Catarata Bayoz, Waterfall in Perené District, Junín Department, Peru

Catarata Bayoz is a tiered waterfall in the Perené District of the Junín Department in Peru, where a series of cascades fall into natural rock pools. The falls sit inside a forested gorge surrounded by dense tropical vegetation and layered rock walls.

Catarata Bayoz lies in the Perené District of Chanchamayo Province, in the Junín Department of central Peru. The falls form part of the territory of the Asháninka communities, for whom the site is a source of income from visitors to the pools and cascades. The Peruvian government supports these communities by promoting tourism while keeping their culture alive.

For the Asháninka, Bayoz is a source of income: the falls draw visitors whose spending supports the surrounding communities. During the Fiestas Patrias the area around the cataract becomes a camping ground. The Peruvian government backs the Asháninka with tourism promotion while keeping their culture alive.

Reaching the waterfall requires driving to Yurinaki on a paved road and then continuing on an unpaved track before walking a short trail. Sturdy shoes are a good idea, as the path can get slippery after rain, especially near the falls.

Bayoz is not a single drop but a set of small cascades and two large falls, the highest reaching 60 metres. Nearby stands another waterfall, El Velo de la Novia, and the water stays cool where the Amazonian heat meets the cold of Junín.