Longuita District: Lagoons, Highland Nature and Legends

Longuita District combines highland nature with local traditions and traditional foods. In the Valle del Alto Utcubamba, Lónguita was included among the localities with ecotourism and archaeological potential as part of a regional initiative announced in March 2023. Laguna Changalí gives this nature theme a concrete focus, while patron saint festivals, legends, and foods offer a cultural perspective on Longuita. If you are looking for a vacation rental as a base for your trip, these different themes can help you decide in advance what you would like to focus on.

Laguna Changalí and Highland Nature

Laguna Changalí is in Longuita District, in Luya Province and the Department of Amazonas. It is listed as a priority tourism resource within the ZDT Alto Amazonas. At 3,523 m, it lies between the mountain of the same name and Cerro San Antonio. The lagoon is classified as a natural site and as a body of water of the lagoon subtype; its ecosystem is characteristic of the Suni or Jalca natural region.

The surrounding landscape also has striking features: the area around Laguna Changalí is covered with aquatic plants, and its clear water appears black from a distance. The lagoon is recorded as having a temperature of 13 °C. The animals listed there include trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the Baird's sandpiper (Calidris bairdii). Photography and filming are listed as activities at the lagoon. The description thus focuses both on the visible landscape and on the natural life of this highland body of water.

The district is also home to the 1,140.5429-hectare “Huiquilla” Private Conservation Area. Its conservation objectives include protecting numerous plant and animal species, including endemic species, pure water resources, and archaeological remains within the area. Thus, alongside the specific focus on the lagoon, there is another connection to nature: Huiquilla places emphasis on protecting species, water, and archaeological remains.

Walking Route, Patron Saint Festivals, and Local Traditions

An older tourist route description lists a 12 km, three-hour walking route from Longuita to Laguna Changalí. If you plan to take this route, check the details locally before setting out. The route information is a specific planning reference for a nature-focused trip; it can be compared with Longuita’s cultural occasions, which are more closely tied to traditions and calendar dates.

The patron saint festivals in honor of San Miguel and San Francisco are associated with the period from October 4 to 10. If you would like to plan your trip around these festivals, confirm the dates for your travel year in advance. This makes the traditional time period a useful starting point without implying that it is a confirmed current events schedule.

Stories also give the lagoons a cultural connection. According to local tradition, Laguna Changalí takes its name from José Changali, who is said to have been enchanted in its waters. Laguna de Cucha Cuella is also in Longuita District; another local legend associates its waters with María Cuella, who is said to have been enchanted there. These stories offer a different perspective from elevation figures and landscape descriptions: they tell of the mythical associations linked to the lagoons.

Traditional Foods and Choosing Accommodation

Traditional foods associated with Longuita include Purtumote, Mote, Locro, Cuy con papas, and Picante de chocho. This culinary side complements the themes of nature and legends with its own perspective on the area. When planning your trip, you can weigh up different priorities: the lagoon landscape and its specified walking route, the patron saint festivals associated with a particular time of year, or the traditional foods. If you are looking for accommodation in Longuita District, these interests can help guide your choice of location.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Florida District, Nuevo Tingo, San Jerónimo District, Lamud District, Bagua Grande.

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