Iquitos is the largest city in the Peruvian rainforest and was founded in 1747 by
Jesuit Jose Bahamonde and is considered the gateway to the Amazon. The Nanay,
Itaya and Amazon rivers surround Iquitos and the Amazon river actually begins about
4 kilometers from Iquitos.
The access to Iquitos is by air or by boat, there are no roads leading into
this part of the jungle.
Attractions:
Parque de Quistococha; A park like zoo with exotic animals and plants.
1900 Century Mansions; From the rubber heydays.
Casa Eiffel; This house was designed by Gustav Eiffel for the Paris exhibition of 1889
and was transported from Paris to Peru by a local rubber barron.
Ecotourism; Many tours of the rainforest.
Reserva Nacional del Pacaya-Samiria; The largest natural reserve in Peru.
The Rainforest; with over 25,000 species of plants already classified; approximately
4,000 species of butterflies; and 2000 species of fish.
How do we get there?
Iquitos is about a 1.5 hour plane ride from Lima. The plane ticket cost is about $86
per person, you are only allowed one 70lb. suitcase.