This small city located at the foothill of the Andes is the entrance to the Peruvian Amazons (an hour-long flight from Lima). The small city itself is not the highlight of the area, the surroundings are. This is the area where you can find farms that grow cocoa, bananas, corn, coffee, fruits, and tobacco. The area is extremely fertile due to its proximity to the mountains and the jungle. In the 70s, Tarapoto was controlled by terrorists who benefited from drug trafficking and producing coca. Thankfully, the terrorist movement was defeated by the early 90s.
About 9 miles outside of the city you can find the Aguashiyacu Waterfalls. This is a 131 feet tall waterfall whose name means “singing water” or “laughing water”. By this point you know that there is a legend for this place. A long time ago, Ahuashi, the beautiful daughter of the tribe leader fell in love with Shilli. They both loved each other, but Ahuashi’s dad did not approve of the relationship because Shilli was not of a high class as they were. His father had another suitor for his daughter in mind. The tribe leader ordered sorcerers to make her daughter stop loving Shilli; however, they were so astonished by her beauty that they decided to turn her into a waterfall. They also turned Shilli into a black bull that would guard the waterfall pool, but he was able to escape and climb to the top of the waterfall where he thought he would meet Ahuashi. When he got to the top, he fell into the abyss and cried. His tears then formed the Shilcayo River. The name of the waterfall, Ahuashiyaco is a composite word from Ahuashi’s name and “yacu” which means water in Quechua (the native language of the region).
Tarapoto has a lot to offer for vistors. Two hours from the city there is a lake where you can go for bird watching and rafting. A few minutes outside of town there is the Orquidea Chocolate Factory, where they made delicious organic Peruvian chocolate straight from the cacao beans. 36km from the town after a long hike you can find Laguna Azul, a beautiful lagoon created from a volcan about a million years ago. Apart from all the cool places you ca visit, you get to try the traditional dishes from the area. I personally have never had Amazonian dishes but I’ve heard they’re very good. Some are: tacacho con cecina, Patarashca, Juane, and Inchikapi. When you go, remember that it is always hot, humid, and rainy since it is very close to the equator.
