Discover Santa Fe on the Marañón

Santa Fe lies on the left bank of the Marañón and is a Kukama community in the Nauta District, in Loreto Province and the Department of Loreto. The river shapes the town’s geographic setting, while its identity as a Kukama community gives it a cultural character. Secondary forests are also part of Santa Fe’s landscape. Further nature destinations can be found elsewhere in the Nauta District.

River Landscape and Community

Its location on the left bank of the Marañón is a distinctive starting point for understanding Santa Fe’s geography. This sits alongside its connection to secondary forests and its cultural identity as a Kukama community. Together, these different aspects give a concrete picture of the place without reducing it to a single type of landscape: the riverbank, its connection to the forest, and the community are all equally part of its description.

Local production includes artisanal fishing and fish farming. These are two distinct activities: catching fish by artisanal methods and raising fish. Together with its Kukama identity, these aspects offer insight into Santa Fe’s local character. Those choosing the town for a trip can therefore take its cultural and productive character into account as well as its location on the Marañón.

Nature Destinations in the Nauta District

In the community of Puerto Prado, visitors can explore ecological trails and observe wildlife. The private Paraíso Natural Iwirati protected area there covers 100 of the community’s total 522 hectares. Peru’s Ministry of the Environment recognized the protected area in 2014. These figures show that it covers part of the community’s land. Another activity in Puerto Prado is the “El Bosque de los Niños” (“Iwiratikuara Ikrantsenkana”) program, in which visitors can plant native trees together with children. The trails, wildlife observation, and tree-planting activity each offer a different focus within the nature experience.

Another destination in the district is Quebrada Zaragoza. Its cold waters are used for swimming, and the area is also suitable for walks. Those comparing nature activities will find several options: ecological trails and wildlife observation in Puerto Prado, planting native trees as part of a named program, and swimming and walking at Quebrada Zaragoza.

River Routes and Boat Trips

The Nauta Caño route in the area around Nauta passes through a river branch separated from the Marañón. Wildlife, especially birds, and the flooded forest can be observed there. This makes the route a nature experience distinct from the trails in Puerto Prado and the walks at Quebrada Zaragoza. Route conditions and offerings may vary seasonally, so it is advisable to check the latest information before traveling.

Boat trips from Nauta also provide practical guidance for planning in the wider travel area. Puerto Prado is 7 kilometers from Nauta by boat, a journey of about 25 minutes. The boat trip from Nauta to the Comunidad Nativa San Jorge covers 20.5 kilometers and takes about two hours. Reaching Control Post No. 1 Yanayacu in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve takes three hours from Nauta by motorboat or one hour by speedboat. These travel times refer to different destinations and types of boats; river conditions may affect them. Check the times and conditions again before setting out.

Choose the Right Focus

When choosing a vacation rental, it helps to decide what you want to focus on during your trip: Santa Fe is known for its location on the Marañón and its Kukama community, while other nature experiences are found in places elsewhere in the Nauta District. The boat travel times listed start in Nauta and cannot simply be applied to trips from Santa Fe. If you want to include several destinations, be sure to factor their respective starting points and river journeys into your plans.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Tamshiyacu, Yarina, San Regis, Mazán, Nauta, Lagunas, Pucate, San Jerónimo.

For the main travel overview: Loreto.