The river and the town’s history

Shapajilla is a small village on the Marañón, a tributary of the Amazon. For the community, the river is the most important place for fishing; it is also significant to the ecosystem, family economy, and Kukama cosmology. The river landscape, everyday life, and cultural beliefs are all part of a shared story here. As you consider Shapajilla as a travel destination, you can ask yourself whether this connection between the river and the community matches your interests.

Shapajilla is counted among the Indigenous communities of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. The community has existed for more than a hundred years. Rain-related bank erosion made repeated relocations within the river basin necessary. The changing riverbanks are therefore also part of the town’s history: its location by the water is not merely a geographical reference, but part of a local history shaped over a long period.

Kukama culture and community projects

The Karuara project offers a cultural perspective on Shapajilla. Mari Luz, who lives in the community, organized art and storytelling workshops for the project. The book Karuara: People of the River uses Spanish-Kukama, English-Kukama, and French-Kukama texts. They draw on the individual and collective memories of elders, as well as drawings by children from several communities, including Shapajilla. The different language versions and forms of expression offer insight into the memories connected with the river and the communities.

Young people from Shapajilla also took part in a community film workshop. It built on the experiences, customs, and traditions of the elders; the project was presented in the community in May 2024. In 2014, a community member described water as important for bathing, food, and washing. This account adds everyday household uses to the river’s importance for fishing and the family economy.

Planning your journey and accommodation

A 2024 report gives an approximate travel time of four to twelve hours by boat from Nauta to Shapajilla. The range depends on whether the boat travels directly or stops along the way at several communities near the Marañón; river conditions can also affect the duration. Treat the travel time as an estimate and check the date and itinerary of the boat trip that suits you before you travel.

Some fishing trips from Shapajilla go to cochas, which are about two hours from the community. This estimate refers to a different journey: the four-to-twelve-hour duration is for travel from Nauta to Shapajilla, while the approximately two hours refers to trips from the community to the cochas. The travel times are therefore not interchangeable. If you are looking for a vacation rental in Shapajilla, check that the exact property location fits your plans and coordinate your booking dates with the confirmed boat service.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Arica, Tamshiyacu, Puerto Pardo, Mazán, Lagunas, Francisco De Orellana, San Jerónimo, Puritania.

For the overarching travel guide: Loreto.