Jaén (city) Travel Guide
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Jaén as a city is the product of population growth and migration and it has the hustle and bustle of the new cities of the selva. They even have a bit of a crime problem in this 50.000 people town. Originally a farmers village, it is now an agro industrial center. Surrounded by mountains, the backdrop to town is still magnificent.
At an altitude of only 700 meters this city close to the equator has a very hot climate. Between noon and teatime, there are only three places to be: inside, in a swimming pool or at the riverside. Once things cool down, head to the Plaza de Armas. The place is just plain funny, with its curious fountain and ditto church. Take a seat there and see what happens. People are friendly, and always in for a conversation. This is not for the claustrophobic though: once there are about four children watching you, a group of over 20 kids and some adults can assemble at a breathtaking pace.
The locals seem to be quite proud of their botanical garden, and the museum is really worth a visit. The city is filled with stores, but the market area still is an attraction. It’s like a huge supermarket, only there must be over 500 people working here. Painful if you don’t have a kitchen as you would like to take everything edible home. Well, maybe not the fish (they smell funny), or the meat that’s been lying in the sun too long, guarded by a girl constantly hitting it with a fly-swatter.
A nice afternoon can be spent dining away in a Recreo, restaurants in a tropical green setting. Try the local specialty tacacho, best served in the Amojú. After the sun goes down, hide for the mosquitoes and go see a movie in one of the mini cine’s. Nightlife is thrilling; with a karaoke place and several dance halls spread around town. The opposite gender is attracted to gringos in a way that the comparison with moths and a light bulb seems more than a metaphor. Even on weekdays you can have a good time, as no one is shy to start dancing. Quiet pubs are in short supply though. A better alternative for more easygoing folks is to head for the roof of their hotel and drink a beer there.
The city is a likely stopover on route to or from Loja, Ecuador via San Ignacio or to Chachapoyas or Chiclayo on the Northern Pacific to Amazon crossing. But you can also use this city as a hub to discover the surrounding namesake province.
At an altitude of only 700 meters this city close to the equator has a very hot climate. Between noon and teatime, there are only three places to be: inside, in a swimming pool or at the riverside. Once things cool down, head to the Plaza de Armas. The place is just plain funny, with its curious fountain and ditto church. Take a seat there and see what happens. People are friendly, and always in for a conversation. This is not for the claustrophobic though: once there are about four children watching you, a group of over 20 kids and some adults can assemble at a breathtaking pace.
The locals seem to be quite proud of their botanical garden, and the museum is really worth a visit. The city is filled with stores, but the market area still is an attraction. It’s like a huge supermarket, only there must be over 500 people working here. Painful if you don’t have a kitchen as you would like to take everything edible home. Well, maybe not the fish (they smell funny), or the meat that’s been lying in the sun too long, guarded by a girl constantly hitting it with a fly-swatter.
A nice afternoon can be spent dining away in a Recreo, restaurants in a tropical green setting. Try the local specialty tacacho, best served in the Amojú. After the sun goes down, hide for the mosquitoes and go see a movie in one of the mini cine’s. Nightlife is thrilling; with a karaoke place and several dance halls spread around town. The opposite gender is attracted to gringos in a way that the comparison with moths and a light bulb seems more than a metaphor. Even on weekdays you can have a good time, as no one is shy to start dancing. Quiet pubs are in short supply though. A better alternative for more easygoing folks is to head for the roof of their hotel and drink a beer there.
The city is a likely stopover on route to or from Loja, Ecuador via San Ignacio or to Chachapoyas or Chiclayo on the Northern Pacific to Amazon crossing. But you can also use this city as a hub to discover the surrounding namesake province.
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June 05, 2006 change by joosts (4 points)
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