Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
longación Tarma. Selva Tours has an office in the terminal and charges S25 for the 4½-
hour journey to Huancayo (with stops at Tarma and Jauja), departing almost hourly
throughout the day. Frequent buses from various companies go to Tarma (around S10, 2½
hours).
Transportation into the jungle is by large minibus or pickup truck.
Colectivos
ply some
routes for a slightly higher price. Minibuses leave for Pichanaqui (S5, 1½ hours) and Sa-
tipo (S8, 2½ hours) about every half-hour. Empresa Santa Rosa has frequent minibuses to
Oxapampa (S10, three hours), where you can change for services to Pozuzo (four hours
further on). Pickup trucks to Puerto Bermúdez (S30, eight to 10 hours) leave from outside
the terminal when full: be there ready at 4am. Journey time depends on road conditions
but this is always an arduous trip, especially if you travel on top (in which case bring
sunglasses, a waterproof jacket and gloves to prevent blisters caused by clinging on).
Taxi
Colectivos
seating four passengers go to Tarma (S20, 1¾ hours), Oxapampa (S18, two
hours), Pichanaqui (S10, one hour) and Satipo (S20, two hours) from marked stands with-
in the terminal complex.
Getting Around
Minibuses linking La Merced with San Ramón and the hotels in between leave every few
minutes (S1.50, 15 minutes) from outside the bus terminal. Drivers try charging more if
they think you're staying at one of these hotels.
Mototaxis
charge S1 to drive you from the
terminal up into La Merced center.
Satipo
064 / POP 15,700 / ELEV 630M
This amiable jungle town is the center of a coffee- and fruit-producing region about
130km by road southeast of La Merced. This road was paved in 2000 to provide an outlet
for produce, and accordingly Satipo is growing quickly. It's of interest to travelers primar-
ily as the start of a way-off-the-beaten-path track and river journey to Pucallpa (although
few foreigners undertake the journey).
The attractive main plaza has a BCP (ATM) and lots of ice-cream/cake shops.
