Iquitos

The capital of the Peruvian Amazon

Iquitos sits on the banks of the Amazon River, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and has a tropical climate with abundant rainfall and mild temperatures year-round. The city's name comes from the Záparo dialect of the “Iquito” tribe and literally means “[the] people.”

In 1864 the first European settlers were Jesuit priests, who established themselves in the Loreto Region, of which Iquitos became the capital. In the 20th century, Iquitos became famous for the rubber industry, which drew people from all over the world: today it's the hub of the Amazon region, home to a mix of different cultures.

Iquitos offers several natural highlights, such as the Nauta viewpoint, from where you can watch the Ucayali and Marañón rivers converge before flowing into the Amazon River.

Cruising the Amazon River

There's no better way to discover the sounds and sights of the jungle than a cruise along the Amazon River, combined with a visit to the great nature reserves around the city. The most important is Allpahuayo Mishana, created to protect medicinal plants and various endangered bird species.

The Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is the largest in Peru: around 40,000 people live within the protected zone and 50,000 in the buffer zone, spread across 208 settlements. Its waters are home to 250 fish species, including the paiche, the largest freshwater fish in the world (2 meters long and 200 kg in weight), while the reserve's 800 tree species provide habitat for 330 bird species, 13 types of monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, capybaras and sloths.

In the Amazon region you can discover the different cultures of the indigenous peoples, with their ancient traditions and customs: around Iquitos it's well worth visiting the Bora, Yagua, Huitoto, Cocama and Shipibo communities.

At the Quistococha Zoo you can discover other unique features of the Peruvian Amazon: a tourist area with a natural forest and an artificial white-sand beach sharing the same name, where you can also sample the region's specialties, prepared with distinctive exotic ingredients.

The Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm is the only one of its kind in Peru, home to more than 40 species of colorful (but harmless) Amazonian insects.

Iquitos is the true capital of the Peruvian Amazon, where you can also discover magic and sorcery, with ancient rituals invoking love, money and good fortune in the Belén neighborhood – another unforgettable moment on a visit to this wonderful region.