Tarapoto Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus & taxi

Several companies head west on the paved road to Lima (24 to 28 hours) via Moyobamba (two hours), Chiclayo (14 to 16 hours) and Trujillo (18 to 20 hours), generally leaving between 8am and 4pm. All these companies can be found along the same block of Salaverry in the Morales district, a US$0.60 mototaxi ride from the town center. If you’re heading to Chachapoyas, you’ll need to change in Pedro Ruíz (seven hours).

Cial (52 7629; Salaverry) Has a noon express bus to Lima (US$33) and a 4:30pm Chiclayo bus (US$15).

Civa (52 2269; Salaverry) Has a comfortable 2pm bus to Lima (US$33) stopping at Chiclayo (US$15) and Trujillo (US$24). Also has a 6pm bus to Chiclayo.

Ejetur (52 6827; Salaverry) Has a bus to Lima (US$24) at 11:15am via Chiclayo (US$13.50) and Trujillo (US$16.50). Also has direct Trujillo buses at 7:30am, 8:30am and 1:30pm. A bus leaves for San Ignacio (US$12, 18 hours) at 7:30am for the alternative Ecuador border crossing.

Expreso Huamanga (52 7272; Salaverry) Slower buses to Chiclayo (US$12, 16 hours) via Jaén (US$9, nine hours) at 8:30am, Chiclayo direct at 11:30am (US$12), Lima at 2:30pm (US$24) and Yurimaguas at 8am (US$3.60, six to eight hours).

Movil Tours (52 9193; Salaverry) Top-end express buses to Lima (US$36, 24 hours) leave at 8am and 1pm, with a 3pm departure to Trujillo (US$22.50) and a 4pm bus to Chiclayo (US$19.50).

Paredes Estrella (52 1202; Salaverry) Has a cheaper 11am service to Lima (US$24) stopping at Chiclayo (US$12) and Trujillo (US$15), as well as a 2:30pm bus to Trujillo, a 3pm bus to Chiclayo and a 7am bus to Yurimaguas (US$3, six to eight hours).

Sol Peruano (52 3232; Salaverry) On the opposite side of the road from the other companies, Sol Peruano has a comfortable bus to Lima (US$27) at 1pm via Chiclayo (US$15) and Trujillo (US$18). There is also a 2:30pm bus to Piura (US$15, 18 hours).

Turismo Tarapoto (52 5240; Salaverry) A cheaper 3pm bus to Trujillo (US$13.50) via Chiclayo (US$15) as well as an 11am bus to Piura (US$15, 18 hours).

Minibuses, trucks and colectivo taxis for Yurimaguas (US$4.50 to US$7.50) leave when full from the mercado (market) in the eastern suburb of Banda de Shilcayo and take five to six hours in the dry season, more in the wet. The unpaved road is in terrible shape, though it’s one of the most beautiful drives in the area. The 130km road climbs over the final foothills of the Andes and emerges on the Amazonian plains.

Colectivo taxis to Moyobamba (US$3.60) leave when full from Salaverry in the Morales district. Minibuses to Lamas (US$2.40, 45 minutes) can also be found along this road.

The southbound journey via Bellavista to Juanjuí (145km) and on to Tocache Nuevo and Tingo María (485km), though safer than it once was, is still dangerous and not recommended because of drug-running and problems with bandits. If you go, avoid traveling at night, and see if any flights are available. Bella­vista, Juanjuí and Tocache Nuevo all have basic hotels. Tingo María is safe enough.

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Air

The airport (code TTP; 52 2278) is 3km southwest of the center. Airport departure tax is US$3.57.

Star Perú (52 8765; San Pablo de la Cruz 100) has daily flights from Lima to Tarapoto (US$98) at 1:30pm, returning at 3pm This airline was also planning to set up regular flights to Iqui­tos ($68) at the time of writing. LAN (52 9318; R Hurtado 184) also has a daily flight from Lima (US$111) at 8:10pm, returning to Lima at 10pm. None of the avionettas (small airline companies – often just one guy with a four-seater plane) that once plied chartered routes between the smaller airports of the region have offices in Tarapoto anymore – the declining drug trade has eliminated much of the demand for private chartered flights (who would have thought!). Things are continually changing, however, and you can try your luck at the airport or ask at one of the tour agencies in town to see if any scheduled flights are expected.

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