About 200 stone structures rise above the terraces. In 1532 all residents left the city. Archaeologists still do not know how and why it happened.

There are people in Peru who live on floating islands of grass. The Uro tribe on Lake Titicaca makes manmade islands of reeds and builds huts of straw on them.
Peruvians also love tree houses: in the jungle, Native people have built such huts in crowns since time immemorial to escape floods, attacks of predators or warriors of neighboring tribes. Today the country has whole tourist villages of houses built above the ground.
Peru has three official languages: Spanish, the language of the conquerors, and Quechua and Aymara, the dialects of the Indigenous tribes.
The vast majority of Peruvians are Catholics, but Peru ranks second in the world in number of shamans per capita. Shamans use in their prayers and practices the energy of Pachamama, Mother Earth. This goddess was honored here even before the Incas.

One of the highest sand dunes in the world is in Peru. Serro Blanco, also called Dune Grande is a sandy mountain with a height of 1176 m, the entire Nazca Valley (and even the Pacific coast on a clear day) is visible from its crest.
The famous geoglyphs were discovered in the Nazca Valley: these are thirty huge drawings depicting animals and plants. They can only be seen from a bird’s-eye view.
There are more than 3,000 varieties of potatoes in Peru!!! Locals believe that it was their country that potatoes spread around the world from. Yellow, red, white and purple tubers of various shapes can be seen at the markets’ stalls. The most bizarre specimens are sent to the Potato museum (or rather, the giant park, where potatoes of all kinds grow and a seed bank is located).

The largest flying bird on Earth, Andean condor, lives in Peru. Its wingspan is more than three meters.
Lake Titicaca, one of the natural wonders of the planet, is located in Peru (and also partly in Bolivia). It is the highest navigable lake in the world and the largest freshwater reserve in South America. The Aymara and Quechua tribes live around the lake and on the islands.
Peruvian surfing tradition might be as old as 2000 years: along the coast, archaeologists find cave paintings that indirectly confirm this. Modern surfing in Peru is also thriving: it is believed that the cities of Chicama and Mancora have the world’s longest left-side waves!

People in Peru still extract salt in the oldest way, which uses Inca pools on mountain terraces; the water evaporates from the brine under the sun.
The Peruvian Incas have left behind them many mysteries. One of them is the Quipus (knot letter). In ancient times, it was used to transmit messages and write numbers.
Vinikuna are the striking seven-colored mountains of Peru. Red sandstone in them acquired bright colors of various mineral oxides under the influence of the sun, wind and groundwater.

The Amazon, the longest river in the world, originates in Peru, where the Maragnon and Ucayali rivers merge. It flows through the highlands and lowlands with a unique ecosystem.
In the Peruvian Andes grows Puya raymondii, the plant with the largest inflorescences in the world. They reach 10 meters in height!
Kolka and Kotauasi Canyons, which are considered to be the deepest on the planet, are located in Peru. In the Kolka gorge the deepest point marks 4160 m, the depth of the Kotauasi Canyon is 3354 m.
One of the symbols of the Peruvian Amazon is the pink dolphin. These unique mammals live alone or in pairs, feed on fish and are highly respected by local tribes. Catching them is against the tradition, therefore, their population is quite numerous.
In Peru grows an amazing fruit, a berry called kamu-kamu. Kamu-kamu berries have become a popular superfood due to the high vitamin C content: a kilogram of berries has 50 times more of it than a kilogram of oranges.
The most famous dish of Peruvian cuisine is ceviche: fish marinated in citrus juice with spices. It is cooked worldwide in hundreds of variations. At home it has a dedicated holiday (June 28) and a monument in the capital, Lima.

Yellow is considered the color of good luck in Peru. On New Year’s Eve it is customary to dress in yellow and give your loved ones yellow underwear along with the wishes of well-being!
San Marcos University of Lima is the oldest one in the Americas, it was founded in 1551.
Puente de Piedra, also located in Lima, is the extraordinary «egg bridge». The stone construction of 1610 is still in excellent condition – they say that the extra sturdy cement was mixed with the whites of 10,000 eggs. It is believed that the eggs of seabirds were used.
The charango musical instrument looks like a normal guitar, but the back deck is made of armadillo shell! It also has ten double strings. Charango is often played by street musicians in Lima.
In Peru, there is a festival of Brilliant Snow, in Quechua it is called Q’oyur Riti. It coincides with the Catholic Pentecost and is associated with the worship of mountains in the Inca culture. On this day, Native people climb Mount Ausangate, take pieces of ice from its top and bring them to the temple at the mountain foot, so that the year is fertile and people are healthy.
Perhaps you did not know that, but there are penguins in Peru! You can see them on the coast, and can surely meet in the marine reserve in Paracas.
Peruvian fishermen were the first to notice the warming of the Pacific Ocean: this phenomenon was called «El Niño», which means «little boy» in Spanish. El Niño does not come every year, but when it does, it’s always around Christmas. It harms the catches: there is less plankton, and fish starve. Seabirds leave their feeding ranges, ecosystems change, and with El Niño come heavy rains and wet winds that cause flooding and desolation. The global influence and origin of El Niño is not yet fully understood by climatologists.

We have already written that the rainy season in the Amazon is coming to an end… but, apparently, that was too soon. From the early morning of April 29 to the morning of April 30, nature brought down a record amount of precipitation on Tarapoto. A powerful downpour was accompanied by thunder and lightning, and wind gusts reached 35 m/s.

Hundreds of videos and photos with views of the flooded main square and the stormy rivers that flooded the streets have spread all over the Internet. Most public and private institutions were forced to close, and schools canceled classes. Electricity has gone out in some areas of the city. Many shops and houses were heavily flooded, several areas suffered landslides, and motorcycles on the streets were literally washed away. In our Ecolodge Cordillera Escalera, fortunately, all buildings and paths are perfectly adapted to such cataclysms, and therefore did not suffer in any way.

Over the past few decades, the weather in Tarapoto broke its own records for the amount of precipitation several times. For example, in the very beginning of 2020, on January 23, the precipitation level reached 152.5 mm/day. At that time, the elements brought many troubles: houses were destroyed, and roads were washed away by landslides.

At the same time, it turns out that Tarapoto is not the rainiest city in Peru! According to the SENAMHI meteorological service, which has been researching natural phenomena in the country for more than 53 years, the most rain falls in the city of Kinsemil (Esp. “fifteen thousand”). The average annual figure in the period from 1961 to 1980 was 7,353.9 mm. The city, located in the Cusco region, even owes its name to precipitation. They say that in the 50s there was a time when the rains poured so heavily that the annual precipitation level reached 15,100 mm – and since then this name has been fixed for the city. If we talk about the rainiest city in the world, then the generally recognized leader is the Indian city of Cherapunji. Judging by the precipitation indicators, there are no sunny days in this city at all.

Thankfully, our Ecolodge Cordillera Escalera is not in India, but in Peru – and we have enough sun! Even in the rainy season, it pleases us and our guests.

During one week in our Ecolodge “Cordillera Escalera”, you will get acquainted with the oldest bearers of the Amazonian culture, go through 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies and look behind the mysterious curtain of your consciousness. Nothing is closer to nature than living far away from civilization and a diet based on plants by teachers.

7 reasons to visit Tarapoto

Ayaymamá

«Guinea migrants»

240 years – the anniversary of the city of palm trees

30 amazing facts about Peru

The rainiest day of the year

Weekly retreat “Liana spirit”

Weekly retreat “Liana spirit”

Weekly retreat “Liana spirit”

Weekly retreat “Liana spirit”

7 reasons to visit Tarapoto

Ayaymamá

«Guinea migrants»

240 years – the anniversary of the city of palm trees

30 amazing facts about Peru

The rainiest day of the year

Weekly retreat “Liana spirit”

Weekly retreat “Liana spirit”

Weekly retreat “Liana spirit”

Weekly retreat “Liana spirit”

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