Iquitos, Peru
For those who wish to explore Iquitos, Peru either before or after a rainforest tour, we offer the following services:
Hotels
Iquitos City Tour
Quistacocha Park & Zoo
Butterfly Farm
Bora and Yagua Indigenous Villages
Iquitos Travel Information
Ask for suggestions of how to extend your trip in the Iquitos area.
Hotels
| El Dorado Plaza - 5 Star |  |
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| Price per person per night | ||
| SINGLE | $120 | |
| DOUBLE | $75 | |
| TRIPLE | $65 | |
| No breakfast included. | ||
| DAY ROOM - IN in the morning. OUT that afternoon. | $120 per room. Any number pax up to 4. |
|
| Victoria Regia - 3 Star |  |
|
| Price per person per night | ||
| SINGLE | $74 | |
| DOUBLE | $43 | |
| TRIPLE | $33 | |
| Breakfast included. | ||
| DAY ROOM - IN in the morning. OUT that afternoon. | $32 per room. Any number pax up to 4. |
|
Iquitos City & Market Tour
A good introduction to Iquitos is the highly recommended Iquitos City & Market Tour.
Your guide, Joel Garica will pick you up at your hotel for a tour of the Artisan Market in San Juan (a great place to purchase handicrafts); a canoe tour of the Itaya River in Belen (the floating city) and a tour of the Belen Market. The Belem market is a cornucopia of exotic foods and jungle products. Here you will find an entire street of medicinal plant vendors, hot pepper vendors, and a host of other curiosities. 
The tour also includes a swing past famous Iquitos landmarks such as the Plaza de Armas, the Iron House, the Plaza 28th of July (with the railroad engine once used during rubber boom days), the Malecon (waterfront boulevard). Tours usually last 3 hours.
| Iquitos City Tour | ||||
| Approx. 3 hours | ||||
| # people | 1 - 4 | 5 - 6 | 7 - 8 | 9 + |
| Price per person | $ 30 | $ 28 | $ 26 | $ 25 |
Quistacocha Park & Zoo (with guide)
| Quistachocha Park & Zoo | Price per person |
| Approx. 4 hours | $30 |
| Entrance fee | 10 soles |
Butterfly Farm (with guide)
| Butterfly Farm | Price |
| Approx. 3 hours | $20 per person |
| Entrance fee | $5 per person |
| Boat rental | $20 per group |
Bora or Yagua Indigenous Villages (with guide)
| Bora or Yagua Villages | (one village) |
| Approx. 3 - 4 hours | $30 per person |
| Boat rental | $20 per group |
IQUITOS TRAVEL INFORMATION
Iquitos is in the Province of Maynas, Departamento de Loreto, in northeastern Peru. It was founded over two centuries ago and, despite lacking road connections with the outside world, Iquitos has a population of over 400,000. The Department of Loreto is larger than Spain! Most of our basic travel information for Peru applies to Iquitos as well.
BANKS:
Banking hours are 9-6 Monday through Friday and also Saturday mornings. Teller machines are open 24 hours per day, although they do not always have funds available. They can be found on Avenida Prospero 2nd block, and at Arica and 9 de Diciembre, a few blocks form the Plaza 28. We have found that the courtesy bank card is less expensive to use than a credit card, but make certain your ATM card is accepted by programs like Pulse, Cirrus, etc. (Check the back of the card).
MONEY EXCHANGE:
See our Peru instructions. In Iquitos there are hordes of cambistas in the streets waiting to buy your dollars. Theft by tricky counting, rigged calculators, bad exchange rates and false bills are commonplace. Registered cambistas wear a badge and a uniform, but there are no guarantees. See them at the corner of Ramirez Hurtado and Ricardo Palma.
MAPS:
Try Ms. Irene Castro in the offices of the regional government, 7 AM-noon. Avenida Quiñones Km 1.5
SECURITY:
Iquitos is generally considered a safe place for travelers and residents alike. There are few reported incidents of violence, most crimes being theft, pick-pocketing, dishonest vendors or scam artists such as some money changers. Still, it is advisable not to flaunt valuables or walk alone late at night.
Tourist Police: Calle Sargento Lores 834
Telephone (65) 242-081; Cellular (65) 993-5932
INTERNET:
In Iquitos there are dozens of internet cafes, especially around the Plaza de Armas. Prices are about 2 soles per hour and some offer international phone calling as well. An international phone center is at Gaby Com, Napo 349-Arica 1124, hours 7AM-11PM.
SHOPPING:
There are two markets specializing in folk art and crafts. One is located below the Boulevard (Malecon) on the banks fo the Itaya/Amazon, at the end of Calle Napo. The other is in San Juan along the airport highway. It is called the Mercado Artesanal de San Juan; any motokar will take you there.
TRANSPORTATION:
Three-wheeled motorcycles called motokars are everywhere. Normal fee is one and one half soles unless the destination is far away such as the airport (8-10 soles or more), Bella Vista (3 soles) or it is either late at night or a holiday, when base cost is usually 2 soles. Often foreigners are quoted higher prices, so be prepared to stand your ground.
HOSPITAL:
The best place for medical attention is the Clinica Adventista Ana Stahl, Av. La Marina N 285.