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Pucallpa
City in Ucayali, Peru

Pucallpa

Pucallpa is a city in eastern Peru located on the banks of the Ucayali River, a major tributary of the Amazon River.

Plan a trip to Pucallpa→From Lima

It is the capital of the Ucayali region, the Coronel Portillo Province and the Calleria District. The city is categorized as the only metropolis in Ucayali, being the largest populated center of the region. According to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática, it is the tenth most populated city in Peru and second largest in the Peruvian Amazon after Iquitos. In 2017, it had a population of 211,611 inhabitants.

Get in

Getting to Pucallpa

  1. 01
    FAP Captain David Abensur Rengifo International Airport
See

Worth seeing

There is not very much in the way of sightseeing in Pucallpa. Most of its attractions are water-related: Pucallpa sits on the shores of the Ucayali River, and there is a lake near the city called Lake Yarinacocha. In the middle of the lake is an island called La Isla de Amor. This is a nice place for a day trip.

Do

Things to do

Recreation Center. There is a recreation center about 25 km (15 miles) from Pucallpa. At this center is a restaurant, a pool, and several waterslides. This is a relaxing way to spend a day, and the food won't break the bank. If you travel here when the weather is warm (as it often is) you may find that an ice cream from the stand there hits the spot. Parque Natural. Pucallpa's zoo is called the 'Parque Natural'.

Eat

Where to eat

Portal Chicken. Their specialty is Pollo a la Braza, a Peruvian favorite. For US$3 you can get a quarter chicken with french fries, and the food is excellent. Their frozen lemonade is also quite tasty. For the cost of round trip motocarro fare from the plaza to your location, they will deliver to you. Mijanos (About 2 km from the airport, on Calle Alamedas). A seafood place only open for lunch (12:00-17:00).

How locals move

Getting around Pucallpa the local way

  • Get aroundMototaxis are motor-tricycle taxis that are the standard mode of transportation for Pucallpa.
  • Get aroundExpect to pay about S/2 for a trip within downtown, S/3 for a trip in from the outskirts of town, and as much as S/6 for a trip from one of the suburbs (you might need to switch mototaxis).
  • Get aroundThe colectivos can get crowded - two people in the front seat and four across the back seat.

From Wikivoyage: Pucallpa, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-03.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.