Peru - Amazon Voyage
On January 22nd, 2009, Tina and I joined my parents for a once in a lifetime trip to the Peruvian Amazon. The Peruvian Amazon is the second largest jungle in the world after the Brazilian Amazon region.
One primary reason for the trip, was to photograph birds. Of the approx 9,672 different species of birds in the world, over 1,800 can be found in Peru and over 800 can be found in the jungles of the Peruvian Amazon. Sometimes it was hard to know where to look next.
After spending a day in Lima, we flew over the Andes Mountains to Iquitos. There, we boarded La Amatista, a 3-story river boat for a magical week on the Amazon.
Iquitos
Iquitos is the largest city in the Peruvian rainforest, with a population of 370,962. It is the capital of Loreto Region and Maynas Province. It is generally considered the most populous city in the world that cannot be reached by road.
Located on the Amazon River, it is a mere 106 m (348 ft) above sea level even though it is more than 3,000 km (1,864 mi) from the mouth of the Amazon at Belem in Brazil, on the Atlantic Ocean. It is situated 125 km (78 mi) downstream of the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, the two main headwaters of the Amazon River. Iquitos has long been a major port in the Amazon Basin. It is surrounded by three rivers: the Nanay, the Itaya, and the Amazon.
The city can be reached only by airplane or boat, with the exception of a road to Nauta, a small town roughly 100 km (62 mi) south. Most travel within the city itself is via bus, motorcycle, or auto rickshaw (mototaxi, motocarro or motokar). Transportation to nearby towns often requires a river trip via llevo-llevo, a small public motorised boat.
The climate is hot and humid, with an average relative humidity of 85%
La Amatista
Spanish for "The Amethyst," La Amatista offers Amazon tours year-round. The riverboat is owned and operated by Alabama's International Expeditions.
The ship is handcrafted from hardwood and offers two categories of accommodations—upper and lower decks. La Amatista holds 31 passengers and staffs a mostly South American crew that meets guests' every need from laundry service to cleaning muddy boots and providing live music in the evening.
La Amatista generally departs from Iquitos in northeastern Peru. The riverboat travels 300 miles up the Amazon, offering a variety of nature-watching, jungle-walking and piranha-fishing opportunities along the way.
Meals are served buffet-style in a common dining room and offer filling, health-conscious choices such as catfish, chicken, rice, fresh vegetables and exotic tropical fruit.
Rooms are small but comfortable, offering no TVs or phones, but plenty of bottled drinking water and filtered shower water fresh from the Amazon. Other perks include complimentary hiking sticks, robes and leather gators (ankle protectors) for jungle walks. La Amatista has no elevators, and while it's on the river, medical facilities are scarce at best.
Though certainly not for everyone, La Amatista offers the perfect opportunity for those who are willing to sacrifice a little accommodation for adventure.