Tarapoto Travel Guide, Peru

Tarapoto, Peru - Overview: The ‘colorful’ City

Tarapoto is the largest city of Peru. The city is also the tourist and commercial capital of San Martin.

How Tarapoto Came Into Existence?

The mythology says that when Spaniards arrived in the Cumbaza River Valley, a tornado occurred and everyone, except two children, was wiped out. One of them was turned into a butterfly and the other one a bull. The tear of the bull led to the formation of Shilcayo River while the butterfly that went dead turned into Lake Suchiche. In this way, Tarapoto came into existence.

Location & Climate

The city of Tarapoto is situated at an altitude of 400 meters above the sea level. The city features a hot tropical climate. It is a great place for both businessmen and tourists, as it flaunts some of the finest hotels and recreational centers. Just outside the city, there are well-equipped resorts and holiday centers. The countryside is blessed with flora, fauna, and waterfalls. This not only adds to the natural beauty, but also for adventurous expeditions like rafting and canoeing. The region is very famous for its archeology and history.

Culture

The indigenous crafts often make use of natural resources like feathers, straw, seeds or even stones. The folklore is very famous and is equally well showcased in the ethnic museum of Tarapoto. The wide range of dishes, local food and alcoholic drinks are very famous, not only amongst the aborigines but also among tourists.

Festivals

A wide range of festivals is celebrated in Tarapoto. The Patron Saint festival is celebrated on the second week of July and is homage to ‘triunfo’. Tarapoto Tourism Week is also celebrated in the same period. However, the Santa Rosa festival is the most striking one as everyone is painted on their face and everybody wears colorful dresses.

Transport and Accommodation

As the city of Tarapoto is in South America, the communication is not as strong as it should be. Still, the city is very well connected within itself and with the neighboring ones. A large number of interstate buses run across Tarapoto, though cabs and rented vehicles are also common. Railroads, though not so distinguished, still manage to carry the load. As Tarapoto is the commercial hub of San Martin, much importance has been given to air travel. Both international and domestic flights operate in the region and connect to other provinces and countries.

So, pay a visit to the colorful city of Tarapoto during the festive season and enjoy the South American flavor!