Tarapoto
Tarapoto, known as the "City of Palms," is located in the District of San Martín, "la tierra de las cataratas" (the land of waterfalls), located on the high jungle plateau in the northern part of Peru. Understand[edit]At latitude 6� 30' 5 S and longitude 76� 21' 56 W, Tarapoto sits in the valley where the two rivers, the Cumbaza and Shilcayo, meet. Bordered by the cities of Morales (on the West) and Banda de Shilcayo (on the East) Tarapoto is the commercial center of the District and one of the larger metropolitan centers in the Amazon Rainforest. While Tarapoto is sometimes overlooked by tourists heading to Iquitos, visitors will find that because of its cloud forest location at an altitude over 350 meters, the temperatures won't get as hot, usually not above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and perhaps more importantly, the humidity is not generally as high as the low jungle. Many day trips within a half-hour to a two-hour drive from Tarapoto include some of the most spectacular natural beauty anywhere, historic wonders, and some of the places have cooler weather than in the city. There are scenic outlooks, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, fauna and flora of all sorts, and some of the most interesting people in the world live in this area. Tarapoto has many restaurants, hotels, Internet cafes, markets, and other attractions that would interest tourists from all walks of life. With a rich cultural heritage and many historic landmarks nearby, it is a great place for people who want something more than just a hammock and a tropical drink -- although the latter can be found readily as well. Few businesses have air conditioning. There are several hotels that have air conditioning, but many do not so it is important to ask. Another thing travelers should be sure to ask about before checking into a hotel -- unless they don't mind a cold shower -- is if the room has hot water; many do not. In most neighborhoods, there is no running water during the early afternoon and early morning, so it is also wise to ask about the hours of availability of water -- although many hotels and restaurants have their own holding tanks for water which makes it no problem. One of the things that makes Tarapoto attractive to travelers who have discovered this city is the fact that it is a great central location in the northern part of Peru. The mountains (high sierra) to the west, and the jungle (selva) to the east, make Tarapoto a good place to call home-base when visiting northern Peru. A modern airport makes travel to the major cities fairly easy, if only somewhat dependable, with daily flights to and from Lima. In many ways, Tarapoto still has a "small town" atmosphere. While it is always necessary to keep alert when traveling anywhere, Tarapoto is a place one can relax more. Europeans and North Americans are not targets of crime as much as in the other places like Trujillo, Cusco, and Lima. Since there aren't as many tourists around Tarapoto, the locals don't see too many foreigners. So expect to be noticed if you don't look like a Peruvian, but tourists generally find themselves treated very well in Tarapoto. Get in[edit]By air[edit]LAN, TACA and Star Peru fly between Lima and Tarapoto. Star Peru also flies to/from Iquitos daily and Pucallpa four times weekly. Also, you can take a «avioneta», a small airplane with maximum capacity of 9 persons, to a few places, amongst other Chachapoyas with the daily flights. For more information check: www.saetaperu.com. By boat[edit]Boats from Pucallpa, Iquitos and Lagunas arrive in nearby Yurimaguas. From there Buses from Selva Tours for 10 S or a bit faster Collectivo Taxis for 20 S go to Tarapoto in 2 hours. By bus[edit]There are bus services from Lima, which roughly take 26 hours via Trujillo & Chiclayo. Long distance buses stop close to a gas station near Salverry and Aviación. Combis from Yurimaguas (S./ 10 as per January 2016) and any other combi run by Turismo Selva arrive at Alfonso Ugarte and Belaunde. From Chachapoyas there are several daily combis, S/. 35 and 8 hours or one Nightbus leaving Chachapoya at 8.30 pm for S/. 40 by Turismo Virgen del Carmen. url="https://www.turismovirgendelcarmen.com.pe/transis/" From Tarapoto it leaves at 8.30am to Chachapoyas. Don't pay more than S/. 3 between the two terminals. The sharks of mototaxi drivers in Tarapoto have the habit of milking the tourist. Ground transportation: Turismo Selva offers Vans to the East Yurimaguas, south Tocache and west. Vans leave regularly when full. Destinations and Prices are as follows (12/19): Chachapoyas, 42 Soles, leaves at 7 am, 10 am, 12 am. Bagua, 47 Soles, leaves at 8 am, 11 am. Tocache leaves at 6:30 am and 9:30 am. Regular destinations all day long include Yurimaguas for 15 Soles (2-2,5h) and Moyobamba for 15 Soles (2h). From the Terminal de buses Morales leave big (long distance) busses to many destinations especially in the morning (from 8 am. to 4 pm.). The last bus leaves at 8 pm. for Chachapoyas via Pedro Ruiz and costs 40 Sole, the last bus to the west for Lima leaves at 6 pm. Get around[edit]A mototaxi looks like a horse pulled carriage but instead of horses, it is a motorcycle that is pulling the carriage. The "carriage" is not fancy and most mototaxi don't have doors, so people riding the mototaxi are pretty much out in the open. The roads could be really bumpy and that's why most people prefer automobile taxis but they are available in lesser numbers. But whether tourists use a taxi or mototaxi, they should always negotiate the price of the trip before getting into the vehicle, or they might find themselves paying far more than necessary for the ride. Mototaxi drivers are sometimes reckless, so tourists should not hesitate to tell the driver to slow down if necessary. See[edit][add listing]
Not really worth the money (the taxi, not the 3 sol entrance fee). A nice waterfall but the pond is tiny and if you want to swim you have to squeeze through hordes of peruvians.
Do[edit][add listing]
Waterfalls: Pishurayacu 3-4 hours Huacamaillo 3-4 hours Toroyacu 6hours tununtunumpa 5 hours (Chazuta) Visit: Chocolate factory in chazuta from the ladies from Mishki Cacao and take a boat to any small town in chazuta. A Beach day in shapaja. Buy[edit][add listing]Eat[edit][add listing]
Drink[edit][add listing]There are many discos in the Morales district. Highlights include Anaconda, Aqua and Bunker. It can be closed at the beginning of the week, but it is open and generally free from thursday to sunday. In the street in front of the restaurant Patarashca, about two blocks from the Plaza de Armas (in the direction of the artesanal market), they are bars with drinks and music at night. I think it is Calle Bolognesi or Calle Lamas. The musmuki bar is a good adress to try some coktails from the jungle. (about one bloc from the plaza de armas,when you left on the Scotia Bank side in Calle Moyobamba) Sleep[edit][add listing]
Stay safe[edit]Get out[edit]
There are more frequent options to Chachapoyas from Nuevo Cajamarca, if there are no Vans left from Tarapoto.
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