The Amazon Basin

Iquitos: Capital of the Department of Loreto. Located on the West Bank of the mighty Amazon River, considered to be the longest in the world and with the greatest volume of water. Iquitos is an isolated city by road. It can be reached only by air or river.

Founded in 1757 as San Pablo de los Napeanos by the Jesuits. However, Iquitos did not grow until the rubber boom in the late 19th century and early 20th century. A great wealth came from the extraction of latex. Today, Iquitos is the center for exploration of oil in the Peruvian Amazon. Also its of big importance the lumber industry, ecotourism and commerce.

Warm, humid and with a heavy rainy season, Iquitos has a typical tropical climate. The best time for visiting is from April through October, when the rains diminish due to the dry season.

Puerto Maldonado: Capital of the Department of Madre de Dios, located at the confluence of the rivers Tambopata and Madre de Dios. Puerto Maldonado is considered as the biological capital of the world due to the amount of plant and animal species found in this area. The climate is tropical, very humid and warm, with the rainy season from December through April. That is why, it is better to visit from May through November.

Puerto Maldonado is the starting point for visiting the rainforests, some of the most beautiful protected areas in the country, including Manu National Park, Tambopata Candamo etc.