Rioja Province: Cave, Forest Trail and Awajún Culture

Rioja Province brings together geological features, forest wildlife observation, a footpath to a waterfall and cultural encounters. The range extends from Cueva de Palestina to Sendero Royal Sunangel and Bosque de las Nuwas. Each place offers a different focus, so when planning your trip, you can first decide whether caves, nature observation, walking routes or culture should take priority.

Karst, limestone and a forest trail

Cueva de Palestina is located in the district of Nueva Cajamarca in Rioja Province, within the Naciente Río Negro Protection and Restoration Zone. It is a karst cave formed in limestone and Triassic-Jurassic sedimentary deposits, and is more than 60 million years old. This gives it a clear geological focus: interest in this place stems not only from the cave itself, but also from its rock type and age. Those who enjoy exploring nature through its origins will find a different subject here than on a forest trail.

Sendero Royal Sunangel is located in the district of Pardo Miguel in Rioja Province, within Bosque de Protección Alto Mayo. Its wooden infrastructure supports bird and hummingbird observation in the gardens; there is also a trail about five kilometres long. The observation facilities and approximate trail length offer two different points of reference: the gardens are for wildlife observation, while the trail is for a longer walk.

A walk with an approximate time estimate

At Cascada Urkuchaki, the final section from Nueva Zelandia follows a two-kilometre footpath, with an estimated walking time of about 50 minutes. You can use this estimate as a rough guide when planning this specific section. As access conditions can change, check them before setting out.

Cultural encounters and remembrance

At the entrance to Bosque de las Nuwas, Awajún women welcome visitors with songs and speeches in the Awajún language, wearing traditional clothing. At Museo Etnográfico Toé in Rioja, by contrast, the focus is on a collection of old and traditional objects. It preserves the memory, history and folklore of Rioja and the San Martín region in the Amazonian context. These offer two different ways to engage with culture: a welcome through songs and language, and the preservation of objects and regional memory.

Plan experiences and accommodation together

You can tailor your choices to travellers’ interests: nature observation at Sendero Royal Sunangel, geology at Cueva de Palestina, and cultural experiences at Bosque de las Nuwas or Museo Etnográfico Toé. Cascada Urkuchaki adds a walk that requires its own time planning. If you are travelling as a family and need to balance different preferences, it helps to prioritise the places you want to visit first, then choose a holiday rental or holiday home to suit your planned outings. This way, your accommodation plans reflect the kind of trip you want to have during your time in Rioja Province.

Rioja Province within the wider destination of San Martín

The wider destination of San Martín includes Destino Turístico Alto Mayo in the northern part of the department of San Martín, encompassing the provinces of Rioja and Moyobamba. Destino Turístico Tarapoto lies in the central part of the department and encompasses the provinces of San Martín and Lamas. Destino Turístico Abiseo lies in the south-central part and encompasses the province of Mariscal Cáceres. This overview offers a perspective on San Martín beyond Rioja Province; the destinations listed differ in their location within the department.

Discover more destinations: Rioja, Picota Province, Sauce, Moyobamba Province.

Return to the overview of the wider destination: San Martín.