Ahuashiyacu Waterfall Tour: Swim in Natural Pool, Tarapoto

Swim in the natural pool beneath a 40-meter waterfall inside a protected jungle reserve

A 3-hour guided tour from Tarapoto takes you into Cordillera Escalera to Ahuashiyacu Waterfall, where two cascades drop into a freshwater pool. After a 15-minute walk through tropical forest, you reach the 40-meter lower fall with time to swim and explore the reserve. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tarapoto are included, and the guide speaks Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ahuashiyacu Waterfall and Jungle

• Pick up at hotel in Tarapoto
• Stop at Cerro Escalera viewpoint
• Walk 15 minutes to waterfall
• Admire flora and fauna
• Enjoy waterfall and natural pool
• Take photos and explore surroundings
• Return to Tarapoto by transportation
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

You start from your hotel in Tarapoto and travel by van to the trailhead inside Cordillera Escalera, a protected mountain range 8 miles from the city. A short stop at Cerro Escalera viewpoint gives you a first look at the ridge itself before the van leaves you at the start of a 15-minute walk into the reserve. The path winds through tropical forest where you'll see orchids, ferns and different tree species. The Quechua name "Ahuashiyacu" means laughing water, and the national bird, the Cock of the Rocks, lives in this area.

The waterfall itself is two drops: a 60-meter upper cascade without access and a 40-meter lower fall that feeds a natural pool of fresh water. You have time to swim, cool off and take photos of the jungle around you. The pool sits at 806 meters above sea level, and the reserve protects species on the path to extinction, especially amphibians. After exploring, you walk back to the van for the return to your hotel in Tarapoto.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located hotels in Tarapoto.
• professional Spanish-speaking guide for the 3-hour tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 25 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?Choose this if you're staying in central Tarapoto and want a guided waterfall swim in one afternoon: hotel pickup is included, so you only need to show up.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4): free.

How far is Ahuashiyacu Waterfall from Tarapoto?

The waterfall lies 8 miles from Tarapoto in the district of Banda de Shiclayo, inside the protected area of Cordillera Escalera.

What is the walk like to reach the waterfall?

The walk is short, about 15 minutes, and starts from where the van drops you at the trailhead. You pass through tropical forest with orchids, ferns and various tree species on the way to the cascade.

Can I swim in the waterfall?

Yes. The lower waterfall feeds a natural pool of fresh water where you can swim and cool off. The upper cascade is 60 meters high with no access, but the lower fall at 40 meters creates the pool.

What wildlife might I see?

The Cock of the Rocks, Peru's national bird, lives in Cordillera Escalera. The reserve protects many species on the path to extinction, especially amphibians, along with orchids and other forest plants.

What is included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in centrally located Tarapoto hotels are included, plus a professional guide who speaks Spanish. Children 3 and younger travel free, and infants sit on an adult's lap.