An Amazon Adventure Guide To Iquitos City Peru

Iquitos is the world’s largest city that is not connected by road. The only way to get to this sprawling city in the Amazon is by plane, or by taking a three- or four-day riverboat trip. The adventure of getting to Iquitos, and then exploring the ins and outs of the city, is an unforgettable experience. Here is our guide to Iquitos, the unique city nestled within the Peruvian Amazon.

Getting There

The fastest and most luxurious way to get there is by plane, but it will also be the most costly. Because of its remote location, plane flights to Iquitos tend to be expensive. By far the cheapest and most adventurous way to get to Iquitos is to take an Amazon riverboat; the journey will take about four days. The trip isn’t for the faint of heart, but it will provide plenty of unforgettable moments. You’ll sleep on the second level of a boat that is carrying farm animals and other supples just below you on the deck. The bathroom is less than perfect, and you may find you begin to fear those moments each day when you have to muster up the courage to use it. You’ll be stuck mostly in a hammock for the entire trip, because there isn’t much room to walk around, but it’s so worth it. If you don’t mind the uncomfortable lodgings, the trip will provide you with hundreds of unforgettable stories and memories: you’ll be traveling on a boat in the Amazon rainforest!

Belen Market

This market is unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else. There are odd-looking Amazon fish, edible worms, and potions made by witch doctors. You’ll find really cheap food, and plenty of flies. There’ll be people offering various kinds of drugs – especially ayahuasca – and more than a few spiritual healers offering their services. Remember that not all of them are made equal, and that a lot of them won’t actually be healers, so be wary. Hang out at the market – you can certainly make it an afternoon’s event – and enjoy the scene. There’s nothing quite like it.

Quistococha

This is probably not exactly your ideal fantasy of a beach, but it has sand and it runs up to a little lagoon. You can lay out on a towel in the sun and, for a second, forget that you’re in the jungle, until you open your eyes and see that you’re surrounded by it. It’s only 20 minutes outside of Iquitos and there’s a museum and a zoo where you can see monkeys and various exotic jungle animals. Enjoy the surreal experience of lying out and catching some rays on a stretch of sand in the middle of the jungle. When you get hungry, you can grab a bite to eat at the on-site restaurant.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CFoRZdbEqxM

Healing Centers

You won’t be able to walk far in Iquitos without being asked if you’d like ayahuasca. There are people all over the city claiming to be curanderos (ayahuasca/plant shamans) and other types of healers. This city has become the tourist hot spot for ayahuasca tourism and, as a result, healing centers have exploded in the city, along with people looking to make money off tourists by offering retreats. Prices vary for the retreats, from $60 to $3,000 depending on the package. Most retreats, if not all, can be booked and paid for online. Do remember to be cautious when accepting people offering you things on the street. Retreats, however, offer visitors well-established curanderos, and you can take a look at reviews from past visitors.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.