Tarapoto, known as the "City of Palms", is a thriving commercial hub in northern
Peru, an hour by plane from Lima, situated in the
San Martín Province of the
San Martín Region, located in the high jungle plateau to the east of what is known as the
selva baja (low jungle). Although
Moyobamba is the capital of the region, Tarapoto is the region's largest city and is linked to the
Upper Amazon and the historic city of
Yurimaguas by a relatively well-maintained transandean highway, paved in 2008-9.