"Iquitos, Peru's Amazon city" Top 5 Page for this destination Iquitos by Austinsnow

Iquitos Travel Guide: 157 reviews and 298 photos

Iquitos

Most tourists brush through Iquitos on the way to jungle lodges, but it's an interesting place to hang out for a couple days. I spent two months working there at a small hospital, so I was lucky enough to get fairly well aquainted with the area.

Iquitos Streets

Iquitos is a city surrounded by rivers, unconnected to the rest of the world by roads. Because of this, it is full of motortaxis, as it's not so easy to import cars. This makes it a bit noisy and sometimes hair-raising, but it's fun. Naturally, Iquitos is a big riverport, so there are plenty of boats down or upriver. This makes a Iquitos a good place to start a trip within the Amazon Basin.

Itaya River, seen from the Boulevard

Sights within the city include a nice walk by the river (the Boulevard), a market and floating neighborhood around Belen, and a couple artisan markets to buy goods to bring home. Nearby is a small zoo, an island of monkeys, a butterfly farm, and more jungle lodges than you can shake a stick at.

Other tips to check out:

Cautions: eating weird things; and where to go If you need medical help

Tourist Trap: paying too much for boats

Festivals: parades in July

Off the Beaten Path: taking the slow boat; another town on the Amazon; and motorbike tripping on Iquitos' only highway

Now, as noted at the top, I was last in Iquitos in August 2004, so hopefully things don't change much over a couple years.

Pros and Cons

Pros:equipped for tourists without being overly touristy
Cons:a little noisy, can be hot
In a nutshell:Nice Place to Stay an Extra Day

Last visit to Iquitos: Aug 2004
Intro Updated Aug 27, 2006
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Reviews (12)

Fiestas Patrias Local Customs (1)

July 28 and 29 are the celebrations for Peru's Independence. In Iquitos on one of these days (I think the 28th, but I... more travel advice

Down the only road from Iquitos Off The Beaten Path (3)

It'd been about four years since I'd rented a motorbike, the last time when I lived in Asia. So it was kind of on a... more travel advice

If you have health problems... Warnings Or Dangers (2)

If you are unlucky enough to have health issues in Iquitos, your best bet for a hospital is probably La Clinica... more travel advice

Boat trips immediately around Iquitos Tourist Traps (1)

All right, sometimes people will offer to take you around the area by boat, to see Belen from the water, to see the... more travel advice

Things to Do (3)
See All Belen
Hotels (1)
The Obligatory Lodge Visit

Transportation (1)
Lodge Transport
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Travelogues (4)

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Comments (7)

sprdak11 Feb 29, 2008 at 6:12 AM Report Abuse

Interesting travel page. Best wishes.
MackWARD Oct 3, 2006 at 9:04 PM Report Abuse

good, worthwhile tip. did you see any boats for reasonable hire to Leticia?
elpariente Aug 24, 2006 at 1:26 AM Report Abuse

Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado is the important decision I must take Your very good pages are helping me Gracias!!!!!!
roamer61 Dec 26, 2005 at 5:48 AM Report Abuse

Good page on Iquitos. When I eventually go to Explorama, I will visit the city.
metteks Nov 9, 2005 at 1:26 AM Report Abuse

I liked your story about the motorbike and the everlasting rain.
butterfly_girl Apr 5, 2005 at 6:36 AM Report Abuse

Great tips...I wish I had time to make it there on my trip to Peru! Thanks!
calcaf38 Feb 27, 2005 at 4:21 AM Report Abuse

Hi Austin: Your Iquitos page reminds me of the great time I had there. How fortunate you were to experience it in depth while helping people. Best wishes.