The Amazon Jungle Region of Peru is a region that is well visited by tourists. A trip into the jungles of the Amazon will start in the region’s largest city, Iquitos. Its populated city has no roads leading into it, so getting there means taking a plane or a boat from the capital city of Lima. Flights are typically under $100. If you have a more leisurely schedule, a boat ride would be a unique experience. You will disembark on the banks of Iquitos, where industries like lumber, beer, oil and rum are its main resource. You can pick up these boat trips from either Pucallpa or Yurimaguas. Flying into Iquitos is a busy area. There are cabs and buses that will transport you safely into the heart of the city and to your accommodations

Iquitos was founded in the 1750’s by Jesuits, although some believe that it was actually founded nearly 100 years later with the establishing of the Loreto Region. Up until that point in history the region was inhabited by the Cocama and Bora. The main industry during the early founding of this city was rubber. It joined together with Manaus, Brazil in making rubber the top commodity of its time. The rubber boom started its decline once the rubber tree seeds were smuggled and planted in other countries. Now it’s number one industry is Iquitos Amazon tourism, which is thriving quite nicely.

Some of Iquitos main attractions can be found in the main square, Plaza de Armas. The Iron House of Iquitos is situated on the square. This mansion was designed by Gustave Eiffel. It was designed for the 1889 Paris Exhibition, which was then sent, unassembled, to Iquitos and built on the plaza premise where it still remains. Another beautiful attraction found on the plaza is the Iglesia Matriz, or parish church, built in the early 1,900’s. Take a stroll down the Malecon Tarapaca riverfront promenade, featuring large fountains, mansions and the Amazon Museum. There are plenty of open air markets in the Belen neighborhood to satisfy your shopping itch. You can take a boat tour of the Belen area, while observing the floating homes in this river city.

The primary reason for visiting Iquitos is to embark on an unforgettable trip into the Amazon Rainforest. Booking a tour is easy and can be done before or after you arrive in Iquitos. Among the most popular tours down to the Amazon are the guided treks, visits to area lodges and cruises on the infamous Amazon River. There are also birding tours, with packages that include the best of hotels or lodges, as well as a canopy walk. Any way you choose to plan your trip to Iquitos will bring you into a new dimension of life in the intriguing culture of Peru.