The San Martin region is discovering new economic outlets

For decades, the San Martin region in Pérou was ravaged by coca cultivation for cocaine production, fiercely protected by armed groups MRTA (Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement) or by Shining Path. These groups fought against the Peruvian government for a decade through the 1990s, in violent clashes that claimed tens of thousands of lives. Coca cultivation displaced all other crops, plunging inhabitants into dependence and subjugation to drug traffickers.

But in recent years, the San Martin region, long isolated from the capital's decision-making, has found its own path toward developing economic activities and growth. It's worth noting that San Martin is part of the Amazon rainforest, an area of Pérou representing over 60% of the country yet inhabited by only 11% of the population.

The Amazon rainforest, engine of growth for San Martin

It is precisely thanks to this Amazon rainforest that San Martin is opening up new economic opportunities. For several years now, vast coffee and cacao estates have flourished, and agriculture, which had to start from scratch after the coca era, is now embracing alternative and sustainable crops. The region now offers the national market and for export, organic products, fruits, and nearly 26,000 tons of cacao from the 56,000 tons produced across all of Pérou!

Another booming sector: tourism. The Amazon rainforest attracts adventurous tourists from around the world, and eco-tourism is very much in vogue. A niche economy that the inhabitants of the San Martin region have successfully developed. The best example of this growth is the rapid expansion of Tarapoto, the largest city in the region. In just a few years, streets have been paved, the city has sprawled, the airport has become the country's 3^rd largest, the population now reaches 100,000 inhabitants, and more.

The forest has become a playground for extreme adventurers, for those passionate about Amazonian fauna and flora, and in fact, what also drives the success of the San Martin region is precisely birdwatching tourism.

San Martin: Birds Worth Their Weight in Gold!

A few visionary individuals created a phenomenon in the San Martin region—birdwatching tourism! In just a few years, this region rich in avian fauna has earned a reputation and become a true hotspot for bird enthusiasts from around the world. It must be said that the region is an incredible ecosystem; Pérou is home to 1,800 bird species and 686 have already been recorded in the Amazon zone, including San Martin.

A competition was created to celebrate this animal wealth, the "Birding Rally Challenge Pérou", which is in its second edition this year. It's a contest to discover new species and capture the most stunning photographs. The San Martin region aspires to become the world's premier birdwatching destination, which could potentially generate over 50 million dollars annually in regional revenue.