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 | Iquitos Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 16 |  |
Popular Off the Beaten Path | Miscellaneous Off the Beaten Path Tips | All Tips (16) Going up and down the Amazon are many kinds of boats. Most people prefer the fast boats, since they get you where you're going in decent time, even if they can be ridiculously noisy. But if you have time and just want some relaxation space, try out the larger, slow boats. They truck along at a snail's pace, but on some of them you can sit up top where it's quiet, and just watch the Amazon pass by. I accidentally found myself on an afternoon (and evening...and night...) boat back to Iquitos, and I really enjoyed the trip. It was great for just sitting around, chatting, enjoying the view, and watching the sun go down. (For you coupled travelers, it's the type of thing that's enormously romantic. Really.)
Boats from Iquitos can be caught down at the river on Avenida de la Marina. Go down there and ask around for information on the boats leaving. Leave a Comment
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It'd been about four years since I'd rented a motorbike, the last time when I lived in Asia. So it was kind of on a nostalgic whim that I decided to try out the rental places in Iquitos, and just drive out the only highway away from town. So I did. I rode out past the airport for an hour, then back, just to see what was there.
I guess I should've brought a raincoat or umbrella, because unbeknownst to me, a group of rainclouds were planning a family reunion over my stretch of road. About halfway through, I got dumped on. I swear, I don't get that wet in the shower. One particular torrent would get tired of me, then his older brother would take over. I'd wait that one out, then ride straight into the father of the bunch. It was great. I became a pruney sponge, one of those tourists that locals look at, shake their head, and laugh. "Solo un turista."
Anyway, I got back, turned the bike in, and went home. I was wet. My back hurt. My butt was sore. But I was happy.
I guess I was happy because I liked being out there. It was quiet, open, and fresh - a lot different from the constant wall of concrete in Iquitos. No noisy motorcarros. Lots of green. Kids that smile and wave.
So if you want to be a weird foreigner like me, stop by one of the rental places (there are some on Tacna close to La Plaza de 28 Julio) and go out for a couple hours. Fill up at one of the gas stations at the edge of town. A license from your home country should be good enough for the checkpoints. Examine how much damage your bike has before you go, and note it to the renter (though you probably won't have trouble; they didn't even check to see the condition of mine). And drive safe. Driving out to the airport will probably be the most dangerous thing you'll do in Peru. If you're really worried about safety, there are some rental places out past the airport, past the bad traffic. If you want, make it a day and see Quistococha zoo and lagoon on your way out. Try some suri.
Then get on the bike, and head down the only road out of Iquitos. Leave a Comment
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I had a great time exploring the Amazon from Iquitos. Amit ,Eyal and yours truly organized from Iquitos an Independent Jungle Guide called Gerson to take us up the Rio Napo like the locals do it in a Peka Peka over 8 days.
What an adventure spending all day going up the river heading to Equador.
Sleeping on the beaches along the river exploring the jungle at night.
Calling in at small homes along the way.Meeting locals and exchanging rice and petrol for deer meat and fruit.One village we called into claim we where the first white people to visit.The kids actually run away from us when they first saw us to the amusement of Gerson our guide.When we showed the the pictures of them taken on our digital cameras they wanted to know how we shrunk them and put them inside the little box.
We feasted on exotic jungle fruits many I had never seen before.
The fishing nets would come out before dusk to catch some fish for dinner.
The slow pace on the river and being so removed from the gringo trail is something I will never
forget.The thunderstorms that built up in the afternoons and the rain that followed.
Gerson our guide has a great knowledge of the jungle`s flora and fauna.His English language was just as good.Never once where we concerned about our safety as we where in good hands.
We had our own tents and I ended up just sleeping with a sarong over me.
So this was a customized trip to our requirements.We planned to make it to Ecuador but going upriver it ended up going to take a lot longer than expected thus like the way travel often goes.
Just go with the flow!!!!! Leave a Comment Website: http://picasaweb.google.com/rick.vanderburgh/RioNapoExpeditionAmazonPERU Other Contact: amazonguidanceservices@gmail.com
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The hugest tree I have ever seen. The top of the tree you can see in my page on Departemento de Loreto. Leave a Comment Other Contact: Heliconia Lodge
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The leaves of Victoria Regia can grow as big as 140 cm and bear the weight of 3 kg. Be careful for the spins under the leave. Leave a Comment Other Contact: Heliconia Lodge
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