Things to do in Amazon Basin
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Nikoro
A chic bar that goes through spates of being really popular or really dead. If it’s lively, there’s nowhere better for a beer to watch sunset on the river. Go down the left-hand set of steps from Pevas to get there.
reviewed
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Peru Amazon
4 days (ex Puerto Maldonado/Amazon Lodge)
by Intrepid
Explore the steamy Amazon Jungle, Take wildlife-spotting hikes, Cruise the Amazon River in canoes, Climb a canopy towerNot LP reviewed
from USD$620 -
Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm
A visit to the fascinating Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm is highly recommended. Ostensibly this is a conservatorium and breeding center for Amazonian butterflies. Butterflies aplenty there certainly are, including the striking blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) and the fearsome-looking owl butterfly (Caligo eurilochus), which has a big owl-like eye on its wing. But it’s the farm’s exotic animals that steal the show. Raised as orphans and protected within the property are several mischievous monkeys, Lolita the tapir and Pedro Bello, a majestic orphaned jaguar, who has his own enclosure. You’ll also meet capricious Rosa, a giant anteater who wanders around freely looking for ants…
reviewed
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Dawn on the Amazon Tours & Cruises
This small outfit offers the best deal for independent travelers. The Amazon I is a beautiful 33ft wooden craft with modern furnishings, available for either day trips or longer river cruises up to two weeks. Included are a bilingual guide, all meals and transfers. You can travel with host Bill Grimes and his experienced crew along the Amazon, or along its quieter tributaries (larger cruise ships will necessarily stick to the main waterways). Dawn on the Amazon has exclusive permission to go twice as far into Pacaya-Samiria reserve as any other tour company. The beauty of these cruises is in their flexibility: many cruise operators have fixed departures and itineraries bu…
reviewed
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Madre de Dios ferry
The Madre de Dios ferry, at Puerto Capetania close to the Plaza de Armas, is a cheap way of seeing a little of this major Peruvian jungle river, which is about 500m wide at this point. The river traffic is colorfully ramshackle: peki-pekis (canoes powered by two-stroke motorcycle engines with outlandishly long propeller shafts) leave from the dock regularly, tracking at an almost impossible angle of 45 degrees to counter the strong river current. Brazil-bound drivers can ferry their vehicles across on wooden or metal catamarans to a rather desultory-looking ferry ‘terminal’ on the opposite side. Commit the sight to memory – when the Interoceanic Hwy comes to town, a huge …
reviewed
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Amazon Golf Club
Amazing as it may seem, you can play a round or two on the nine holes of the wonderful Amazon Golf Club, the only course in the entire Amazon. Founded in 2004 by a bunch of nostalgic expats, the 2140m course was built on virgin bushland and it boasts, apart from its nine greens, a wooden clubhouse. Hole 4 is a beauty: you tee onto an island surrounded by piranha-infested waters. Don’t go fishing for lost balls! When fully completed the clubhouse will also include a bar (it already has a fridge full of beer) and the grounds will feature a swimming pool and a tennis court. Meantime see cofounder Bill Grimes at the course city office for information on how to get some swingi…
reviewed
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Reserva Nacional Tambopata
The Río Tambopata is a major tributary of the Río Madre de Dios, joining it at Puerto Maldonado. Boats go up the river, past several good lodges, and into the Reserva Nacional Tambopata, an important protected area divided into the reserve itself and the zona de amortiguamiento (buffer zone). The park entrance fee needs to be paid at the Sernanp office in Puerto Maldonado, unless you are on a guided tour, in which case you will pay at the relevant lodge office. An additional fee is required if you are heading into the reserve proper (such as to the Tambopata Research Center) rather than just the buffer zone.
reviewed
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Casa de Fierro
Every guidebook tells of the 'majestic' Casa de Fierro (Iron House) designed by Eiffel (of Tower fame). It was made in Paris in 1860 and imported piece by piece into Iquitos around 1890, during the opulent rubber-boom days, to beautify the city. Although three different iron houses were imported, only one, at the southeast corner of the Plaza de Armas, survives.
It looks like a bunch of scrap-metal sheets bolted together, and was once a store and the Iquitos Club. There is now a store on the ground floor. There are plans afoot to open an upstairs restaurant and bar. Stay tuned.
reviewed
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Obelisco
Although the strangely cosmic, blue Obelisco was designed as a modern mirador (lookout tower), its 30m height unfortunately does not rise high enough above the city for viewers to glimpse the rivers. The view is still fantastic: a distant glimmer of jungle and plenty of corrugated-metal roofs can be admired! Photos displayed on the way up document such historic moments as when the first mototaxi arrived in town. The tower is often closed during rainstorms: water from the roof drains down the stairwells, making them impassable.
reviewed
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La Noche
The friendliest service in Iquitos, the best location, a cool sophisticated vibe and oodles of tasty food: no wonder La Noche is the number one traveler choice for a relaxed Malecón meal. There’s real espresso, a host of gourmet sandwiches (the vegetarian triple can’t be beaten) for lunch, and river fish and crisp salads grace the dinner menu. There is street-front or balcony dining and a chill-out lounge-bar upstairs with sofas.
reviewed
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Ari’s Burger
On the corner of the Plaza de Armas, this clean, chirpy and brightly lit joint is known locally as ‘gringolandia.’ Two walls are open to the street, allowing great plaza- and people-watching. It’s almost always open, serves American-style food as well as local plates and ice creams, changes US dollars and is popular with tourists and locals alike. Desserts in Iquitos don’t get gooier.
reviewed
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Taberna del Cauchero
This place pays homage to the city’s rubber-boom days with intriguing memorabilia on the walls. The only Cordon Bleu chef in Iquitos serves up innovative modern takes on Amazon cuisine (such as river langostinos with chorizo and avocado stuffed into a Mexican-style tortilla) in a spacious, stylishly rustic eating area. It even does sushi, and there’s a pool. A traveler hangout in the making.
reviewed
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Gran Maloka
Enter the bygone world of the rubber-boom glory days at this atmospheric Amazonian restaurant. It’s an elegant tiled mansion with silk tablecloths, wall-length mirrors and imaginative regional delicacies such as chupín de pollo, Amazon venison with toasted coconut and the scrumptious Loretan omelet with jungle leaves. Locals consider this to be the town’s best restaurant.
reviewed
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Antica
New in 2006, the Antica is the best Italian restaurant in town. Primarily a pizza place – there’s an impressive wood-fired pizza oven – pasta also takes a predominant spot on the menu with the lasagna being an excellent choice. Chow down at solid wooden tables and choose from the range of fine imported Italian wines; unparalleled for the Amazon.
reviewed
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Parque Natural
About 4km from the center of Pucallpa, off the airport road, is Parque Natural. This is an Amazon zoo set in lush grounds, with a museum displaying Shipibo pottery and a few other objects, a small children’s playground and a snack bar. Buses heading to the airport can drop you here, or take a mototaxi for about S4.
reviewed
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Usko-Ayar
Usko-Ayar is the gallery of the visionary local artist Pablo César Amaringo Shuna, whose work and biography can be accessed at www.egallery.com. Other promising Amazonian artists study, work and display here – it’s well worth a visit. Tell drivers it’s near the Iglesia Fray Marcos.
reviewed
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Bucanero
For great river views in civilized air-conditioned environs, this restaurant with a fish-dominated menu is a great lunch stop. Pescado a la plancha (grilled river fish) with chicharrones (fried chunks of pork) goes down remarkably well with an icy Iquiteña (Iquitos beer).
reviewed
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Fitzcarraldo Restaurant-Bar
The Fitzcarraldo anchors a whole block of riverside restaurants and is the most upscale of them, with good food and service. Dine indoors (the air-con can be extra chilly) or on the streetside patio. It does good pizzas (delivery available) and various local and international dishes.
reviewed
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La Choza del Candamo
Outside of town, this relaxed peña (bar/club featuring live folkloric music) has a restaurant where you can sample food from all three regions of Peru – coast, mountain and jungle – and listen to the latest live musical offerings. You’ll find it 4km along the airport road.
reviewed
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La Casa Nostra
This convivial joint used to serve as a local hangout for guides; it has now moved to smaller premises and lost its hangout status but remains the top cafe in town. It serves varied breakfasts, tamales, great juices, snacks, desserts and Puerto Maldonado’s best coffee.
reviewed
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Ivalú
One of the most popular local spots for juice and cake in the city, this place does a handy sideline in tamales (chicken or fish in corn dough, wrapped in jungle leaves). It normally opens at 8am; go sooner rather than later if you want a seat.
reviewed
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Museo Etnográfico
Picturesquely located along the Malecón is an old building housing the small Museo Etnográfico, which includes life-sized fiberglass casts of members of various Amazon tribes. You'll find the Biblioteca Amazónica onsite as well.
reviewed
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Burgos’s House
There has long been need of a restaurant like this in the town center: large, airy, courteous and serving up regional goodies with an emphasis on fish. Burgos’s also provides juanes and a mixed platter of jungle dishes for S22.
reviewed
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Chez Maggy
A wood-burning oven produces fresh pizzas, just like its sister restaurants in Cuzco and other Amazon cities. Across the street, they’ve now opened a second, yet more ambient venue, Parilladas Chez Maggy, for those preferring grills.
reviewed
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Kikiriki
How does a Peruvian cock crow? ‘Kikiriki.’ This is the best place in town for grilled chicken. Have it served on a bed of fried banana, the jungle way, with a dash of the legendary hot green sauce. Delivery is possible.
reviewed
