Tarapoto

Introducing Tarapoto

Tarapoto straddles the base of the Andean foothills and the edge of the vast jungles of eastern Peru. A sweltering rainforest metrop­olis, it dips its toe into the Amazon Basin while managing to cling to the rest of Peru by the umbilical cord of a long paved road back to civilization. From here you can take the plunge deeper into the Amazon, or just enjoy the easily accessible jungle lite, with plenty of places to stay and eat, and reliable connections to the coast. There’s a bunch of natural sights to explore nearby, from waterfalls to lagoons, and river-running opportunities will entertain the adventure-seeking contingent.

The largest and busiest town in the department of San Martín, Tarapoto’s recent growth can be accounted for by coca-growing enterprises in the middle and upper Río Huallaga valley to the south. Tourists don’t usually encounter problems and the situation has been improving since the peace agreement with Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) guerillas. The exception is the Saposoa region; the trip through there to Tingo María is not recommended. The route from Moyobamba through Tarapoto and on to Yurimaguas is safe, but be sure to check the latest conditions.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009