Tarapoto Overview

V!VA User‘s Description

San Martín Province is a zone full of fertile valleys and rough terrain that is spread out between the Andean mesa and a small area of lower jungle. There are 980 species of flora, in particular bromeliads, orchids and ferns, more than 220 species of birds, and nearly fifty species of mammals like the yellow-tailed woolly monkey, Andean deer, spectacled bear and  jaguar, species nearing extinction.

Tarapoto, located just upstream from Yurimaguas, is a convenient stopping point for the journey from Iquitos to Chachapoyas.

Abiseo River National Park (274,520 hectares) is part of the select UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List and it contains eight live zones and thirty-six registered archeological sites. The park also has fascinating archeological remnants of the Chachapoya like the Gran Pajatén, Los Pinchudos and La Playa archeological site with the characteristically circularly shaped stone buildings decorated with geometric designs and diverse figures in relief.

Blue Lagoon

50 kilometers/31 miles from Tarapoto (2 hours and 30 minutes), in the city of Sauce.

Blue Lagoon covers an area of 350 hectares, and the deepest part is 35 meters/115 feet. The water temperature varies from 25ºC (77ºF) to 28ºC (82ºF), and the color runs from green to blue. It is the home of herons, common kingfishers, muscovy ducks, eagles, different amphibians, reptiles and fish. The place is surrounded by orchards, corn, beans, bananas, yucca, rice fields and pasture land for cattle.

Polish Petroglyphs

These are figures of animals, plants and some linguistic symbols in low relief. It is still not possible to date them accurately, even though some believe they correspond to the early period of the Chachapoya. You find more petroglyphs at Cabo Leveau, 30 km/19 miles from Tarapoto (1 hour).

Ahuashiyaku Waterfalls

This 40-meter/131-foot waterfall is located on the hill, La Escalera (the Stairs), at 465 meters/1526 feet a.s.l. The water flows over rocks densely surrounded by ferns, orchids and diverse species of trees. In the surroundings, there are plenty of butterflies, birds and insects to watch.

Town of Lamas

Founded in 1656, it is one of the oldest towns in the Peruvian jungle, located at 1000 mters/3281 fett a.s.l., at the top of a hill. This town possesses streets covered with logs and the main characteristic is the position of the terraces. They say that the first floor belonged to the Chancas who came from the south, the second story to the mestizos, and the third level was used as a lookout. Today, they maintain this division between the Indians, the Lamistas, and population of mixed races, who celebrate their patron saints separately. In spite of its jungle location, the town has the structure of a highland village, probably due to the origin of its inhabitants. The Wayku neighborhood is populated by descendents of the fierce Chanca Indians, who maintain their traditional ancestral customs.

Lamas Ethnic Museum

The Lamas Ethnic Museum shows part of the history and folklore of the Quechua-Lamista culture. You can witness different cultural expressions and customs like the lanta-tipina, the first hair cut, the making of clothes from native cotton and other vegetable fibers, dyeing, and the dances of the Lamas people; and many places to discover. 22 km from Tarapoto.