Gran Bombonaje Rioja Hotel got its name from a plant called "Bombonaje" (Carludovica Palmata) raw material for the artisanal industry since 1824, and  the basis for the production of hats, which represents the solitary historical antecedent of an industry from San Martin articulated to the natural resources of the region that managed to penetrate successfully in international markets.

The hats of bombonaje straw were the first economic triumph in the Peruvian Amazon and that was the origin to create in Moyobamba, capital of the General Command of Maynas, three consulates: Brazil, France and Italy. Before the construction of the Marginal road, in the city of Rioja every home was a small factory, where women of the family would weave hats and benefited the bombonaje, while men cultivated and harvested the plant.

An indicator of the importance of this industry is that in many birth certificates of children born in Rioja, the occupation of the mother would be "sombrerera" (woman who weaves hats)

This handcrafted industry, where NATURE BECOMES ART, coupled with friendly nature of its inhabitants make our city known as: THE NOBLE AND WELCOMING CITY OF HATS, RIOJA A PARADISE.