Iquitos & the North
Iquitos is the largest city in the world that is not accessible by road. Half a million people live here, in the middle of the rainforest at the confluence of the Marañón and Ucayali into the Amazon. You can only get here by plane (2h from Lima) or by cargo ship (over a week from Pucallpa).
The city has a rough charm: The Malecón (riverside promenade) on the Itaya River is full of life in the evenings, the buildings in the center with their tiled facades recall the rubber era (1880–1912), when Iquitos was one of the richest cities in South America. The Belén Market is one of the wildest and most fascinating markets on the continent: Here you can find everything — from caiman crocodile meat to piranhas to medicinal plants for every conceivable ailment.
★★★ Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve
The largest protected area in Peru (20,800 km² — larger than Saxony!) is a flooded rainforest, accessible only by boat. Here live pink river dolphins, giant otters, sloths, squirrel monkeys, caimans, toucans, and hundreds of other bird species.
Multi-day boat tours take you deep into the reserve: You sleep in simple camps or on the boat, paddle in a canoe through side rivers, fish for piranhas (yes, really!), and observe caimans on night excursions, whose eyes glow red in the flashlight.
- Duration: At least 3 days/2 nights, better 5 days/4 nights
- Cost: €300–800 depending on duration and comfort
- Best time: May–October (dry season, better wildlife observation)
Lodges around Iquitos
For travelers with less time, there are comfortable jungle lodges 1–4 hours by boat from Iquitos:
- Ceiba Tops (Explorama): Luxury lodge with pool and air conditioning — for those who want comfort
- Heliconia Lodge: Good value for money, 80 km downstream
- Treehouse Lodge: Treehouse lodge high in the treetops — a unique experience!
