Down in the deep rainforest, one is aghast with the stark amount of gorgeous creatures who still manage to have a home. However, each day the Amazon rainforest is becoming more endangered with poachers and businesses who are willing to destroy such beauty for some dainty cash. But the rainforest does not back down, neither does it fail to impress as even though I took many pictures of some of the gorgeous places in the jungle, it can never compare to witnessing it with your naked eye.
Many people go to the rainforest to discover a new world, may it be their ‘newly’ civilised city quite a distance from the rainforest, known as Iquitos due to the Iquitos tribe first arriving and settling there. Or to camp out in the rainforest riddled with mosquito bites but breathing some newly fresh air.
To arrive in Iquitos, home of your next adventure, there is no other way than by plane. Companies such as LATAM and Peruvian offer rather comfortable prices. I paid $137 for my ticket with Peruvian. The plane isn’t the comfiest but the flight is only around one hour approximately, and you get snacks during the journey. It feels quicker than what is is!
The hotel I accommodated myself in was Hotel Casa Morey, only a couple of minutes walk into the plaza where all the shops and restaurants were for any necessities. The hotel keeps a Victorian feel to it from its rubber boom days, when Iquitos gained a lot of money thriving from the rubber that was found, and still found, in their trees. Many English and other European traders took advantage and therefore made millions from this industry. The house belonged to an Englishman, whose surname was Morey, who thrived and had his house built there to work more sufficiently. It is located adjacent the river Nanay, only a couple of minutes from the port. Its whole aesthetic makes you lose yourself in the Victorian era. Accompanied by a library, swimming pool and breakfast served from 7 am to 10 am and friendly staff makes it an ideal if you want to delve in deeper in the history of Iquitos. The price ranges from $50 single room up to $130 for a triple room. Obviously much more pricey and only to be taken full advantage if you are staying for some days in the city.
As for tours, you should have some idea of what things you want to do either visit animal rescue centres, such as the manatees or monkey island or have a couple of nights camping in the rainforest. Always ask your hotel about tours as they are usually the most reliable and avoid accepting trips from strangers who have no agency and same with agencies because sometimes they do not complete everything you wish you to do, and you end up paying a lot for a miserable time.
As I continue writing while scratching my uncountable amount of mosquito bites, I’ll leave you now with a few of many pictures I took during my five days in Iquitos, as I will be flying over to Cusco to visit another wonder of the world, Macchu Picchu!
Maria Hanako van Straaten 
I love Peru, but unfortunately never had a chance to make it to Iquitos. Sounds like it was quite an adventure. You are so brave to have a snake around your neck!! I salute you!! Great post. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It was a truly once in a lifetime experience, but would totally do it all over again! Possibly my best trip in Peru along with Nazca!
LikeLike
Great post and brought back memories!
Not sure if arriving to Iquitos by plane is the only method these days. We travelled through Peru back in 2011. Arrived in Tarapoto, then took a minibus to Yurimaguas, then a 3-day barge down the incredible Amazon River to Iquitos – amazing trip!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like you had the time of your life! I loved Iquitos also. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was amazing. I had written about this but in a Word doc on my laptop, I wasn’t on WordPress back in 2011. Sadly, we were robbed in Peru and I lost all my blog updates.
One day I’ll get around to writing about it as at least I have my photos. But I find over time that it’s the little details you forget and these are what matter in a travel post (reason I write it up in Word straight away). My thoughts anyway. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so sorry to hear that! I’m sure once you get around to writing about it that all the good memories will come flooding back and you will write it beautifully. I can’t wait to read it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our Insurance did not cover the theft as by the time we returned to Australia a couple of months later, it was too long a period. The worse part was that my partner lost over 1,000 photos of the interim NY/Boston trip as his SD card was still in his laptop. Lucky I had backed all my photos to an external drive the night before. Some of Peru photos: http://www.nillasphotography.com/galleries/peru-2011
We had 2 laptops, an iPod, an iPhone, and a bucket of cash stolen from our locked backpacks in our locked hotel room.
No pressure then! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve picked up the habit of always backing my photos too, for me that’s more costly than the device itself. All lessons in life teach us what they need to. Your photography is beautiful! Just checked it out! Hope the theft hasn’t put you off visiting Peru in the future. I’d say it’s much safer now than what it used to be, from what I heard my parent’s tell me. Luckily having lived there a year and travelled around nothing happened although my father believes he had his passport stolen in Cusco, but luckily nothing major happened.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed lessons do!
Thank you for your feedback. I’m currently building a self-hosted replacement site for that photography site. Funnily enough, I built that one back in 2011, whilst traveling through South America for 10+ months, so it’s outdated now. It was tricky on flaky internet and wi-fi connections with many hours spent in coffee shops uploading photos. 🙂
I’d love to return to South America but for now, I’m happy with living in southern Italy for a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve only visited South of Italy once, but it seems amazing! I love Italy in general, visit it every year but this year I’m going for the second time! I’ll be posting about it soon on my blog 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most travellers miss the south to get to Sicily. Look forward to reading your post! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would like to visit Sicily one day. Only explored Capri, Naples and Pompei in the south, first time visiting Italy in winter when I visit Milan though so I get to see how the Italians celebrate Christmas! Thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ll love Sicily but don’t forget, there are other wonderful regions in the south – enjoy! 😉
LikeLike