IQUITOS, Peru
-The first thing most visitors notice is the buzzing. Just about
every street in this Amazon port city is filled with the noise of
motocars. A cross between a motorcycle and a rickshaw, it is the
best way to get around town.
Unique to this
part of Peru, motocars arent the only things that make this
destination stand out.
There are also
impressive architecture, a rich history, surprisingly good
nightlife and cuisine, and easy access to the wonders of the
Amazon.
A city of some
600,000, Iquitos is a starting point for Amazon cruises and visits
to nearby jungle lodges.
But travelers
interested in exploring an offbeat city with unique charms easily
can spend a night or two in Iquitos.
What makes the
city so different? Well, for starters, you cant get here by land.
The only access is via slow boat or airplane.
As a result of
its traditionally limited contact with the rest of Peru, Iquitos
has forged its own distinct character.
Founded in 1757,
Iquitos soon became the nations most important river port. The city
boomed in the late 1800s, thanks to the growing rubber
trade.
Iquitos is far
from its glory days of the rubber boom, but the grand architecture
from the era is still visible in the compact city
center.
Glazed tile
facades adorn the former mansions along the waterfront, where there
are impressive views of the river below.
Visitors can
enter the Museo Amazonico, a museum with Amazon artifacts, and the
Biblioteca Amazonica, a library. Both are housed in mansions that
once belonged to rubber barons.
A neo-Gothic
church built in 1919 anchors the Plaza de Armas, the main city
square.
Across the square
is the surprisingly unassuming Casa de Fierro (Iron House), which
was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the man behind the Eiffel Tower,
for the 1889 Paris Exhibition.The building, which now houses some
rather unexciting businesses, was shipped in pieces from Europe and
rebuilt here.
Also worth
visiting is Belen, a poor neighborhood where most structures are
built on stilts to protect them from the rising waters of the rainy
season.
These wooden
houses, connected via catwalks, offer a fascinating glimpse into
the local life of the residents.
Accommodations in
Iquitos are limited and best suited to travelers who dont require
extreme luxury.
The most upscale
property is the Dorado Plaza Hotel, (011) 51-94 222-555, which has
an outdoor pool, a fitness center and 24-hour room service. The
hotel is in a good location on the Plaza de Armas. Rates start at
$150 and include breakfast.
Among the
reliable basic properties is the Hotel Acosta (e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.hotelacosta.com). The Hotel Acosta has private
baths, hot and cold water, TV and air conditioning, and is priced
at $40 per night, double, including breakfast and roundtrip airport
transfers.
At night, Iquitos
heats up as dozens of small bars and a large disco, Noa-Noa,
attract a variety of locals and foreigners.
If its too far to
walk back to the hotel, there is always a motocar waiting
nearby.
The countrys
tourist information and assistance service, PromPeru, operates a
small tourist information office on the Plaza de Armas.
For information
about Iquitos, contact PromPeru at (866) 661-PERU or visit www.peru.info.
To contact
reporter Mark Chesnut, send e-mail [email protected].