Review from a young US couple living in Lima, who travelled to Northern Peru with their 2-year-old son in July 2021:
“We spent a lovely week traveling from Lima to visit Tarapoto and Cocachimba.
We stayed at Toucan Suites in Tarapoto which was comfortable and allowed us to take mototaxis through the city and visit local shops.
Then we took private transportation to Cocachimba. We stopped at an orchid sanctuary [Waqanki] along the way, which was lovely but, with construction, ended up being a lengthy stop that we would probably recommend skipping - at least until the construction is complete.
We stayed at Gocta Lodge which was incredibly beautiful. However, the walls are quite thin and we would recommend bringing ear plugs or a sound machine for use at night.
We spent 1 day on a group tour of Kuelap and 1 day on a group hike to Gocta Falls. Both places were extremely beautiful and our guides were very knowledgeable and chatty, which made it more interesting and fun.
The next day we returned to Tarapoto via private transportation, this time stopping at a bird sanctuary where we were able to see the spatula-tailed hummingbird. This was a quick and worthwhile stop with a beautiful view.
I would also recommend an option to stop and talk about coffee and chocolate production as we saw a lot of this enroute.
Overall we really enjoyed our trip and would recommend it as a great option for seeing more of the endless beauty of Peru.
What was your favourite cultural destination in the itinerary?
We enjoyed our visit to Kuelap.
What was your favourite natural destination in the itinerary?
We loved the hike to Gocta Falls. We went at a leisurely pace and were really able to enjoy chatting with our guide.
Who were your guides? How did they perform?
All of our guides throughout the trip were excellent. However, our driver, Miguel was excellent. He drove us the long trip from Tarapoto to Gocta Lodge and made the long trip safe and interesting.
Which was your favourite accommodation and why?
We loved Gocta Lodge - the view from our room was lovely.
Which was your favourite restaurant / dish / drink?
We always enjoy the fresh juices in the morning.
What forms of transport did you use? Pros/cons?
We took private transport from Tarapoto to Gocta. While it was an interesting drive that allowed us to see varying landscapes, it was quite long. We would recommend only making the trip one way and then flying out from Jaen.
Did your itinerary involve any hiking? How would you rate it in terms of difficulty?
We hiked to Gocta Falls. It was moderate. My husband was able to carry our 2 year old in our backpack without difficulty.
What was/were your favourite natural encounter?
We enjoyed the stop at the hummingbird sanctuary [Huembo] as we were able to spot the spatula-tailed hummingbird.
Did you suffer any insect bites? Other physical discomforts?
No.
Did you have much interaction with locals? Where and how did this occur?
We spent some time walking around Tarapoto and Cocachimba. We interacted with local shop owners and it was always pleasant.
Did you feel your money was going to local businesses and people?
Yes.
Were you given any information regarding sustainability during the course of your trip (e.g. talks on environmental issues from guides)?
We discussed this briefly during our walk to Gocta Falls.
Did you notice any areas where environmental practices could be improved?
I think an additional bathroom stop at Gocta Falls might be necessary as I did see many people stepping off into the woods to go to the bathroom.”