Peru 4U

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Iquitos Peru information

Iquitos Peru is a charming, mysterious and romantic place to be. The eyes of many Peruvians light up when you talk with them about Iquitos. Throughout Peru, Iquitos is known as the "city of love". The city's rich and colorful history, from the natural freedom of ancient indigenous cultures to the European opulence of the 1880's rubber era, is still quite evident in the culture and social relationships.

Iquitos general information

Iquitos is located in the Peruvian Department of Loreto on the junction of the Rio Itaya, Rio Napo, Rio Manati and Rio Amazonas. The Amazon River, originating in Peru, is a world of mystery, grandeur and romance. Its towering forest and rushing waters harbor such an incomparable diversity of life that scientists are still working to classify it all. At its widest point in Brazil, the mighty Amazon River is 40 miles across. Oceangoing vessels can sail the 2,300 miles from the Atlantic Ocean upriver to Iquitos, Peru`s major port on the Upper Amazon.Iquitos is the urban center of a predominantly mestizo and indigenous regional population. The people are generally warm, friendly, hard working, enterprising, and content in spite of material poverty.

Iquitos downtown

La Plaza de Armas is the central hub of urban social life in Iquitos. The plaza is the scene of many cultural, religious and holiday celebrations throughout the year. You will enjoy the pleasant evening street festivities along La Boulevard overlooking the panoramic flood plain at the confluence of the Rio Itaya and Rio Amazonas. The restaurants, bars, dance halls, street theatre, and assorted street vendors combine with the friendly and relaxed attitude of the Loretano people to create a very pleasant social atmosphere. The streets of Iquitos are extraordinarily safe from violent crime, but confidence crime and petty theft are unfortunately common.

Iquitos; getting there

Iquitos can be reached by plane from Lima. You could go by boat from Yurimaguas or Pucallpa, but that would take too long. Due to the limited accessibility the regional Loretano culture remains pleasantly insulated from the harsher influences of the outside world. This is beginning to change however, and much of the old charm is in danger of disappearing with the arrival of 21st century technology and western cultural influence. The urban Iquiteño culture differs dramatically from the rural ribereño and indigenous cultures.

Iquitos climate and season

A unique feature of the rainforest surrounding Iquitos is its lack of a specific rainy or dry season. There is a high water period from December through May which is caused by the melting of snow as the Andean summer begins and from the rainy season in the upper jungle. The low water period begins in June and ends with the rising waters in November. While the water level can fluctuate more then 45 feet, the warm and humid climate remains relatively constant throughout the year, giving this area its botanical category of "Everwet Tropical Forest". Normal daytime highs are 88° F and nighttime lows are 72°F.