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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- South America
- Peru
- Iquitos
Iquitos
The gateway to the Amazon, Iquitos is the largest city in the
Peruvian rainforest. Only accessible by plane or boat, the town is
a popular base for Amazon tours and treks through the rainforest
and the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. A popular tour from
Iquitos is a boat tour of Belén, a nearby community of houses
tethered to poles in order to float in the river's waters. Belén
also has a popular open-air market trading in local plant and
animal medicines.
The river system around Iquitos offers some of the Amazon's best
access to remote parts of the jungle and to Indian villages, and
boat excursions can easily be arranged. Native tribes live along
the river banks and organised trips to the villages include a show
of traditional song and dance along with plenty of encouragement to
buy their handicrafts, now a major source of income for the
people.
Hot and humid all year round, Iquitos was originally founded by
Jesuit missionaries in 1754, and has grown to a bustling city of
nearly 400,000 residents. Colonial buildings and museums tower over
clapboard houses and the streets buzz with motorcycles and buses.
Some of the popular tourist attractions in Iquitos include the
Amazonian Manatee Orphanage and Monkey Island.
Information & Facts
Language
Spanish and Quechua are the official languages, but many
other dialects are spoken. English is spoken only in major tourist
centres and hotels.
Money
The official currency is Nuevo Sol (PEN) divided into 100
céntimos. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card, but all
major international credit cards, including Diners Club and
MasterCard, are accepted in many, but not all, establishments.
Outside Lima facilities may be more limited. Travellers cheques may
also be difficult to exchange in small towns and villages, and
travellers are advised to have cash on hand. US Dollars are the
easiest currency to exchange and plenty of restaurants, hotels and
shops in the main cities accept dollars for payment.
Casas de cambio(exchange bureaux) often give better rates
than hotels and banks and can be found in any town on the tourist
circuit. ATMs are available in the main cities.
Time