1

There are a few great eco lodges in the Peruvian Amazon area at various length boat trips from Puerto Maldonado. A few days at one is a great experience. I suffered a lot with altitude sickness, so it was especially wonderful to be able to explore the jungle (with a guide) and breathe.

2

Talking about laid back towns, I enjoyed very much Chachapoyas, the archeological site of Kuélap, and Leymebamba.

3

Relaxed small towns in northern Peru

Tarapoto (jungle excursions available)
Moyobamba (jungle excursions available)
Chachapoyas (adventure excursions available - ruins, waterfalls, multi-day hikes)
Leymebamba (adventure excursions available - museum, ruins, multi-day-hikes)
Cajabamba, Huamachuco, Otuzco (mountain towns on the "back route" Cajamarca-Trujillo)
Pacasmayo (nice, but not much to do)
Huanchaco (the beach for Trujillo, with a lively crowd)
Casma (interesting excursions to ruins / dunes in the desert)
Caraz (relaxed alternative to Huaraz, high mountain excursions available)
Huarmey (good beaches within taxi range)

Getting to Iquitos

Flights to Iquitos from Lima are your most straightforward option
There might be flights from Tarapoto or Pucallpa
Other options are by boat, from Yurimaguas or Pucallpa

4

I'll second klaush's endorsement of Tarapoto and especially Chachapoyas. I liked both cities very much, and both were pretty lacking in tourist over-development. Chachapoyas and its region are fantastic for anyone who's interested in archaeology. I would have liked to visit Leymebamba if I'd had more time.

There are direct flights to Iquitos from Tarapoto on Star Peru (I think. Maybe it was Peruvian Airlines), otherwise the boat trip from Yurimaguas (just beyond Tarapoto) takes 3 days and is a lot of fun.

5

Any more information on the boat ride to Iquitos? That sounds perfect.

6

It takes approximately 4 days, and the departure dates are unpredictable. Basically the way it works is: You take whaever means of transport to the port of departure. There, you ask for the boat. Then you will find out whether it goes at all, and on which day. The lenght of the boat trip is not fixed. It depends on business requirements (loading of cargo at ports on the route), natural factor like the water level or the shifting sands, and other random factors like mechanical failures or police checkpoints...

7

hello
what is better?
To go to iquitos (on boat)
starting from Yurimaguas or Pucallpa ????

THANKS

8

Yurimaguas is the more frequent point of departure for gringo travelers, as it makes for a shorter river journey by several days (just how many will depend, as klaush says, on water level, cargo, ect.). Yurimaguas is also much farther north and therefore makes a more convenient disembarkation point for travelers coming overland from Chiclayo/Trujillo/Chachapoyas/etc.