Soritor: San Juan Traditions and Nature

Soritor brings together vibrant San Juan customs, natural attractions, and local gathering places. There are several ways to plan your trip: the Plaza de Armas and Parque Recreacional Pozo Grande, the festivities in June, or Cascada Aguas Calientes in the wider district. Which vacation rental suits your stay also depends on which of these aspects you most want to experience.

Plaza, Park, and Local Life

Soritor’s Plaza de Armas is a place to relax in the afternoon and a meeting spot for young people and adults. From there, a 400-meter paved route leads to Parque Recreacional Pozo Grande; the journey is stated to take three minutes. The plaza and park are thus connected by a specific, short route. As conditions can change, check the current situation before your visit.

San Juan: Two Days of Festivities and Many Customs

The traditional San Juan Grande and San Juan Chico festival is celebrated in the Soritor District on June 24 and 25. The festivities were extended to two days in the 1930s. Early in the morning on June 24, the festival includes a 1.5-kilometer procession from the Plaza de Armas to the Tangumí ravine. San Juan is celebrated in Soritor on June 25; San Juan Chico includes the traditional cutting of the Umsha through the city streets.

The customs do not begin only on the festival days: flying kites in the morning mist and cool winds is part of early June. During San Juan, residents go to the Tangomí River at dawn to receive San Juan’s blessing. The traditions described also included group outings to the Tonchima and Ochque rivers. Together, these customs reflect both communal celebrations and experiences connected with the rivers.

Food is also part of the festival preparations: Juane, Chicha, and Mistela are among the dishes and drinks prepared for San Juan in Soritor. In the wider Soritor District, San Juan Chico on June 25 includes traditional competitions and demonstrations of how Juane and drinks are prepared. The festival tradition also offers opportunities to sample local drinks and buy typical sweets. If you are traveling for the festival, check the dates and current program in advance.

Nature in the Wider District

Cascada Aguas Calientes de Soritor is located in Soritor District, outside the town center. The waterfall is eight meters high. It forms where water from the Quebrada of the same name mixes with warm, 40°C thermal mineral water emerging from the ground. Activities associated with the waterfall include swimming and ecological walks. If you want to plan nature experiences alongside the festival traditions, this offers a different focus from the plaza and park area.

Historic Church and Architecture

The old church in Soritor housed an intricately carved Baroque-style main altar by Esteban Yalta. It held the patron saint San Felipe and the patroness Virgen del Carmen. The old building’s construction is also remarkable: its rammed-earth walls were more than a meter thick. The church also housed a 1.20-meter-high baptismal font made of plaster and egg yolk.

Skaywar and Choosing Where to Stay

The Skaywar recreation center in Soritor has a swimming pool and areas for walking. You can reach Skaywar from the Plaza de Armas by mototaxi in five minutes; travel time may vary. If you plan to visit Skaywar, check that it is currently operating in advance. Swimming and walking offer different ways to spend your leisure time here.

When choosing your vacation rental, you can first consider whether you want to focus on the festivities and the plaza or also visit destinations in the wider district. The plaza and Pozo Grande connect a gathering place and a park via a short route; Skaywar is accessible by mototaxi, while the waterfall is outside the town center. The traditions described also provide a clear seasonal reason to travel in June.

For the broader travel overview: Moyobamba Province.