Chontabamba: Culture, Nature and Unique Experiences

Chontabamba brings together wooden architecture, Yanesha iconography and experiences in the landscape. The Obelisk and the Iglesia de San Pedro are located at the Plaza Principal; in the district, experiences range from a short house tour to a nature walk lasting several hours. This lets you choose the focus of your trip based on the time you have and the topics that matter to you. Locations also vary: some sights are at the Plaza, while others are identified at the community or district level.

Guided Experiences and Special Places

At Casa al Revés, a tour of the house’s interior takes about 13 minutes. Staff help visitors take photos and videos. Guided environmental interpretation walks are offered in the Bosque de Churumazú private nature reserve; they last about three and a half hours. The time commitments therefore differ considerably: the house tour is short, while the walk is a several-hour undertaking. Check in advance whether each tour is available on your travel dates.

Tunqui Cueva is in the district of Chontabamba, about five kilometres from Oxapampa. The damp limestone cave features numerous stalactites and a formation known as La Bruja. Those interested in cave formations will find a different focus here than on the guided activities in the house and forest.

Another cultural highlight is Parque Temático El Wakon: tours explore 32 Yanesha iconographies. Explanations address their emotional and cultural symbolism; traditional dances are also part of the offering. In the community, visitors can observe the processing of sugarcane derivatives. The process includes grinding in a hydraulically powered trapiche and subsequent distillation.

In the district of Chontabamba, Museo Vintage Años Dorados displays collections from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The museum is a wooden house in the typical Tyrolean style. While Parque Temático El Wakon focuses on Yanesha iconographies and their symbolism, the museum takes visitors through collections spanning several decades.

The Plaza, Architecture and Landscape

An obelisk topped with a waterfall and an image of Christ stands in the centre of the Plaza Principal de Chontabamba. The Iglesia de San Pedro de Chontabamba is located right by the Plaza. Built of wood in 1988, it preserves the region’s architectural style. Religious or patron-saint activities are held at the church. The Plaza is within the Oxapampa-Asháninka-Yánesha Biosphere Reserve, recognised by UNESCO in June 2010.

The 23-hectare Fundo Margarita has been in operation since 1996 and includes a humid forest with native trees and orchids. Mirador La Florida in the district of Chontabamba offers views of the Chontabamba Valley, the landscape and the town of Oxapampa. At the same time, access and visitor facilities could be improved. The route is stated to be 400 metres long and about a five-minute drive by private car.

Planning Your Trip

The drive from Puente Suárez to the Plaza Principal de Chontabamba is stated to be 9 kilometres and about 13 minutes by private car. This information applies to this specific route. When searching for a holiday rental, you can first decide whether the architecture and culture around the Plaza or nature and guided experiences are a better fit for your trip. Then compare the precise location of an accommodation with the places you want to visit.

For the broader travel overview: Pasco.