Photo: Tioyacu without the crowds
Story of the week
Tioyacu without the crowds
The Alto Mayo's best-loved turquoise spring feels completely different when you get there first. When to go, how to get there from Rioja and what to pack.
Also on the front page
Photo: Moyobamba coffee, from farm to cup
Cafés & brunch
Moyobamba coffee, from farm to cup
Photo: Toquilla straw: Rioja's woven tradition
Culture & crafts
Toquilla straw: Rioja's woven tradition
Stories and guides
Latest from the Alto Mayo
Photo: How to enjoy Rioja Carnival
Fiestas
How to enjoy Rioja Carnival
Dates, where to watch it and where to stay if you book ahead.
RiojaChecked: [date]
Photo: San Mateo hot springs
Nature
San Mateo hot springs
The best time to go, what entry costs and how to get back after dark.
MoyobambaChecked: [date]
Photo: Moyobamba on foot: viewpoints and streets
Culture & crafts
Moyobamba on foot: viewpoints and streets
A half-day walk around a city founded in 1540, with stops to eat along the way.
MoyobambaChecked: [date]
Photo: Staying in Rioja for less than you think
Where to stay
Staying in Rioja for less than you think
Clean, central guesthouses, checked one by one.
RiojaChecked: [date]
Photo: Markets for Amazonian fruit
Food
Markets for Amazonian fruit
Which fruit to look for in each season and what time to arrive.
MoyobambaChecked: [date]
Photo: Specialty coffee and brunch in Moyobamba
Cafés & brunch
Specialty coffee and brunch in Moyobamba
The coffee bars serving beans from valley farms, and what to order at each.
MoyobambaChecked: [date]
Photo: The Palestina Cave
Nature
The Palestina Cave
How to get there from Nueva Cajamarca, what shoes to wear and how long the visit takes.
Nueva CajamarcaChecked: [date]
Photo: Lodges between forest and river
Where to stay
Lodges between forest and river
Where to stay surrounded by nature, sorted by budget.
Moyobamba · RiojaChecked: [date]
Photo: Orchids without leaving Moyobamba
Nature
Orchids without leaving Moyobamba
The gardens you can walk to from the main square, with opening times and prices.
MoyobambaChecked: [date]
Photo: Five juanes you have to try
Food
Five juanes you have to try
From the bijao leaf to the table: where to order it and which days it is made.
Rioja · SoritorChecked: [date]
Photo: Where to have breakfast before Tioyacu
Cafés & brunch
Where to have breakfast before Tioyacu
Cafés in Rioja that open early, and what a full breakfast costs.
RiojaChecked: [date]
Photo: The seven river routes of the Alto Mayo
Nature
The seven river routes of the Alto Mayo
Which route to choose for the time you have, who to go with and when to see the most birds.
Moyobamba · RiojaChecked: [date]
No stories with this filter yet. Check the calendar or try another section.
Explore by town
One road, three stops
The Alto Mayo runs along the Fernando Belaúnde Terry highway. Tap a town to see what is there and filter the stories.
- From ChachapoyasBy road, via Pedro Ruiz
- Towards TarapotoNearest airport
Route sketch, not to scale. Approximate times, to be confirmed.
Pick a town
Three towns, one valley
Moyobamba, Rioja and Nueva Cajamarca are less than an hour apart. You can stay in one and visit the others as day trips.
- 12 stories
- 3 itineraries
- Festival calendar
Plan
Plan your trip in a minute
Choose how many days you have and save the plan to My trip, along with the places you liked.
1 day, around the valley
- MorningTioyacu before the crowdsRioja
- MiddayA perfect juaneRioja
- AfternoonOrchids without leaving MoyobambaMoyobamba
- EveningSpecialty coffee and something sweetMoyobamba
A sample plan built from our guides. Adjust the timings to your pace.
Day 1, Rioja and Nueva Cajamarca
- MorningThe Palestina CaveNueva Cajamarca
- MiddayTioyacu and lunch nearbyRioja
- AfternoonWatch toquilla straw being wovenRioja
Day 2, Moyobamba
- MorningTingana by canoeMoyobamba
- AfternoonMoyobamba on foot: viewpoints and streetsMoyobamba
- EveningSan Mateo hot springsMoyobamba
A sample plan built from our guides. Adjust the timings to your pace.
Day 1, Rioja
- MorningBreakfast before TioyacuRioja
- AfternoonToquilla straw and juaneRioja
Day 2, River and forest
- MorningOne of the seven river routesMoyobamba · Rioja
- EveningA night in a lodgeAlto Mayo
Day 3, Moyobamba
- MorningMarkets and Amazonian fruitMoyobamba
- AfternoonOrchids and hot springsMoyobamba
A sample plan built from our guides. Adjust the timings to your pace.
Getting there
Fly to Tarapoto, then about 2 hours by road to Moyobamba. Overland, from Chiclayo or Chachapoyas, you enter through Nueva Cajamarca.
When to go
It rains less between [May and October]. Orchids bloom in October; Rioja Carnival is in February.
To be confirmedGetting around
Shared cars and minibuses run often between towns. Within each town, take a mototaxi and agree the fare before you get in.
What to pack
Insect repellent, a rain poncho, quick-dry clothes and sandals that can get wet.
Practical details checked: [date]. If something has changed, let us know on WhatsApp.
Agenda
What's on this year
FEB[day]
Rioja Carnival
Rioja · date to be confirmed
JUN[day]
San Juan (St John's Day)
Across the Alto Mayo · date to be confirmed
OCT[day]
Orchid Festival
Moyobamba · date to be confirmed