Nearly half of Peru lies within the sweltering Amazon Basin,
where an untouched rainforest conceals every foot, and every fang.
Believed to be the most biologically diverse region in the world,
it is sparsely populated and largely inaccessible. Many of the
country's indigenous tribes also call the jungle home, adding
another layer to the destination's allure.
Bold nature lovers have found the basin irresistible, yielding
to the pull of jaguars, pink dolphins, giant anacondas and lush
plant-life. Jungle eco-tourism has taken off as a consequence, with
a number of travellers choosing to include the Amazon in their
itinerary. The city of Iquitos is the best place from which to
access the northern basin.
Situated on the mighty Amazon River and humid all year round,
Iquitos was originally founded by Jesuit missionaries in 1754, and
has grown into a bustling city. Today, visitors will find museums
and colonial buildings towering over clapboard houses, and streets
buzzing with buses and motorcycles.
On arrival, travellers follow the basin's vast system of rivers
from Iquitos, paddling dugout canoes between jungle towns, or along
labyrinthine waterways. Motorboats are another transport option.
Visitors can also venture to Monkey Island, or tour Belen, which is
an intriguing community of floating houses. The neighbourhood's
open-air market is popular too. It trades mostly in local plant and
animal medicines.