Chazuta: Ceramics, Cacao and Waterfalls

Chazuta can be discovered in many different ways: through a long-standing ceramic tradition, archaeological finds and experiences in the landscape. Cacao and organic farming are also among the themes that can shape a stay. This offers opportunities for cultural discoveries as well as experiences in nature.

Ceramics and archaeological finds

The ceramics of Chazuta have been declared part of the Nation’s Cultural Heritage. Their significance is due in part to the techniques and iconography used in their production, which date back thousands of years. The unbroken transmission of this knowledge across generations, as well as the aesthetic value of the ceramics, also played a role. For the local population, they also have social significance and help foster a sense of identity. They are therefore more than individual items on display: their history is closely linked to inherited skills and a local sense of identity.

The Wasichay Cultural Center has four areas open to visitors. The first exhibition room presents an ethnographic collection of modern and traditional ceramics from Chazuta. The contrast between these two forms offers a tangible introduction to the variety of ceramics. Some funerary urns can also be seen in Chazuta’s Plaza de Armas. The In Situ Museum displays more funerary urns from Chazuta and is located 100 meters from the main plaza.

More recent excavations are also part of the town’s history: 65 finds were discovered, including 25 funerary urns containing mummies, tools and offerings. The various objects offer an impression of what was unearthed during the excavations. If you are travelling with children, you can use them as a starting point for thinking together about the significance of such finds; the objects mentioned provide concrete talking points rather than abstract historical figures.

Landscape and the route to Cascada de Tununtunumba

In the associated community, Cascada de Tununtunumba is located in an upper Selva montane forest ecosystem, on the left bank of the Río Huallaga in the Chazuta district. The waterfall has two tiers. Access is via a trail for which a two-hour hike is indicated. This time estimate helps you plan the experience as a hike; it does not provide a specific assessment of trail conditions or difficulty.

At Cascada de Tununtunumba, you can hike, swim in the waterfall and go birdwatching. A visit to the landscape can therefore be combined with a range of activities: you can make the waterfall the destination of a hike or focus on swimming or birdwatching. Chazuta’s natural side has a different character from exploring its ceramics and archaeological finds. For planning your trip, the two-hour hike to the waterfall is a particularly useful point of reference.

Cacao and organic farming

Cacao features in Chazuta in several different contexts. Chakra Pasikiwi is a 4.5-hectare farm on the foothills of the Cordillera Azul. Cacao, honey and other organic crops are grown there; Chakra Pasikiwi also offers agritourism. Allima, in turn, offers practical training in circular economy, cooperatives and organic cacao farming. Mishky Cacao is a group of local women producers who process cacao into handmade products. Together, these examples offer different perspectives on cultivation, practice and processing, without describing the same experience.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Chazuta, you can consider which of these aspects you are most interested in: ceramics and archaeological finds, the hike to Cascada de Tununtunumba, or cacao and farming. This lets you tailor your search to the experiences you would like to discover locally, without implying that any particular accommodation is connected to specific activities.

If you would like to discover more destinations: Puerto Franco, Leimebamba, Lamas, Tarapoto, Moyobamba, La Florida and Cuñumbuque.

For the broader travel overview: San Martín.