Tarapoto – the city of palm trees

Tarapoto

Tarapoto lagua azul

At the foot of the Andes is Tarapoto, the largest city in the province of San Martin and the economic center of the region. The city is located on a plateau of the jungle, which is also known as the “Cloud Forest” and is considered a starting point for trips to the Amazon rainforests.

The tropical climate, lush surroundings with impenetrable jungle, transparent lakes and towering waterfalls, as well as numerous historical attractions make Tarapoto a popular destination for leisure travelers, so there are many quality hotels and restaurants to choose from.

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The revenge of the Inca

Where Ayachucha is today, there used to be members of the Pocras and the Chanca, two very old pre-Inca cultures. When the Incas invaded there, the inhabitants, under the command of Commander Ancohallo, planned a revolt which, although initially successful, would end in a bloodbath. The Incas took a terrible revenge on the rebels and those who escaped settled here on the banks of the Mayo and Cumbaza rivers, where today San Martin stretches. That’s how the little town of Lamas came to be, and later Tarapoto.

Tarapoto was officially founded on 20 August 1782 by Bishop Baltazar Jaime Martínez de Compagnon y Bujanda, who named it after the growing Taraputus palm trees. Today, the city is the economic and tourist center when it comes to the “entrance” to the Amazon region. There is not only a small airport with connections to Lima and Iquitos, but also a road that leads from the Pacific coast via Moyobamba (the real capital of the province of San Martin) to Yurimaguas in the Amazon basin.

The waterfalls in the area of Tarapoto

The most famous waterfall (and also the largest in the area) is the Ahuashiyacu Waterfall. With a drop of 40 meters, a small restaurant nearby and an excellent place to cool off in the fun of bathing, the 45 minute trip to Yurimaguas is definitely worth it. You can book a tour of approximately four hours in Tarapoto for just under $ 35. However, the waterfall is a popular destination and, therefore, can often be very crowded.

If you want a little more “original jungle feeling”, book an excursion to the Huacamaillo Waterfalls, which is much less crowded. However, that’s probably because you have to go through a two-hour walk with several river crossings to get there. The tour costs around $ 85, but you will be rewarded with a unique and beautiful panorama. One of the best places in the area that you should not explore without a guide.

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The nature reserve Alto Shilcayo

Alto Shilcayo, part of the Protected Area of the Cordillera Escalera Regional Regional Reserve, is located only 3 km from the center of the city of Tarapoto. It covers the jungle around the Shilcayo River. If you plan a trip to the reserve, a camera with a good lens should definitely be in your luggage, as you can see colorful birds, monkeys and many other animals. In addition, there are five impressive waterfalls in the park (and not discovered by the masses!), As well as an observation platform that offers a great view of the area.

At the entrance of the park you can book excursions, and you should do it too, because especially in the rainy season, the roads can be quite slippery, if not impassable. Whether it’s a short trip or a two-day tour with one night’s lodging at the park lodge (approximately $ 20 per person per night), here you can get an idea of the beginnings of the Amazon without having to disappear into no man’s land.

A visit to the neighboring town of Lamas

Lamas is a short drive from Tarapoto and you should not miss a quick visit. The city is strangely divided into two parts: on the lower plateau live the indigenous inhabitants and on the upper plateau mestizos, descendants of white and indigenous inhabitants, and both plateaus have a very different architecture.
And to crown the picturesque little town, a replica of an old European-style castle stands on the edge of the upper plateau.
Every year in the last week of August, by the way, a great party is celebrated here: the party of Santa Rosa de Lima.
A day trip with a guide from Tarapoto to Lamas costs around 35 dollars.

Other attractions in Tarapoto

Lake Lago Sauce
Lake Sauce is located southeast of Tarapoto, on the right bank of the Huallaga River and has a size of 43080 hectares. The lake is used mainly for fish farming and fishing.

The Rapid Rapids of the Cowboy
The rapids are located at an altitude of 280 to 300 meters in Selva Alta and extend between Pilluana and Chazuta, about 4 km from Tarapoto. During the Mijanadas period, when the fishing trip takes place in the High Jungle is the best time for a canoe trip or a fishing trip.

The Rapids Rapids of Bajo Huallaga
The rapids of Bajo Huallaga are about 20 km from Tarapoto and offer excursions and fishing during the months of May to October. In July and August, native fish migrate upstream to reproduce.

Lake Lindo Lake
The small but beautiful lagoon Lago Lindo is a crystalline pearl in the middle of an exuberant vegetation reflected in the water of the lagoon. The water has a temperature of 27 ° C. Here you can see birds like. Watching wild ducks.

The Chazutayacu and Achinamiza thermal baths

The best time to visit the thermal bath is between May and October. The water, which has a high sulfur content, has a milky, cloudy appearance and a temperature of 40 ° C. The water reaches a small lake of 400 m² through a small waterfall and ends in a pool of 13 m². Another thermal bath in Tarapoto is the Thermal Baths of Achinamiza. With an area of 100 m2, it is a little smaller.

The Huacamaillo waterfall
Surrounded by a dense humid tropical vegetation is the waterfall of Huacamaillo. Directly on the Cumbaza River is the highest part of the waterfall, which ends in a small deep lagoon. An ideal place to see orchids, birds and butterflies.

The Tununtunumba waterfall
The water that falls from a height of about 40 meters can be heard from afar. The crystalline water emanates from 3 waterfalls and widens at the widest point at 6 m. The small lagoon that collects the water at the bottom invites you to take a refreshing dip. Surrounded by the vegetation of the jungle, where small animals and birds have fun, the hiker can relax here.

The Venice Lagoon
Less than 5 km from Tarapoto is the Venice Lagoon, oval in shape, with a size of about 60 meters wide and a length of approximately 170 meters. The palm trees of the surroundings give this lagoon a special beauty. Here you have the opportunity to camp, sail in canoe and take a boat ride.

The Oros stream
In the Rio Abiseo National Park, located in the Huicungo district, you can experience the beauty and nature of the Amazon in all its splendor. The Oros stream is on the right bank of the Abiseo River and is one of the tributaries that has formed a swimming pool system.

Getting there

How do you get there?

Normally, few tourists take the long bus trip from Lima to Tarapoto. After all, a little less than 1,500 km of road and a 26-hour bus ride are not tempting if the plane creates the same route in just 1 hour and 15 minutes (and not much more expensive). However, there are, of course, daily bus services from the capital of Peru, Lima.
If you want to travel farther from Tarapoto to Yurimaguas (distance of approximately 135 km), you can continue on the water and sail on the Huallaga and Marañón rivers to the Amazon and Iquitos.

Tarapoto

Region:San Martin

Inhabitants: 143400
Area: 67.81 km²
Height: 356 m
Municipalidad

Map Tarapoto

Hotels in Tarapoto

Here you can stay overnight

Tarapoto is a tourist center in the north of Peru, so you will find numerous hostels and cheap hotels, but also more exclusive tourist facilities, where you can pamper yourself. The Tucan Suites Aparthotel, located in the center of the city, offers free breakfast, a well-maintained pool, Wi-Fi and transport services to the airport and to the attractions of the area, for about 70, – € per night.

Tarapoto – the city of palm trees

Tarapoto

Current weather

The revenge of the Inca

The waterfalls in the area of Tarapoto

The nature reserve Alto Shilcayo

A visit to the neighboring town of Lamas

Other attractions in Tarapoto

How do you get there?

Tarapoto

Hotels in Tarapoto

Tucan Suites Aparthotel

Hotel San Marino – Tarapoto

La Ramada Resort

Sumaj Casa Hotel

Tarapoto

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