The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is located in the Nauta District and encompasses the watersheds of the Pacaya, Samiria and Yanayacu-Pucate rivers. Nature features in the community area to which Pucate belongs include river channels, oxbow lakes and flooded forests.

River Landscapes and Routes

The Nauta Caño route follows a river channel separated from the Río Marañón. Its area includes 20 oxbow lakes, including Cocha de Pona. Along the Yanayacu Pucate route, flooded forests, the Río Yanayacu and the Quebrada Pucate are among the sights. The route is considered the most common access point to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and allows visitors to travel through the Río Yanayacu watershed.

When comparing the two routes, Nauta Caño focuses on the river channel and its oxbow lakes. Yanayacu Pucate combines the landscape features mentioned with a trip through the Río Yanayacu watershed. Cocha El Dorado is the source of the Yanayacu-Pucate watershed, adding to the picture of the river landscape.

Wildlife Watching and Activities

In the wider regional area, activities along the Nauta Caño route include birdwatching and observing wild plants and animals. The route is suitable for watching caimans at night. The Cocha El Dorado route is also suitable for birdwatching and caiman watching; there, travellers can also learn about activities carried out by the local population.

At Cocha El Dorado, members of the Manco Cápac community have been carrying out sustainable activities for more than two decades. These include managing and protecting paiches, arahuanas and taricayas, as well as sustainably gathering wild fruits. In the tourism setting around the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, nature tourism and cruise tourism, boating, kayaking, swimming and recreational fishing are also possible activities.

Visiting and Planning Your Time

To visit the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, you must use the services of tour operators authorised by SERNANP or local tourism groups. May to September is the recommended season for visiting the Reserve.

From Nauta to Yanayacu Control Post No. 1, the journey takes three hours by motorboat or one hour by speedboat. Both times refer to this route. A visit to the Cocha El Dorado route is recommended to last two to three days; this is a different planning consideration from the boat trip to the control post.

The Cocha El Dorado route in the wider regional area involves boat trips, accommodation and hikes. Together with the recommended duration of two to three days, this makes for a different timeframe from the journeys from Nauta mentioned above. When searching for a holiday rental in Pucate, the region's river landscapes and activities can help you decide on the nature focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: San Regis, Puerto Pardo, Tamshiyacu, Arica, Yurimaguas, Yarina, Sucusari, Paraíso

For the broader travel overview: Loreto.