About Iquitos, Peru
Iquitos, the largest city in the Peruvian Amazon, is surrounded by three rivers: the Amazon, Nanay, and Itaya. It was founded in 1757 and it is one of the areas with greater European influence in Peru. Iquitos has hotels, natural attractions, and Amazonian landscapes for travelers looking for experiences amidst nature.
Downtown Iquitos houses attractions such as Plaza de Armas, where you can see a fountain with streams and lights at night; the Neogothic-style Iquitos Cathedral; and the Iron House, built in iron by the famed architect Gustav Eiffel. Also, in the city you can visit the Museum of Amazon Indigenous Cultures, featuring ceremonial objects, musical instruments, and feather artworks by cultures located in the Amazon basin.
The neighborhood of Belén, known as The Amazon Venice, is famous for its stilt houses built on the Itaya River and its boats available for rides. This neighborhood houses the Belén Market, a shopping area of about 1,500 square meters (16,146 sq ft) where you can buy varied and exotic items, such as turtle and lizard meat, endemic fish of the Amazon River, and fruits such as the Peruvian guava, cocona, and lucma.
The most important ecological reserve is the Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve, that houses peculiar white sand forests, 112 species of amphibians, 600 species of birds, and 1,900 species of plants. In addition, this region has some of the rarest species on the planet, such as supay pichico, the black stump, the equatorial huapo, or the Iquitos gnatchatcher.
A place you must visit is the Quistococha Tourist Complex, that features a zoo, an aquarium, a nursery, and the artificial beach of Tunchi Playa. In your visit to Iquitos, take advantage and visit places such as Pilpintuwasi, the Monkey Island, or the Amazonian Rescue Center.
***The official currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol (PEN).
