The city was founded in August the 20th 1782 by the Spanish bishop Baltazar Jaime Martinez de Compagnon y Bujanda.In the Suchiche lagoon there was abundant palm tree called Taraputus or barriguda, the name that the bishop took to found the city of Tarapoto.From September the 14th 1906 the city began to be part of the San Martin department, fact that has allowed a great tourist and commercial development.