Iquitos, Peru

“GATEWAY TO THE AMAZON”

The heat and humidity welcomes you to the tropics when first arriving to Iquitos. The next noticeable thing, is the huge amount of motorcycles, three-wheeled moto-cars and taxicabs, circulating in a somewhat orderly, loud chaos. Experience the city by getting in a moto-car and let the air blow through your hair.

Iquitos is surrounded by the world’s largest rainforest and washed by the Amazon River, therefore not accessible by road. This makes it a unique destination full of untamed adventures, like jungle excursions or life-changing Ayahuasca retreats.

Places to go

Malecón Tarapacá also known as “The Boulevard”

If you do a tour of the historic center of the city, be sure to visit the Amazon Museum in the Malecón Tarapacá. The Promenade also called “The Boulevard” becomes the perfect spot to hang out at night. Have a cold beer at one of the bars or restaurants facing the Amazon river and share your stories from the jungle while experiencing live musicians in native costumes. It is also the ideal place to enjoy a beautiful sunrise as the sun appears above the river.

Belen Market and the Floating City

Spend a morning in the Belen Market and the famous Pasaje Paquito, where you will find a variety of natural tonics and aphrodisiacs spirits to cure all kinds of illnesses, even magical love potions. Very advisable to leave your valuables at the hotel.

Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm

The Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm and Animal Orphanage is another worthwhile place to go, where the journey can be as entertaining as the excursion itself. You will be welcomed by the several macaws, parrots, and monkeys.

Fundo Pedrito Alligator and Paiche Farm

Fundo Pedrito houses 3 lagoons, where you can see the the largest lilypads in the world, called Victoria Amazónica. Also experience caimans, piranhas and paiches, the largest fish in Amazonia and one of the largest in the world reaching as much as 3 m (9.8 ft). It is possible to feed the animals.

Quistococha Zoo

Visit the Quistococha Zoo and look at snakes and other exotic animals. Don’t forget your bathing suit, you can bathe in an artificial beach, called «Tunchi Playa».

Manatee Sanctuary

You can then visit the Manatee Rescue Center and get a hands on experience while bottle-feeding the baby manatees.

Monkey Island

The Monkey Island, a paradise for ecotourism. This island is home to nine species of monkeys, some of them endangered.

Snake Sanctuaries

There are 2 different wildlife rescue and temporary custody centres, where they get endangered or sick animals and bring them back to health to later return to their natural habitat. They are called «El Paraíso del Amazonas» and another one situated by the Momón river called «Sueños del Momón».

Native Community Tribes

Learn about the Boras or the Yaguas tribes’ customs and traditions, by visiting their villages in the Peruvian Amazon area near Iquitos.

Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

For our wildlife lovers wishing to escape from the noise of the city, we recommend to spend a few days in a jungle lodge. Pacaya-Samiria national reserve considered one of the most important areas of biodiversity in the world. There you will be able to explore medicinal trees, wild orchids and exotic animals. It is 183 Km from Iquitos. 

Summer Season Must Do

From July to the end of November you can enjoy from the beaches with white sand, that are formed when the river level sinks. The most known are «Playa Tipishca» and «Playa Santa Rita» located in the Nanay river. To get there, you’ll have to take a moto-car and then a boat.

Winter Season Must Do

From January to the end of June explore the jungle with a canoe tour and swim in the lakes, that are formed when the river level rises.

Ayahuasca Retreat

More than a place to go, Ayahuasca is an experience to have. Most people feel transformed after trying it. Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic drink made out of a brewed plant concoction. Inform yourself before, and see if this is something that would possibly interest you in doing.

Typical dishes to try

Patarashca-Fish

Fish filled with a mix of onions, garlic, oil, pepper, cumin, hot pepper, cilantro and salt, wrapped with banana leaves and grilled.

Chonta Paiche with Salad

River Paiche fish paired with a salad made with raw hearts of palm cut in strings.

Lizard Skewers

Grilled skewers made with alligator meat. For those adventurous ones who are brave enough to try new things.

Chicken Juane

Juane is one of the main dishes of the Peruvian jungle. It contains rice, a piece of chicken, black olives, and a hard boiled egg. Finally, it’s all bundled up in banana leaves and boiled.

Yucca Juane with Fish

This Juane contains a kneaded yucca mixed with garlic, onions and a sweet Peruvian chili for flavor. Adding a piece of fish and then packed in banana leaves and finally boiled.

Chonta Juane with Paiche Fish

This kind of juane contains a rice mixture with added nibbled chonta (hearts of palm), a piece of river paiche fish, black olives, and a hard boiled egg. Finally, it’s all bundled up in banana leaves and boiled.

Egg Juane

For our chicken lovers. It is a juane with chicken pieces instead of rice, also known as ninajuane.

Cecina with Tacacho

Another main dish of the Peruvian jungle. Cecina is pork meat. Tacacho is a mixture of plantains that is then grilled.

Iquitos activities

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