San Martín de Pangoa

San Martín de Pangoa brings together notable places in the town with natural and cultural attractions in the surrounding area. At its heart is Plaza Mayor, the town’s main civic and social gathering place. Whether you are interested in local traditions, architecture or landscapes, you’ll find a range of points of interest here—from the annual Fiesta Patronal to waterfalls and rock art.

Plaza Mayor and Fiesta Patronal

Plaza Mayor covers 6,400 m² and has a perimeter of 320 metres. The square features an 18-metre-high circular lookout tower clad in wood. It is topped by a feather sculpture inspired by the headdresses of Indigenous peoples. The central square is thus notable both as a public space and for its striking, distinctive structure.

An important date in the annual calendar is the Fiesta Patronal de San Martín de Pangoa. It takes place every year from 1 to 7 May, with the main day on 6 May. The festival has been celebrated since 1975. Its programme includes solemn Masses and processions, as well as civic marches and street parades featuring traditional clothing and brass bands. During the Fiesta, food and agro-industrial markets are also held in Plaza Mayor. If you’re planning your trip around this festival, early May offers a specific time to keep in mind.

The church and park as distinctive features of the town

The Iglesia de San Martín de Pangoa features a colonial style with two side bell towers. Four cornices culminate in a dome. Its rectangular layout is 20 metres wide and 37 metres deep; four large square stained-glass windows are located at the rear. The main altar features a cedarwood sculpture depicting Christ on the cross, placing one hand on the head of Saint Martin de Porres. The architecture, windows and sculpture offer different ways to appreciate the town’s ecclesiastical art and design.

Another notable site is the Parque Ecológico de San Martín de Pangoa, the town’s main park. It covers 8,312 m² and has a perimeter of 364 metres. Its two pools have different designs: one depicts a giant mate gourd, from which water flows onto a plate also made from mate. The other features three fountains arranged in a cloverleaf shape. These motifs give the park its distinctive, visual character.

Waterfall, salt mine and rock art

Nearby, the Catarata Valle Sagrado is located in the Comunidad Nativa Alto Cubantia. The waterfall is about 50 metres high and lies in a humid forest landscape. It is about a 45-minute drive from the main square of the Pangoa District. This makes it possible to include a natural attraction, with a specific approximate driving time, in your travel plans.

The Mina de Sal de Sonomoro also brings together natural and cultural themes. It has signposted entrances, rest areas and viewpoints, as well as an educational trail. The trail covers the history of salt use, Indigenous cosmology and traditional salt-evaporation methods. The Petroglifos de Oriwari are located in the Indigenous community of San Jerónimo in the Pangoa District. The rock carvings are etched into a rounded, irregularly shaped red sandstone boulder measuring about 4.20 metres long, 2.20 metres wide and 1.60 metres high. Abstract and geometric figures can be seen on its front face, regarded as a remarkable example of rock art in Satipo Province.

For those with other nature interests, the rock face of Catarata La Ninfa is also nearby. Its calcareous deposits make it suitable for adventure activities such as rappelling. When choosing your holiday apartment, consider whether you want to focus your trip mainly on the town’s attractions or on destinations in the surrounding area.

Discover more places

More places to discover: San Ramón, Jauja, Pichanaki, Satipo, Monterrico, Casacancha.

See the main travel overview: Junín.