I’ve been doing a terrible job of recommending places to stay in Tarapoto. In fact, I haven’t even started. I apologize. However, I’m trying to make more of an effort to check out some places.
I don’t need to stay in them, obviously – that would be kind of pointless because I have my own place (and I’m not having any illicit love affairs currently). What I would like, if anyone feels like it, are some “reader recommendations.”
Tarapoto Hotels – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
So, if you’ve stayed in a hotel, hostel, alojamiento (guesthouse) or resort and you really liked it, feel free to pass on the details in the comments section below with any bits of info such as price, location, added extras etc. If you had a really bad experience then feel free to rip it to pieces (politely, if possible…).
Tarapoto, Peru Hotel Reviews
I’ll be making a more concerted effort to write some Tarapoto hotel reviews in the coming months. If there are any particularly glowing reviews posted here then I’ll go check the places out and take some photos.
Thanks in advance for any comments.
For accommodation options and to reserve a room online, you can find a wide range of Tarapoto hotels on the Pacarama website.
A few years back, I stayed at the Hotel Lily which was located a few blocks from the main square. It was fine . I remember that each day began with a delicious complimentary breakfast of eggs, delicious fruit,etc. The house staff was very attentive and caring, and recommended an excellent doctor to treat a family member when she got sick. They also recommended an excellent tour guide who showed me all around Tarapoto and Lamas for a very reasonable rate. The place was clean, had hot water and decent showers. I’d definitely go back there again.
I just stayed at the Hotel Shilcayo which is upper-end. Very nice, excellent service, good food, and good grounds for seeing some birds (I am in the area leading a birding tour). Best of all, it’s far from the city noise. We’ll be there again this coming Saturday night.
Thanks for the recommendation Vincent, much appreciated.
Rich, interesting blog you have there (click on “Rich Hoyer” above to have a look). Have you been/are you going to Tingo Maria? The Cueva de las Lechuzas (Cave of the Owls) in the Tingo Maria National Park is incredible, packed full of oilbirds and bats. I’ve been there a few times, always fascinating.
Thanks again for both the comments.
Hey Tony,
I’m just finishing up four weeks in Peru, and, sadly, the itinerary didn’t include Tingo Maria. I’ve heard of it and certainly hope to go there some day. The Satipo Road also sounds great. We’re flying from Tarapoto to Lima late this very morning, then on to the U.S. tomorrow.
The name of the bridge between here and Moyobamba with the Oilbirds (and many White-collared Swifts zooming past your head) is Quiscarrumi. Great stop. Had some good birds at the tunnel this morning (Cordillera Escalara, 30 minutes from Tarapoto) – Golden-collared and Chestnut-tipped Toucanets, Yellow-crested Tanager, Black Antbird, and many others. Missed the Dotted Tanager and Blackish Pewee (again).
Thanks for you interesting blog. I will keep up on it.
Best,
Rich
Thanks Rich,
I’ll definitely go have a look at Quiscarrumi, it sounds interesting. I’m pretty clueless when it comes to birdlife, but I’m trying to learn a bit more about the Tarapoto locals. If you’d ever like to write a guest post for this blog about birds in the Tarapoto area then let me know.
Thanks again,
Tony.
3 Stars in Tarapoto
I went to Tarapoto on some personal business for what I thought would be a week. It was arranged that I stay in Hotel Cumbaza which is a 3 star hotel on one of the main streets in Tarapoto.
Being on a main street is not a plus in Tarapoto. The main mode of transport is mototaxi–an unmufflered mototaxi. However the hotel does have rooms that do not face the street and these rooms are quiet.
***This comment was so informative that I’m going to turn it into a blog post (with Sabina’s permission). I’ll add a link to the post here when it is published. Tony.
Great blog! I passed through Tarapoto for a week last year and I think it was my favorite city in the whole country.
The first couple of nights I stayed in a place called Alojamiento Grau, a block or so from the Plaza de Armas. I might recommend it for a tight budget. The management was everything you associate with the term “family run”. Their cheapest room was very cheap (I think 15 soles) but I’d only recommend it to someone on the tightest of budgets b/c of the lack of a good fan and non-stop moto-taxis. A better value were the 25 soles rooms, which were quieter and had a fan and a private shower.
Nearby was the Hostel Casa Blanca, where I bargained the price down to around 45 soles. Also family-run, the owner was a little harder to warm up to, but he turned out to be a good guy. For 40 soles the accommodations were pretty good but not fantastic. A standard low budget Peruvian breakfast (ready to mix coffee, cheap bread and papaya juice) was included if I managed to get myself up before 10.
The first night I heard either children playing or people moving boxes in the room above mine, but I had been drinking so it was easy enough to pass out. The next morning i realized that nothing was above my room, so there was some sort of creature shuffling and banging about in the space between my ceiling and the roof. It was loud enough to wake me up some nights (I’m not a light sleeper) and I never figured out what it was. Welcome to the Jungle, Baby!
Thanks Manchas, good write up!
I often hear things crawling around above my ceiling, bats or birds normally (although those lizard things make one heck of a noise, especially when they are getting amorous!). Having a few drinks definitely helps….
Cheers!
If you want a great place to stay in Lamas, the hostel Girasoles is at the top of the hill near the Mirador. It is run by Tomas and his wife Inez who also happen to make the best pizzas I’ve ever had. The rooms are at the back of the house, private baths, hot water, a beautiful garden for guests and the views are nearly 360 degrees. Highly recommend. German, Spanish and English spoken, and cost /s.30 in 2007.
Thanks Sarah. I’ve heard about those pizzas… I definitely need to check them out. Will also take a look at the hostel, sounds nice. Cheers!