Thorn Tree travel forum

1

2

• * * * You cannot get a direct Lancha (slow boat) from Iquitos to Manaus. You will have to go to Santa Rosa on the Peruvian side of the tri-border (Leticia is in Colombia, Santa Rosa is in Peru and Tabatinga is in Brazil), this takes 3 days from Iquitos and was really nice. It does get a bit crowded so get on the ship a few hours early to get a good hamock space (buy these in Belen market for peanuts if you have not got one). Put your hammock as close to the front of the ship as you can, otherwise you have to fight through a jungle of hammock strings every time you want to go to the toilet. Take something to eat and lots of bottled water - food on our ship was fine and people inundate the boat each time you stop at a port trying to sell you food etc but best to be prepared. Be extremely careful with your things when you are waiting for the boat to leave dock - there are so many people milling around and jumping on and off ships that this place is infamous for people being robbed. We were warned before and I thought I was being really clever suspending our bags between our hammocks on some rope, worked so well that I was still smiling when someone cut the laces of my boots (which I had hung on my hammock) and walked off with them. Once you set sail you do not have to be so paranoid but in the port... From Santa Rosa you will need to get a motorized canoe to Tabatinga (about 5 soles per person) and from there regular lanchas that take around 5 days go to Manaus. We did not do this bit ourselves as we did not have time but cannot imagine it would be too different. Be careful in Tabatinga, I was speaking to a cop in Santa Rosa (reporting my stolen shoes) and he said that there are regular shootings there. Leticia in Colombia was lovely though.

• * * * There are no direct boats from Iquitos to Manaus, except a monthly luxury 54 passenger boat. Boats to the border take 11 hours. Regular boats, lanchas, leave almost every day to Santa Rosa, opposite Tabatinga, Brazil. This journey takes two to three days and costs 25.00 or 30.00 US$ with a cabin and meals. Passengers disembark at Santa Rosa, where immigration formalities take place and then take a one dollar boat to Marco, the port for Tabatinga.

• * * * Iquitos to Santa Rosa on a fast boat takes 12 hours and costs 65.00 US$. Slow boats are less expensive but take 3 days. Santa Rosa is in Peru, Leticia is in Colombia and Tabatinga is in Brazil. The boat from Tabatinga to Manaus departs on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It takes 4 days and 3 nights and costs 70.00 US$. There is a daily plane from Tabatinga to Manaus. Its one-way fare is 250.00 US$.

3

Thanks for all your help...........

Another traveler......................

Bye...

Elisa

4