Top 5 things to do in Atalaya, Peru.
After an intense week spent on the river on the Amazon Canoe Challenge, what better way to relax than spending a few days relaxing at our challenge end point – Atalaya, Peru. From natural pools deep in the jungle, to waterfalls and riverside walks, there is something for everyone.
This authentic jungle town is filled with exciting things to do, and new places to discover – Check out our favourite top 5 things to do in Atalaya below.
Malecon Turistico
This is a great place to go for a quiet walk and disconnect. This quiet city park runs right along the riverside and is usually the quietest place in town. A little but rough around the edges, but grab a drink to go and you won’t even notice. There are swimming pools here to if you are lucky enough to catch them open.
Piscina natural de Betania
A top hint for those who don’t speak much Spanish, if someone invites you to a ‘piscina natural’ (natural pool), it’s usually a great idea. There a lot of natural pools around Atalaya and one of the beauties about this area is that it will generally just be you and the locals. It’s a great place for a relaxing soak and meet the locals.
Plaza de Armas
This is the main square of Atalaya, and usually has a few street vendors hanging around with local treats. Our favourite is a type of frozen green lemonade on the corner. It’s also a great way to cool down on a hot sticky day. The Plaza de Armas is also a good spot for finding a local taxi.
Book a night at the Royal Forest Hotel
Although Atalaya is limited in terms of luxury tourist infrastructure, the Royal Forest is a great option. It has decent rooms, a wonderful swimming pool, garden seating area and small bar. We love adventure, but we can’t deny that there’s nothing better than a pool and a cool beer at the end of a long journey.
Catarata de Ishipashiari (Ishipashiarai waterfall)
This one is a bit of a treasure hunt to find but a great way to spend the day if you are up for a bit of a jungle walk. Located about an hour away from Atalaya, ask for ‘Garza Cocha, 20 minutos antes del puente Ipamiquiari’. This means the entrance ‘Garza Cocha, 20 minutes before the Ipamiquiari bridge. To get to the actual waterfall, it’s a bit of a walk through a variety of obstacles. From there you can continue to explore the other waterfalls in the area. We would probably recommend a guide for this walk as trails in this part of Peru can be difficult to find, let alone follow. Don’t forget to bring a dry bag for your electrical items!
Find out more
You can explore more of Atalaya, Peru on the next edition of the Amazon Canoe Challenge. Check out the below links to book your place and learn more about the challenge, and how we work with local communities to better preserve this incredible part of the Amazon.
The Challenge: https://amazoncanoechallenge.com/expeditions/amazon-canoe-challenge/
About Us: https://amazoncanoechallenge.com/about/
More about Atalaya: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Atalaya_(town,_Ucayali)
