Moyobamba, the City of the Orchids, is the capital of the San Martín region in northern Peru.

Get in

Moyobamba

Since the airport is not in use, the only way to get into Moyobamba is by road. Your best option is to use a bus company. There are buses from Lima, which take 24 hours to get to Moyobamba and travel during the night. Prices vary, with the most expensive being around S/120 (soles).

The fastest way to get to Moyobamba is to fly from Lima to Tarapoto and from Tarapoto take a taxi or bus to Moyobamba. LAN Peru and LC Perú fly to Tarapoto from Lima. A taxi will cost S/25 and a bus will cost S/20. The average time from Tarapoto to Moyobamba is 2 hours. Enjoy the view on the way!

You can also arrive from Iquitos, by boat to Yurimaguas and then a bus or taxi to Tarapoto and Moyobamba. The road is winding, with several ups and downs, and it can be a problem if you are prone to motion sickness. It is otherwise breathtaking in its beauty.

Get around

You can either walk or catch a moto-taxi (a modified motorbike with three wheels and a carriage at the back for three passengers). Most journeys with a moto-taxi cost S/2.00. Some drivers may try to charge more when they see you are not from Peru. Remember to state your price before you get into the taxi.

See

• San Martín Museum, Jr. Oscar R. Benavides 380. Contains photographic exhibitions, sculptures and craft, antiques, historical documents, fossils, stone implements of the area, wild fauna, flora (various species of orchids - there are approximately 2,500 in the region) and traditional clothing from communities of the area. 
• Vivero Agro Oriente. A wide exhibit of orchids and other plant species, with a guided tour included in the S/2 entrance fee. Great views of the Mayo river and also some wildlife species such as aligators and Boas. 

Do

• San Juan Festival. 24th June, locals celebrate with traditional dances and dishes. 
• Thermal bath. 
• Gera Waterfalls, Village of Jepelacio (you can take a mini bus from Moyobamba. Once in the village, it's 20 minutes by foot to the falls.). 
• Lahuarpia Waterfalls, On the way to Tarapoto. 3 waterfalls. 
• Morro de Calzada, Located in the town of Calzada. Mountain in the middle of the valley. It is a 2- to 3-hour hike to the summit from where you can see the whole valley and several towns. The site requires a small fee of 15 soles. The hike is of moderate difficulty, with large rocks to scale. Smaller trails are located around El Morro as well. (updated Feb 2018)

Eat

• La Olla de Barro, Jr. Pedro Canga y Serafin Filomeno. 
• El Huerto de Mi Amada, Jr. San Francisco No. 521. 
• La Tullpa, El Boulevard. 
• Helados La Muyuna, Jiron Pedro Canga cuadra 5 (near the Hotel Marcoantonio). An icecreamery. 
• Arizona Chicken, Serafin Filomeno No. 580. Polleria, popular among locals.
• Try eating at one of the "Pollerias" (chicken restaurants), which are generally popular throughout Peru.

Drink

Peruvian Amazon has a huge selection of jungle drinks, of which many many are touted as being aphrodisiacs with suggestive names to match.

• Uvachado
• Leche de Monja
• 7 Raices

There are a few discos "discotecas" in Moyobamba, with attached bars. Most are located along Malecón de San Juan, on the north side of the town.

• Sant JordiFull bar, has domestic and import beers along with homemade drinks. Jr. Alonso de Alvarado No. 323.
• George de la SelvaBar and lounge that often has a live band and music.
• El PadrinoDiscoteca and bar.

Sleep

• Puerto Mirador Hotel, Jr. Sucre S/N (Situated outside the city centre), ☏ +51-42-562050. This 3-star hotel is the most expensive in Moyobamba. It is owned by foreigners. A restaurant is situated inside the hotel.

• Marcoantonio Hotel, Jr. Pedro Canga 488, ☏ +51-42-562319. 
• Hostal Celis, Jr. Callao 845, ☏ +51-42-562457, fax: +51-42-562457. 2-star 
• Hostal Atlanta, Jr. Alonso de Alvarado 865, ☏ +51-42-562063. 
• Country Club Hostal, Jr. Manuel de Aguila 667, ☏ +51-42-562110. 
• Hostal Royal, Jr. Alonso de Alvarado 748, ☏ +51-42-562564. 
• Hostal Albricias, Jr. Alonso de Alvarado 1066, ☏ +51-42-562142. 
• Hostal Moyobamba, Jr. Alonso de Alvarado 493, ☏ +51-42-562162. 
• Paraje Turístico Punta Verde, Jirón San Carlos 100 (close to the Coliseo), ☏ +5142 561822. Rustic shoestring hostel with a tasty restaurant and a great view. Lots of birds in the wooded areas. Internet available. S/10. 

Go next

• Tarapoto - the largest city in the region
• Rioja - to the west
• Chiclayo - an overnight bus trip that crosses the Andes and gets you from the lush forests and rivers of the Amazon basin into the arid Pacific coast of northern Perú. Try to sleep during the winding trip.