The Plaza de Armas is the social centre of Tarapoto, a compact jungle city in Peru's San Martín region. Banks, shops, and government offices cluster within a block or two, but in the evenings the square belongs to locals who come to sit, stroll, and catch up. On weekends there are often live bands or food fairs.
At Christmas the plaza goes all out — a large tree in the centre, coloured lights on the palm trees, and mototaxi drivers circling the square in improvised sleighs complete with plywood reindeer. It's a good starting point for exploring the town on foot.