We set out with a group of 38 singles and as usual they were initially timid but quickly bonded in friendship.
On arrival in Lima we check into the lovely Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel which is one of the district's five-star hotels located in the district. There was a guided city tour and then leisure time to explore the area.
Miraflores is one of the main tourist attractions in Lima. The district is full of hotels, cafés, pubs, restaurants and shops, which draw large crowds of the local population on Sundays. Parque Kennedy, Miraflores' central plaza, regularly has flea markets and art exhibitions. Larcomar, a shopping mall overlooking the Pacific coast, is located in Miraflores, and is very popular among tourists, young people, and the middle and upper classes. There are restaurants, stores, a food court, ice cream shops, arcades, bowling alleys, nightclubs, bars, and the most modern cinema in Lima.
The main tourist attractions include La Huaca Pucllana, Kennedy Park, the church of the Miraculous Virgin (Iglesia Virgen Milagrosa), the Lover's Park (Parque del amor), Larcomar, and Calle de las Pizzas (Pizza Street). The Calle de las Pizzas, located in downtown Miraflores, is a favorite among the youth, foreigners and locals alike; it has many pubs, and as it name implies, offers not only drinks but also varieties of pizzas.
Miraflores has always been a major hub for tourists in Lima. There are a number of hotels in the area, including a couple of international hotel brands. Furthermore, there are several shops selling souvenirs and tourist products.
Later in the evening after all the exploring, we enjoyed a delicious dinner of sea bass
ceviche at the Rosa Nautica restaurant built on an ocean pier.
Rosa Nautica Restaurant, Lima Peru
Next day we flew Lan to Iquitos where we were greeted by 3 top guides who remain with us for our 6 days in the jungle. They are truly pro’s on flora, fauna and having fun! All transport is by boat. 90 miles down river we arrive at the Explornapo Lodge in the heart of Amazonia. No plumbing or electricity, feels like an episode out of “Survivor.” Rustic to the extreme yet therein lies the unique charm. I fell in love with the resident “pets”. There was Adrian the toucan who would poke his long beak into the dining room door for a treat, along with several tame parrots and scarlet macaws. Charlie was a Capybara that looked like a mutant 100lb. guinea pig. When I’d scratch under his chin he’d close his eyes and make cooing sounds.
The pitch black nights were spooky with a symphony of wild noises. Our rooms were connected with a privacy wall and an open thatched roof. Like a giant slumber party, we all shouted “goodnight Johnboy” from our mosquito netted beds. Suddenly Sharon screamed and the guys run to her room. She found a giant lizard tucked in with her in her bed. At 3am I head to the latrine with flashlight in hand. Inside a bat flutters near my head as I repeatedly whisper “bat’s are good.”
Enough roughing it. We board our boats for “luxury in the Amazon” at Ceiba Tops. With air conditioning, tropical gardens and a pool, it feels like the Ritz to us. I take the world’s longest shower as others enjoy Pisco Sours by the pool. We all gain weight with fresh food throughout that is both delicious and plentiful.
Ceiba Tops
On daily boat tours we saw giant water lilies, sloths, countless birds and the elusive pink dolphins. We fished by cane poles for piranha to fry up for dinner. We visited a family with a pet anaconda snake. My brave clients drape it around themselves for a photo op. We delivered medical supplies to a remote clinic serving the poor river people. Here a tooth extraction costs $2 if they can afford it.
There were many highlights! We hiked the world’s longest canopy walk 100′ high in the trees. We visited Monkey Island, a research station for 8 species that roam free. For one photo I held 3 at a time. There was a lecture by two resident shamans who taught us about medicinal plants and then blessed us individually as they removed our bad spirits. At the Yagua Indian Village we traded our western goods for masks and blowguns (several of these were later were confiscated by TSA.)
A Yagua Village
The best part of the trip for me was a surprise visit to a rural school. Inside were 50+ children barefoot and wide-eyed who never see tourists. Tears filled my eyes as they sang their national anthem to us. We sang our anthem to them and deposited a ton of school supplies to the two teachers. It was a glorious sight.
Rural Amazon School, Peru
Back to Lima, we all scatter to shop the Indian markets. The dollar is so strong here that several in the group bought another suitcase to fill. I did my Christmas shopping in May. Our fabulous dinner was at a restaurant set in pre-Incan ruins. We toast each other goodbye with many hugs as I remiss a journey well done. This group was so prefect I’d like to clone them all for future AFS trips. I couldn’t hand pick better travelers for this adventure.
I have always loved the land of Peru. I am now designing a unique future trip to include Machu Piccu, boating Lake Titicaca, visits to natives on floating reed islands and crossing to La Paz Bolivia. For the moment, I've have my time in Europe. There is a spirit of humility found in the hearts of these people that I am unable to adequately describe here. Nor can my photos justly convey Peru. It truly must be experienced.
How To Travel To The Amazon River In Three Easy Steps
The Amazon rainforest is considered to be the largest in the entire world and will host the second longest river on the globe as well as more than a third of the world`s species. The Amazon River is also one of the main destinations for travelers, and cruises along this river, eco-lodges and wildlife viewing are among the most important attractions. For those certain tourists who are considering to visit this natural wonder, there are many points to enter, each of them with distinct opportunities to explore the ecology and culture of the Amazon River.
Gateway 1
Amazon via Iquitos, Peru
Floating Village in Iquitos, Peru
Take a flight to Peru. The Amazon River will start in the Peruvian Andes
and the rainforest which will lie below is considered to be one of the
biologically densest locations of Amazon basin. International travelers
will generally take a flight to Lima and then to Iquitos. This city is
located along the river, deep within the rain forest, and is the largest
city in the entire world which is inaccessible by roads. Many Peruvian
cruise tour companies are located in Iquitos and the nearby jungle
is lined with many eco-lodges such as Samiria Ecolodge. Tefe, which is located upriver, is
considered the jumping off location for the Mamiraua reserve, where
travelers can visit the pristine rain forest.
Take a flight to Bogota, Colombia. This country will remain an interesting piece
of Amazon rainforest which has the size of California, most of it being
still unexplored and pristine. You can only get into this spectacular, tropical and adventurous town in Colombia by plane or boat. The only place connected to Leticia by a commercial airline is Bogota. International tourists will take a
flight to Bogota and then to Leticia, which is located on the border
between Brazil and Peru. There are cruise tour companies, eco-lodges all around this area, along with
Amacayacu National Park. Take an Anaconda Tour where you will be touring around the Amazon River. See many native floras and faunas as you tour the river. Visit a lot of native tribes in their villages. From Leticia, river ships will ply the Amazon
River to Iquitos as well as to Manaus or the coastline of Brazil.
Take a flight to Brazil. This country will cover almost
half of South America and more than half of its dynamic territory will
be occupied by the Amazon rain forest. Take a flight to Sao Paulo or
Rio, and choose Manaus as your point of entry, which is the largest city
in this rain forest. This city is pleasant and friendly, although quite hot, and is still a major port, and a good starting point for river tours. Located along the Amazon River, Manaus will provide an interesting museum which is dedicated to the ecology
of the Amazon River, as well as a forested zoo which will showcase much
of the wildlife of the jungle. Three popular jungle lodges in or near Manaus are; Amazon Jungle Palace, Manaus, Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge and Juma Amazon Lodge which is located 100km south of Manaus. Most Brazilian Amazon cruise tour
companies will have offices in Manaus and guest river ships
will depart in the deep jungle on a daily basis. The town of Tefe, which
is located upriver, is considered the jumping off location for the
Mamiraua reserve, where the pristine rain forest will be able to be
visited.
One way to see Peru is to visit the 3 areas - Coastal, Andes, and Amazon -- and Iquitos is the best way to see the Amazon.
The Amazonian City of Iquitos is a beautiful and exotic city in the Amazonas region of Peru. Now known as
"The Gateway to the Amazon", more than 150 years ago this city was merely a native village that sat on a mud bank. Iquitos is the capital of the vast Department of Loreto, which covers most of the northern Amazon region of Peru.
For travelers, Iquitos offers a vast selection of activities not found elsewhere in Peru, such as Amazon boat rides and great wildlife viewing.
Jungle trips are the main reason many tourists visit Iquitos as it serves as a launch point for trips into the Amazon. Single day or multi-day trips can be booked for around S/.130 Nuevos Soles per person per day ($45 USD). You are taken out on a boat and can view wildlife such as monkeys, alligators, giant lily-pads, baby caimans (sort of like mini-alligators), anacondas, boas, tarantulas, and more.
While a lot of visitors go to Iquitos just to head straight off to a jungle lodge and then leave on their return from the jungle, Iquitos has a lot to offer and it's always recommended that visitors allow at least two days before or after their jungle excursion to explore this charming city.
Iquitos is widely considered the largest continental city unreachable by road. Surrounded by rivers and jungle and with no road connection to the outside world, Iquitos has acquired a unique culture that has come from years of isolation. That leaves planes and boats as the primary means of entrance and egress for both people and supplies.
Do not expect to see a city with all the trappings of the western world. This city is very basic as it has no road connection with the rest of the world. Vehicles are old and most vehicles on the meager roads are "motor taxis" or three wheeler motorbikes which can carry three at a pinch. The people are friendly once you get past the taxi drivers at the airport
Iquitos is hot and humid (90 percent) all year round. The population is very diverse. 'Iquiteños' (or 'Iquitinos') are usually very friendly and like to party.
If you want to party, there are dance clubs all over the city. Iquitos offers all-year round nightlife like few other South American destinations, with a huge range of dance clubs and bars. All Iquiteños love to party in their own way. Beer and other cold beverages are cheaper than in Lima (subsidized by the government). Often times clubs will not let men in if they are wearing sandals or unbuttoned shirts.
Visitors to Iquitos should choose their activities, shopping and jungle trips carefully to avoid contributing to further destruction of this fragile region.
Getting There
Arriving By Air
There are numerous flights to Iquitos from the capital Lima. LAN flies 4 to 5 times per day; Peruvian Airlines flies twice daily and offers flights without penalties and other facilities. Be aware that the stopover in Tarapoto often causes delays up to several hours. Avianca has also started service to Iquitos.
When arriving at the airport, consider stopping at the official iPeru, Tourist Information and Assistance Office of the Peruvian Tourist Board (PromPerú) before exiting the terminal. You can get a free map and brochure, a list of tour providers, recommendations about what to see and do and safety recommendations.
Iquitos can be reached by boat from any navigable port on the Amazon River. Boat prices will depend on the distance, speed of the boat, number of passengers, and your bargaining skills
Getting Around
The most common way to move around town is by motocarro, a motorcycle with a small, rickshaw-like passenger cabin in the back. Taxis are available too, but the heat and availability of the moto-taxis makes it advisable to take a motocarro.
Things to do
Monkey Island
Monkey Island
About a two hour ride down the Amazon by fast boat lies Monkey Island. Here they have a variety of different monkey species (some endangered) that roam freely and feed off a variety of fruits such as starfruit, banana, pineapple, cocona and guava, these were especially planted to ensure the monkey’s staple diet is maintained. As soon as visitors arrive at the island the monkeys swarm towards them so it’s always best to take some bananas with you so as not to disappoint them. You can go for a walk through the rainforest and the monkeys will follow you, one even leading you by the hand. There is no charge for visiting Monkey Island but visitors are expected to make a voluntary contribution for the upkeep of the sanctuary.
Waterfront Cruise
You can take a cruise along the Iquitos waterfront very easily by renting a wooden palm roofed boat called a "peque peque". They will take you to the floating village of Belen and during high water you can cruise through the flooded streets. Then back along the entire waterfront taking in the naval port with its old warships and onto Masusa the main port of Iquitos and then the confluence of the Itaya and Amazon rivers before dropping you off back at the Boulevard.
Belen Market
Located 11 blocks from the Plaza de Armas up Prospero Street on the embankment in Iquitos lies the sprawling Belen Market. This floating market covers many blocks and sells everything you can think of and it is open from about 5.00 am every single morning throughout the year. 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 photo-essays on Belen, check out The Belen Street Market, Pasaje Paquito (if you want to buy exotic drinks this is the place), and Floating in Belen. If you want to buy crafts, you can go to the San Juan crafts market. Visiting Belen Market is a very interesting way to spend an hour or two. Never go after dark. Best time is early in the morning. And leave your valuables at home.
Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm and Amazon Animal Orphanage
If you do have half a day to spare it is worthwhile going there. At Pilpintuwasi you can see the complete life cycle and learn about the impressing development of butterflies. At the Amazon Animal Orphange you'll see the rescued endangered animals that were ill-treated, such as anteaters, monkeys, tapirs and others. Watch out for the monkeys, they are very proficient thieves and will steal anything they can get their hands on. Best to take a bunch of bananas and bribe them to leave you alone. Pilpintuwasi is on the Nanay River Front near the village of Padre Cocha. It's about 20min by boat from Bellavista-Nanay. There are boats all day long. During the dry season you have to walk about 15 mins from the village.
Amazon Rescue Center
Located about 30 minutes from Iquitos, the rescue center is a fantastic opportunity to learn about endangered aquatic wildlife in the Amazon region. The center is focused on educating regional youth and others on the harm and impact of killing and selling manatee and other wildlife such as turtles and otter. This is a must do trip if you have extra time in Iquitos
Pink Dolphin Watching
There are lots of places to see these beautiful creatures but the closest and best place is at the confluence of the Amazon and Nanay rivers at Bella Vista Nanay. At Bella Vista Nanay hire a boat for an hour or two and float down the amazon watching pink dolphins swim around you.
The Waterfront at Night
Known as "The Boulevard", this
pedestrian promenade overlooking the river is the place to hang out in
the evenings. Things normally get going around 7.00 pm and usually goes
on until 11.00 pm. Drink a cold beer outside one of the many bars and
restaurants facing the boulevard, listen to great music, enjoy a meal or
just watch the street entertainers.
Jungle tours and ecolodges
There are many lodges and resorts which are carefully controlled. The facilities are adequate, with some being very well appointed. You can book in the city or pay for a full package in Lima, through a travel agent, or online directly with the company. Many legitimate companies are registered in iPerú, Tourist Information and Assistance (by PromPerú, the Peruvian Tourism Board), but be aware that businesses must pay to be listed in iPeru, thus listings are not comprehensive.
Be aware of "guides" who solicit on the street. They offer their work for a very cheap fee but they do not have any guarantee. They are not official guides in Iquitos. They will show you an ID of the company they "work" for to gain your confidence. Most of them are scammers, do not trust them for your own safety and well-being!
Slideshow
The Yagua and Bora Indigenous Villages.
The Boras and the Yagua Natives live on the Momon River near the village of San Andres. Each community wears their own traditional clothing. They will dance and sing for you and then invite you to dance with them before showing you their handicrafts which they hope you will buy. They use the money as their source of income which they also use to buy medicines for the children. To get to the Yaguas and Boras simply get a motocarro to the port of Bella Vista Nanay and from there rent an aluminium speedboat for an hour or two to take you for the 20 minute ride to San Andres.
Accommodations
Options range from backpacker hostels to more upscale hotels, but do not expect the same standards of luxury from Iquitos as elsewhere in the world or even in Peru. Reasonable private rooms can be found for as little as 25 USD per night.
