Sauce: Lago Sauce, Waterfalls and Hot Springs
Accommodation in Sauce
On the shore of the town of Sauce lies Lago Sauce, also known as Laguna Azul. The lake is located in the buffer zone of Cordillera Azul National Park. Cascadas Pucayacu is also in this buffer zone. The lakeshore and waterfalls therefore represent different ways to experience nature around Sauce.
Lakeshore and Waterfalls
Cascadas Pucayacu is located in Caserío La Primavera in the Sauce District. A hiking trail leads from Caserío La Primavera to the waterfalls; the walk takes 30 minutes. This gives you a specific reference point for planning this part of the route. You can treat a visit to the waterfalls as a separate activity, rather than applying the walking time to other places.
Hot Springs and Relaxation
Termales Don Grimaldo is a thermal bath for relaxation in the Sauce District. Its offerings include access to thermal pools. There is also a guided tour featuring medicinal black healing mud. Handcrafted welcome drinks round out the experience. The bathing facilities and mud tour offer different experiences within the same thermal bath. Check the booking terms for the offerings at Termales Don Grimaldo before your trip.
Exhibition and Nighttime Boat Excursion
In Sauce, Ecoparque La Soñada offers a full-day tour that includes a visit to the Hijos de Nuestra Tierra exhibition. There is also a nighttime boat excursion departing from Sauce’s main port: on the guided search, you look out for nocturnal animals, after which the boat returns to Sauce. The tour formats are quite different: the exhibition is part of a full-day offering, while the wildlife observation takes place at night. As inclusions and excursion details may vary, check both in advance.
Lago Lindo and Community-Based Tourism
The area around Lago Lindo provides habitat for the Shansho. Lago Lindo lies at the southern end of Laguna Azul. The properties bordering Lago Lindo are privately owned and designated as a private ecotourism reserve. Check access conditions before visiting. Lago Lindo’s location at the southern end of Laguna Azul and its role as a habitat for the Shansho give it both a geographic and ecological dimension.
The community-based tourism enterprise Dos de Mayo is also located in the Sauce District. A regional tourism project supported the enterprise in 2021. If you would like to include Dos de Mayo in your travel plans, ask locally about its current operations.
Different Trip Durations to Help You Plan
The experiences described offer different time references: the 30-minute walk from La Primavera to Cascadas Pucayacu, a full-day tour with an exhibition visit, and a nighttime boat excursion. This lets you distinguish between a specific section of a route, a full-day activity and a nighttime option when planning. For the thermal bath and the community-based tourism enterprise, it is also worth checking the relevant booking or operating conditions in advance.
Discover more destinations: Sauce, Moyobamba Province, Rioja Province, Picota Province
For the broader travel overview: San Martín.
