Into the Jungle From Iquitos

The Iquitos tourist office delights in pointing out that Loreto, the jungle province of which Iquitos is capital, occupies an area roughly equivalent to the size of Germany. Smart advertising, since this promise of vast virgin forest brings the city most of its visitors. Despite the crowds, the lay of the land ensures that Loreto's most pristine areas stay that way - virtually inaccessible.

Of the various protected areas near Iquitos, the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Community Reserve provide the best looks at rainforest. As a general rule, the farther you travel from Iquitos along smaller tributaries, the more diverse the flora and fauna. Both independent guides and tour agencies fill Iquitos.

See Jungle Tours for information about the comparable assets of each option.