Soritor: San Juan, History and Nature

Soritor brings together San Juan traditions, historical traces of the old church and natural destinations in the district. When planning your trip, the festival dates of June 24 and 25 are just as relevant as the distinction between attractions in the town and Cascada Aguas Calientes in Soritor District.

San Juan: Festival Dates and Customs

San Juan is celebrated in Soritor on June 25. The traditional celebration of San Juan Grande and San Juan Chico extends over two days in the district: San Juan Grande on June 24 and San Juan Chico on June 25. The celebration was extended to two days in the 1930s. On June 24, San Juan includes an early-morning procession stretching 1.5 kilometers from the Plaza de Armas to the Tangumí ravine. The following day, San Juan Chico includes the traditional cutting of the umsha tree in the streets of Soritor. If you are planning your trip around a specific event, check its current schedule in advance.

In early June, flying kites amid morning mist and cool winds is one of the customs associated with San Juan. At dawn during San Juan, residents of Soritor go to the Tangomí River to receive San Juan’s blessing. Group outings to the Tonchima and Ochque rivers were also among the customs. The traditions take place at different times: kite-flying happens in early June, while the procession and umsha cutting are part of the festival dates on June 24 and 25.

Festival Food and Drinks

Preparations for San Juan in Soritor include juane, chicha and mistela. In Soritor District, San Juan Chico on June 25 features traditional competitions and demonstrations on how to prepare juane and drinks. Visitors can sample local drinks and buy traditional sweets. Both traditional preparation and sampling and buying are therefore part of the festive side of San Juan Chico.

Nature and Recreation

Cascada Aguas Calientes de Soritor is located in Soritor District. The waterfall is eight meters high and is formed by the mixing of water from the ravine of the same name with emerging thermal mineral water at 40°C. The waterfall is associated with bathing and ecological walks. This natural destination centers both on the meeting of the two waters and on outdoor activities.

In the town of Soritor, the Skaywar recreation center has a swimming pool and areas for walking. From the Plaza de Armas, you can reach Skaywar by mototaxi in five minutes; travel time may vary. If the swimming pool or walking areas are important to your plans, check in advance whether they are currently operating. Parque Recreacional Pozo Grande is also reachable from the Plaza de Armas in three minutes via a 400-meter paved route. Travel conditions can change, so the time should be treated as a guide.

Traces of the Old Church

The old church in Soritor had a finely carved Baroque-style main altar by Esteban Yalta. It held the patron saint San Felipe and the patroness Virgen del Carmen. The old church also had a 1.20-meter-high baptismal font made of plaster and egg yolk. The rammed-earth walls were more than one meter thick. The carved furnishings and massive walls reveal two aspects of the former church interior: religious art and distinctive construction.

For the broader travel overview: Moyobamba Province.