Lagunas lies on the right bank of the Río Huallaga, near the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. The town is the gateway and main starting point for tourist activities in the Tibilio sector. When planning, it is worth treating Lagunas as your base and the activities in the sector as separate destinations: river travel, onward travel, and activities on site involve different sections of the route.

Getting There and Routes into the Tibilio Area

A route overview dated November 14, 2025, gives the river connection between the ports of Yurimaguas and Lagunas as 170 km, taking five hours by speedboat. Travel time depends on river conditions. From the port of Lagunas to the Tibilio guard post, it is 15 km along a paved gravel road; the mototaxi ride is listed as taking one hour. This travel time is also subject to road and river conditions. The information covers two different sections: the river journey ends at the port of Lagunas, and the mototaxi route starts there and leads to the guard post. Check current connections and access arrangements before departure; arrangements for access to the Tibilio sector may change seasonally.

Canoes, Hikes, and Wetland Forest

The tourist route to Tibilio within the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve follows roads and trails in the Quebrada de Tibilo, but runs mostly along waterways. It includes trips in lightweight canoes and guided hikes. In the Tibilio sector, visitors can observe flora and fauna from canoes and learn about the ecosystems of Amazonian wetlands. The main tourist focus is immersive ecotourism in flooded aguajal forests.

Visitors to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve must use the services of tour operators authorized by SERNANP or local tourism groups. Check the current list of authorized providers before your trip. Tibilo Pastocha is also visited from the community of Lagunas on the Río Huallaga. There, visitors travel along the Quebrada de Tibilo in small canoes and stay overnight in camps. Confirm camping arrangements before departure.

Lakes and River Landscapes in the District

Cocha Lagunas is in Lagunas District, on the left bank of the Río Huallaga. It is connected to the Río Huallaga by the approximately 8 km-long Caño Paranapura; during the winter season, it can be reached by canoe, depending on water levels. The body of water is elongated, more than 8 km long and more than 500 m wide at the channel.

Another type of landscape can be found at Cocha Achual Tipishca, also in Lagunas District: it is horseshoe-shaped, more than 5 km long, and about 500 m wide at the channel. Its water is black and calm. Its dimensions and shape give you a concrete sense of how varied the region’s bodies of water are.

History and Practical Information

A historical account by the Regional Government of Loreto dated December 14, 2021, describes Lagunas as an old settlement in the province of Alto Amazonas, Loreto Region, and says it was founded 351 years earlier. The district of Lagunas also lists a patron saint festival in honor of María Inmaculada, dated December 8.

A visitor guide dated November 14, 2025, lists the IPREES Lagunas health facility, gas stations, and other fuel stations in the town. Check the facility’s current operating status and fuel availability before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Paraíso, Puerto Pardo, Yurimaguas, Sucusari, Yarina, Francisco De Orellana, Puritania, Santa Fe

For the broader travel overview: Loreto.