The Department of San Martin is located in Northeastern Peru in the area of the Peruvian Amazon, an extensive area bathed by numerous rivers that form the Huallaga Basin. It is composed of 77 municipalities and 10 Provinces each with its owm customs within the general amazonian culture.
ALTITUDE
Ranges from locations at 312 m.a.s.l. (Bellavista) to others at 860 m.a.s.l. (Moyobamba).
AREA
53,063.61 KM².
POPULATION
The Department of San Martin has an approximate total population of 450000.
CLIMATE
Warm and humid in average, with a maximum of 38°C. The rainy season is from, Janury to March, and the summer months from June to December.
Capital of Folklore of San Martin, 25 km. from the city of Tarapoto populated by the descendants of the Chancas tribe a warrior race that at one point were the chief rivals to the Incas to be the lords of the peruvian highlands. After their aunsuccessful attempt to conquer the city of Cuzco found refuge in the area thet is now Lamas where they still maintain traditional customs and dress. Lamas is a city surrounded by beautiful landscapes and also has a nearby waterfall, Chapahuanki.
Juanjui, the capital of the province, 136 km from the city of Tarapoto. Valley of the Abiseo River that guards the ruins of the Gran Pajaten - a pre Inca City Fortress not yet available for torism.
A city founded by the Spanish Conquistadors in 1545 lies of the highway that enters from the coast. Moyobamba has a temperature climate due to it's elevation of 1000 meters over sea level. It is know as the City of the Orchids for the great quantity and varieties that grow in the area. In the nearby area there are hot springs and sulfurous springs that are frequented for their reputed curative powers.
A typical river town of the area on the banks of the Huallaga River. Picota is surrounded by hills and nearby are found salt mines that have been exploited since the pre conquest era. Near Picota is a archeological site whetre stone hatchets were fabricated before the arrival of the Spanish.
City with a temperate climate, humid and tropical in the Upper Mayo River Valley. The area has a great numbers of rivers and is a large producer of rice and corn. Rioja has been a producer of straw "Panama" hats since the past century.
Commercial Capital of the department located in the valley formed by the Cumbaza and Shilcayo rivers al 6° latitude south and 76° of longitude west, it's climate in the dry season is warm and dry wtih a maximum temperature of 34°C, in the rainy season it is cooler and more humid allowing a great variety of flora and fauna.
From the city of Tarapoto all points of interest in San Martin can be reached via highway and primative roads