Peru is a beautiful country filled with amazing scenery, including of course the beautiful Peruvian rainforest. Although there are many interesting cities to visit in Peru, you should take the time to visit Uquitos. Located along the Amazon River, Uquitos is actually the Peruvian rainforest's largest city. Amazingly, although this city is sizable, it is not accessible by roads. In fact, it's actually the largest city in the world that one cannot reach by means of a road. To visit Uquitos, you will need to arrive either by boat or by plane.

The History of Uquitos

Originally founded as a mission by the Jesuits in the 1750s, the little settlement of Iquitos grew slowly. However, it experienced a boom in the late 1800s, fueled by rubber production. Although the rubber barons amassed great wealth during this period, many of the local inhabitants lived in poverty. However, the boom didn't last forever, and by the time World War I arrived, rubber production had moved to the Malay Peninsula. The city struggled economically during this time frame, but then experienced a second boom in the 1960s. Oil was discovered in Iquitos, transforming it into a modern and prosperous town. Today, tourism also helps to contribute to the area's economy.

Arriving by Boat

Because Iquitos is inaccessible by road, even people who live in Peru have to travel by water or air in order to get there. Fortunately, the city is home to the best-organized and largest river port in Peru. You'll find everything from a cargo boat to a comfortable cruise ship being used to transport visitors to and from this area.

Arriving by Air

Iquitos' airport might be small, but it is certainly busy. It receives incoming flights from Lima, which is how many people arrive. In addition to the jet aircrafts offered by the airlines serving the region, there are also charter companies that can provide five-passenger planes. These smaller planes are used to transport people to almost any location in the Amazon. Once you've arrived, you can get a taxi to take you wherever you are planning to go. Buses, motorcycles, and mototaxis are commonly used as transportation within the city. When traveling to neighboring towns, small motorized boats are commonly used.

Tourism in Iquitos

Many people who travel to Iquitos are there because of the Amazon rainforest, since the city is commonly used as a base for the tours. There are also boat tours available in the area, which are another popular tourist attraction. Boat tours to the nearby community of Belen are popular. Belen is quite fascinating, since many of the homes are actually built in a way that allows them to float on the water. The open-air market in Belen is also a popular attraction. However, it's important to note that some of the vendors in the market engage in the illegal trade of rainforest wildlife. This market is probably responsible a good deal of illegal smuggling, due to the demand for exotic pets in the United States. Many visitors also come in search of traditional local plant and animal medicines. Some visitors even seek the traditional Amazonian medicinal tea, which can be used to bring about visionary shamanic experiences. However, tourists are generally advised to avoid these kinds of practices.

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