Peruvian Amazon Guide

Amazon Jungles are well known for their pristine and virgin rainforests and are surrounded by the mists of legends and mysteries. Peruvian Amazon is the second largest rainforest after the Brazilian Amazon.

From the east of the Andes to borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia, this region comprises more than half of Peru and is an area with great biodiversity and endemism.

Most of the species of this mysterious and dense rainforest are still undiscovered and the biodiversity of flora and fauna is very rich. Peruvian Amazon occupies more than 60% of country territory but it is the least populated area.

Around only 11% of the country’s population inhabits the Amazon and out of those, the majority is of indigenous people who reside in the Jungle and some of them are in complete isolation from the rest of the world.

(This article was written by Kim)

The Ecotourism Attractions Of The Amazon

There are several small and medium sized cities located in the Amazon areas,however some of its major attractions are as follows:

Iquitos

A major port of Amazon Basin and the most populated & largest city of the whole Peruvian Amazon, Iquitos is engulfed among three rivers of Nanay, Itaya and Amazon on lowland Jungles. Belen area of city is highly popular among visitors and is a common tourist’s destination.

A boat tour is offered which provides rare views of the rain forest and visitors can see floating-houses in the water during wet season.

The open-market of Belen is also a major attraction which mostly provides a wide range of local plant and animal medicines and remedies.

Puerto Maldonado

Located on lowland woods at southeast of Peru in Amazon forests, with hot and humid climate all the year. The city of Puerto Maldonado provides several eco-lodges which are also one of the major source of its income.

The city attractions include Manu National Park, a reserve park highly rich in flora and fauna with more then 20000 species of Flora and several species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects.

The national parks of this city are one of the most beautiful and immaculate rainforests of the Amazon and include many oxbow lakes and clay licks.

Tarapoto

Founded in 1782, the city which is commonly knows as the City of Palms, is a large scale commercial hub of highland woods. The region’s main activities are tourism, commerce and agriculture including the production of coca and the extraction of lumber.

The city has a very active nightlife and visitors enjoy adventure tourism which includes river rafting and hiking. With a wide variety of different hotels and restaurants, surrounded by amazing cascades, stunning landscapes and lagoons, the city of palms is truly a tourist’s paradise.

Moyobamba

Literally meaning “circular plane”, the city is capital of San Martin region in northern Peru. One of the major attractions of this highland jungle city is its wide variety of some 3500 species of Orchids which has led to another nickname of city, the city of Orchids.

Other attractions include waterfalls, hot-springs, caves, lakes and rivers. The city’s chief productions are Alcohol, liquor, wines and straw-hats.

The San Martin Museum attracts many outsiders and showcases historical documents, sculptures and crafts, antiques, wild fauna & flora and photographic exhibitions.

The Accommodation And Best Time To Visit

The climate in the Amazon is warm and humid with average daytime temperatures of 80-90 degrees, and nighttime temperatures of 60 to low 70’s. Rain is frequent, but usually for short periods of time. Humidity is high.

The best time to visit is in winter season between November & February. Rains are no issue and frequent rainfalls shower the Amazon anytime.

Accommodation is not a big issue and a range of neat and elegant hotels and guest-houses surrounded with natural lush green landscapes can be found easily.

Luxurious hotels are not very common in the basin. Many travel agencies and the local tourism board provides several traveling plans which include accommodation and meals also.

(This article was written by Kim)