Plaza de Armas

  A tour of Tarapoto will almost always begin with a mototaxi (or taxi if you have a lot of luggage) ride from the airport to the Plaza de Armas, the downtown district where many hotels are located.  The Plaza de Armas is the center of the world for many Tarapotinos.  Most banks, many retail stores and government agencies are within a block or two from the Plaza de Armas,  It is where they go to gather in the cool (sometimes "not so hot" rather) of the evening.  It is where they go to see and be seen.  On weekends there are often live bands and other entertainment and occasionally food or book fairs. 

At Christmas time the Santas circle the Plaza on their make-shift sleighs, made from mototaxis decorated complete with plywood reindeer.  The Plaza de Armas was decorated for Christmas for the first time this year.  And they did it in a big way.  A giant Christmas tree was erected in the center of the square, and lighted with many colored lights.  The lights that encircled the perimeter of the Plaza were abandoned quickly, as the bulbs were stolen.  Chrismas in a tropical paradise can be someone enjoyable, especially for one who has never seen Christmas lights on a palm tree.