The Folklore Town in Peru – Lamas

Lamas is an ancient town, about 30 minutes away from Tarapoto, in the Northern Peruvian Region of San Martin.

Best time to visit Lamas

The relatively drier months from June to October are the time when most of the tourists come exploring Tarapoto and the areas around.

How to reach

The cities of Peru are well-connected by flights. You can fly to Guillermo del Castillo Paredes Airport in Tarapoto from Lima, the Capital of Peru.  Peru is accessible from major destinations of the world. From Tarapoto, you can take a bus or hire a car to reach Lamas.

Lamas Tourist Attractions

Lamas is an ancient Peruvian Town, a must-visit in your itinerary if you are planning a historical tour of Peru.

Lamas attract tourists because of its ethnological museum. This small museum has on display paper mache dolls that reflect the lifestyle of the Quechua people residing here. You can also get to know a bit of natural and human history of Peru and the Lamas.

Not very far from the museum is a gift shop that you can rummage through for local handicrafts as souvenirs. An interesting alcohol shop around has some interesting alcoholic concoctions. You might just be convinced to buy them after the shopkeeper tells you about their health benefits such as sexual stamina and longevity! You can taste free samples if you want to and then buy your stuff. Paper mache dolls too are on sale here.

Find your way to interact with the locals here, the Lamistas. They are the Chancas descendants. The Chancas came here for shelter after Incas defeated them in Cusco. Their culture, customs, the Quechua Language and traditions run through the veins of the town. No wonder then that Lamas is known as a folklore Capital of Tarapoto.

Most of the Lamistas live in the Barrio Wayku Valley here in Lamas; in a way there ancestors had been living. Interestingly, the Quechua people from different areas have a distinct Quechua dialect such as the Jungle Quechua and the Mountain Quechua.

Touring Lamas won’t take longer than a day which will leave you ample of time to explore other places in Tarapoto. This is a town of scenic delights with lakes like Laguna Azul, waterfalls like the Aguashiyachu or the Waterfalls of Laughing Waters, commercial areas such as Playa de Armas to shop around as well as nightclubs to hang around, hiking areas such as the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and historical sites like Chachapoyas and the Polish Petroglyphs.

The bottom line is that Lamas and areas around are not to be missed on your trip to Peru.