Iquitos is the biggest of the Peruvian rainforest cities. With a population of almost 400,000 people, it is the world's most populated city that you cannot reach by road travel. The city is completely cut off from everything. It finds its home on the mighty Amazon River and has been a strong port to the area for a very long time, located in the Amazon Basin. The city is surrounded by the Amazon, Nanay and Itaya rivers.
You can only arrive at this secluded city by way of boat or airplane. The dwellers that live here travel mainly by motorcycle, mototaxi or bus as there is not a huge demand to own a personal automobile.
The climate is hot and extremely humid. The average humidity here rarely drops below 85% and the wet season lasts usually from November until May. That being said, this is a place that you can visit during the wet season and not only enjoy it but see things you would not usually see in the dry season.
Tourists are starting to fall in love with this city and it has a growing popularity. It is the perfect ending or beginning point to many tours of the Amazon rainforest as well as the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. The reserve is one of the biggest areas of Peru that is protected due to its Eco rich diversity of life present. If you are looking for tours to see an unbelievable amount of plant and animal life, Iquitos is the perfect city for you.
Another popular attraction is the boat tour to Belén. This is an area that you can get to by foot during the dry season but boat is the only option during the wet season. The small hut style homes there are tethered to very large poles that cause the homes to float when waters get high. Can you imagine your home just floating over to a different neighbor whenever the waters got high? This is unlike anything you will ever see. This is a primary reason to visit during the rainy season. There are a few men that run small boats that are available for locals and tourists to get to the area for a very small fee. Additionally, there is a popular open-air market in Belén, in the drier area, that tourists absolutely love. It houses an entire block of local medicines made from plants to cure any ailment that might be troubling you. Tourists also often see the illegal trade of rainforest primates, boas and parrots that are smuggled to the United States for lucrative pet trade.
The city of Iquitos has a few museums, mainly with local historical content and a few nice hotels. If you are looking for a five star resort, you won't find it here. Visitors enjoy the city for its surroundings, not for its lodging. The Quistococha zoo offers you a first encounter with regional flora and fauna and you are also welcome to visit the people of native communities by the Momon River.
For anyone dreaming to escape away from their everyday life to a magical land, Iquitos is the perfect place. The city gives you a close encounter with paradisaical places like the pristine jungle where you will hear nothing except for the animal noises surrounding you.