Travel Guide to Iquitos In Perú
Travel Guide to Iquitos In Perú.
Iquitos, the famous gateway to the Peruvian Amazon Jungle is located in the Peruvian Jungle close to the borders of Colombia and Brazil, also known as the “Capital of the Peruvian Amazon”. This part of Peru is nature at its purest, stay in a river lodge and explore the banks of the Amazon River for the most unforgettable experience of your life.
Only 5% of the Peruvian population call this area home, even though it makes up two-thirds of the total land area of the country. Peru has the second-largest portion of the Amazon Rainforest after Brazil and is considered the most bio-diverse place on the planet earth. Even though it has the lowest population density in the country, most of the country’s ethnic groups have settle here and the bulk of Peru´s native languages are also spoken here. Of the 48 native languages of Peru, the Andes speaks just 4 and the other 44 are all Amazonian languages.
Iquitos
The name Iquitos roughly means “crowds separated by the waters.” It´s the biggest city in the Amazon region with a population of just under half a million. There are a number of indigenous tribes that call this area home, like the Aguaruna, Cocama-Cocamilla and Urarina. These tribes live in relative isolation from the rest of the world and observe their ancient customs and traditions. They eat food that nature provides and use herbs from mother nature to cure ailments. The city itself is also pretty isolated and is only accessible by boat or plane. Historically it was inhabited by the jungle tribes of Napeano and Iquito before the Spanish invasion forced other people from different parts of the country to flee here. The town is surrounded by the Amazon, Nanay and Itaya river, as well as the Moronacocha Lake.
Below is our Iquitos travel guide with information on all the best things to do, places to go and what not to miss.
THINGS TO SEE IN THE CENTER OF IQUITOS
The historic center of Iquitos contains several Cultural Patrimonies of the Nation such as: Iquitos Cathedral, the Iron House, the Old Palace Hotel, the Cohen House, the Morey House and more than 70 other buildings. Other known landmarks are the Plaza de Armas, Jiron Prospero – an avenue with several commercial and historical sites – and of course the lively neighborhood of Belen, often nicknamed the “Amazon Venice.” The city is also home to the Amazon Library, one of the two most bioanthropologically and social-cultural anthropologically important libraries in Latin America. There are so many great things to do in Iquitos, such as visiting the Quistococha National Park and the amazing Pacaya Samiria Nature Reserve.
THINGS TO DO IN IQUITOS
MEET THE BORA
The Bora are indigenous people who live in the deep jungle. You can go to their visitor area by boat, it takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour to get there. The Bora on the Peruvian side were forcibly transferred here by rubber trappers from Columbia. The men typically hunt and make hammocks, whilst the women practice pottery, sow and harvest chakra. Their native language is also called Bora. You will see them with their traditional clothing, they will show you some of their dances and handicraft. Their main town is 2 hours from the village by foot.
QUISTOCOCHA NATIONAL PARK
An entertainment complex located in the southern region of Iquitos city, the only tourist park of the Department of Loreto, and is officially considered a “National Tourist Park” within the System of National Tourist Reserves Peru. Here you’ll find a zoo, an aquarium, an artificial beach, a museum, and of course a restaurant and children’s park. People like to swim in the lake, as it has an amazing view of the jungle, and you can also rent boats. Note: If you have a certain distaste about the concept of a zoo , then this might not be the ideal place for you.
THE AMAZONIAN RESCUE CENTRE
This is the first rescue center that was established in the Iquitos area. It primarily focuses on the rehabilitation of the vulnerable manatees. The specimen suffers from thousands of deaths every year because of illegal hunting and trafficking. They rehabilitate the calf´s during their first 2 years of lactating. They are later released back into their natural habitat. The center also rescues turtles, sloths, anteaters and alligator birds. In additional to their conservation efforts, they also run a successful conservation education program. They have thus far reduced manatee trafficking in Iquitos to almost zero.
EXPLORE THE FLOATING BELEN NEIGHBOURHOOD
The shantytown – dating back to the early 20th century – a major tourist hub in Iquitos. The name comes from its unconventional architecture, mainly composed of floating houses, built on balsa wood rafts, and recently more constructions have been made using wooden blocks. Some buildings have two stories, and during flood season only the upper level is used. The locals use small wooden boats to travel around the Itaya River.
We highly recommend going with a guide to this neighborhood, do not wear expensive flashy clothes and jewelry and it´s best to leave your valuables in your hotel. So, Belen is unfortunately a neighborhood where many families live in extreme poverty and lack basic amenities like drinking water and electricity. For those that are pro-poor tourism, your visit generates some welcomed income to this low-income community.
Their market is a must visit. They have over 150 native communities that come to the market to sell their products. The market has been described by many as a complete spectacle. Some of the products on the shelves are pretty unusual, and the vendors have a very unique way of attracting patrons. The inventory is impressive, with over 390 different pantry items. The selection includes 53 different types of vegetables, 89 types of fruits, 22 grains, 12 tubers and roots, 8 spices and 56 kinds of fish including crocodiles and water snakes and so many more exotic animals.
DISCOVER PACAYA SAMIRIA
Pacaya Samiria is the largest National Reserve in Peru. This protected area is the second largest protected area in the country and the fourth largest South America. It’s also the largest protected area of the flooded Amazon (known as a floodplain ecosystem) in South America. Here you will see a big variety of flora and many animals in their natural environment. You can do a tour of the Amazon River, go dolphin and caiman watching, and even visit a native tribe!
*** WHAT NOT TO MISS ***
Visit Quistococha National Park.
Explore Pacaya Samiria Natural Reserve.
Sample the local food and try local drinks.
PLACES TO EAT
The gastronomy of Iquitos is varied and has been influenced by many other food cultures. They generally use a lot of fresh local ingredients in their cooking. The most popular dishes are Juane, Tacacho with Cecina, grilled Paiche (local fish), Majas (native pork) and Chonta salad. There is a wide range of exotic fruits, such as aguaje, zapote, tumbo, as well as the camu camu – which has the highest concentration of vitamin C in the world. Below are some of the most popular places in town.
Al Frio y Al Fuego Restaurant
Take a boat to the best fine dining floating restaurant in Iquitos. They offer a free boat service to the restaurant that leaves from Avenida La Marina. It is pricy, but the food is succulent and well worth it.
Down on the Amazon
They offer a wide selection of foods. You can can choose from Mexican, Mediterranean, Asian and Peruvian food prepared with their own interesting twists. A great option for vegetarians, vegans and people with a gluten allergy. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to healthy foods at a reasonable price.
Yakumama Floating Bar Rest
Currently at #1 for best restaurants in Iquitos on TripAdvisor. This restaurant has it all, great food, atmosphere, music, and drinks. Not forgetting the enchanting views of the sunset and the river Nanay. Try their most popular drink, the local camu camu cocktail. Their menu includes Amazonian plates, ceviche’s, chicharrones and fresh fish dishes.
Cajuesino Coffee
A great spot to just sit and relax. They are known for their great coffee and Wi-Fi. Also available is some welcomed air conditioning in the blistering Amazonian heat on both floors. Its truly a great spot to catch up on work or plan your next trip.
Huasai Restaurants
Finally, a humble establishment, with simple but well prepared dishes. The service is decent and the prices are very reasonable. The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is primarily Peruvian classics. Its typically visited by both locals and tourists. Its nothing fancy, but it will fill your belly.
NIGHTLIFE
Locals love to party. The most popular clubs are Noa Discotheque (Jiron Fitzcarrald 298) and Saquara Discotheque (Napo 338). There are also some bars around the boulevard where you can go for some drinks while you’re enjoying the beautiful view of the Amazon River before going to a club. The Musmuqui (Antonio Raimondi 382) is a traditional bar where you can try drinks with Amazonian liquors.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
We get asked a lot when is the best time to visit Iquitos and honestly, there really is never a bad time to visit. It really depends on your personal preferences and what you’d like to see. Each season has its own advantages.
The dry season is never really dry, as it still rains several times a week, but the rains tend to be short and intense (less than an hour). The wet season on the other hand has a lot more rain, but you can discover more of the deep jungle creeks and you’ll also have more luck fishing.
There are two things you are guaranteed of in Iquitos. Firstly, the humidity never lets up, it´s always between 80% and 100% all year round. Secondly, it rains throughout the year, there is really no distinguishable dry season. The only difference is how intense the rain gets at certain times of the year.
However, as climate change has become more extreme it keeps getting more difficult to really predict the seasons. In the end, you’ll visit pure nature and remember that nature is always unpredictable. So be prepared for all kinds of weather! And trust us, your jungle experience will be unique, no matter when you visit, as you’ve never seen anything like this before.
GETTING THERE
The only ways in and out of Iquitos are by plane and by boat.
If you are coming from Peru by plane, you have to take a flight from Lima, it’s 1.5 hours. Before you land in the city you can get an amazing sneak peek of the Amazon River.
If you are coming from Peru by boat, the boat departs from Pucallpa, and it takes 4 days to arrive to Iquitos. It’s not the most comfortable way to travel but you will have beautiful views of the jungle during this trip.
If you are coming from Colombia, the closest city to Peru is Leticia. To get to Iquitos you can go…
Plane: it’s a 1 hour flight in a small plane.
Speedboat: it takes around 10 hours in a small boat.
Sail boat: it takes 3 days to arrive to Iquitos.
PLACES TO STAY
Most guesthouses/hostels are located in the centre of the city, around the Plaza de Armas. It’s not difficult or expensive to get around: a mototaxi (tuk tuk) normally costs less than $1 a ride. We highly recommend staying in a river eco-lodger, this way you can join one of their memorable night walks to find nocturnal animals.
IMPORTANT INFO
- Wifi connection is poor around the city.
- Try not to be alone, especially if you go out at night.
- Be careful at carnival, locals can be aggressive and sometimes they use dirty water.
- Never drink tap water.
- Use plenty of sunblock and insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites.
- If you visit the market in Belen, be very careful and watch out for pickpockets. Also, consider doing this with a guide and not alone.
Keep exploring our site for more tours and treks to Machu Picchu!
