Iquitos is in the Amazonas region of Peru.

Get in

There are numerous flights to Iquitos from the capital Lima. There are no road connections. LAN [1] offers daily flights from Lima for around 100 USD.

Iquitos can be reached by boat from any navigable port on the Amazon River.

Get around

The most common way to move around town is by mototaxi, a motorcycle with a small passenger cabin in the back. Taxis are available too. Most places you will want to go (for example, from the airport to Plaza de Armas) cost about 2 soles. The drivers usually make their money by kickbacks from the hotels they take you to.

Many mototaxistas (those who drive the mototaxis) make excellent guides of the city. Of course, you should take the same types of precautions one would take with any type of travel, but if you can befriend a mototaxista, you might have the opportunity to experience Iquitos in a unique, real-life sort of way.

When you exit the airport you will be approached very aggressively by the taxi drivers. Take the first one who offers to drive you for 2 soles and follow them quickly to escape the rottweiler-like pursuit of the others.

Understand

Iquitos is hot and humid (85 percent) year round.

See

The riverfront is just a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas. In the dry season it will retreat and thus not be terribly visible. The waterfront walk also seems to be the place where local highschoolers go to make out, so if you stroll it be prepared to see lots of this.

The Plaza de Armas is not terribly impressive compared to, say, Cuzco. But there are a few street performers, a fountain, some statues, and one church. It is quite busy on a Saturday evening.

One of the major attractions of Iquitos and the Amazon Rain Forest is the native tribes. For a good review of the various Amazonian tribes and how to meet them see the Amazon-Indians Non-Profit Organization Guide [2].

Do

There are many lodges and resorts close to the city but next to rivers. The experience is carefully controlled and the facilities are adequate, with some of them even very well appointed. You can book in the city or pay for a full package in Lima or through a travel agent.

Buy

The floating market, known as Belen, is located on the embankment in Iquitos. Over 150 native communities from upriver come down here to sell their produce in the Market. Belen is the hub of every village within miles, chaotic, flavorful, practical and superstitious, thriving on and above a strip of land that is seasonally flooded. For a series of photoessays on Belen, check out The Belen Street Market [3], Pasaje Paquito [4], and Floating in Belen [5].

Eat

If you are new to Iquitos and the Amazon, you are in for a real treat. The food in Iquitos is excellent. It is an exotic blend of peruvian, brazilian, and colombian food with influences from the Andes and the Pacific Coast. For a list of the top ten restaurants check out the Iquitos News [6].

Drink

Try tropical fruit juices, like Cocona. Pineapple in the Amazon region is quite different to the one found in the rest of Peru, and makes really good juices.

Sleep

Reasonable places can be found for around 30 USD per night, including air conditioning (important in the brutual heat of the tropical environment) and a private bathroom.

• El Dorado, Plaza de Armas. Quite nice but expensive at over 100 USD per night.
• Maranon Hotel, on the block between the riverfront and Plaza de Armas. 35 USD per night for a double. Clean and air-conditioned.

Tour Operators

Tour operators in Iquitos are notorious for taking advantage of travelers. Most tours can be made without the assistance of tour guides. Best to consult guide books and online resources than using the services of untrustworthy guides.

To visit the indigenous people, it is best not to use a tour guide. Instead, go directly to the Amazonian natives for an incredible experience with real indigenous people. For example, visit the Movement in the Amazon for Tribal Subsistence and Economic Sustainability [7], an indigenous tribal organization for information on visiting their indigenous reserve.

Stay healthy

The main danger in Iquitos is the same as any tropical zone: malaria. You should get anti-malaria pills from a doctor before your visit. Malarone should be taken two days before arrival and 7 days after leaving. Bug repellant can be purchsaed in pharmacies anywhere in Peru and should be applied liberally whenever going out, and especially if taking an amazon tour.

Get out

The main reason to visit Iquitos is that it serves as a launchpoint for trips into the Amazon. Single day or multi-day trips can be booked for around 150 soles per person per day. You are taken out on a boat and can view wildlife such as monkeys, alligators, giant lilypads, caimen (sort of like mini-alligators), anacondas, boas, tarantulas, and more. Your taxi driver or hotel concierge will be more than happy to contact a tourguide for you, as they get a kickback for the referral. However by using this kickback referral system, you will be guaranteed the highest possible price and lowest possible service.