Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. That’s what it takes to get to the Amazon. Just kidding! I like that movie title, and the title does imply that it takes some effort to get to the Peruvian Amazon, which it does. But more accurately, it takes planes, buses, and boats!
From Dallas, we flew to Lima via Miami and stayed the night before hopping on a plane to Iquitos, Peru. For those who imagine the Amazon is in the middle of the jungle, you might be surprised to learn that Iquitos, the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon, has a population of 500,000!
Iquitos, the 4th largest city in Peru and the capital of the Loreto Region, boasts an international airport and may only be accessed internationally by plane or boat. As a result, it is one of the most expensive cities in the world because everything has to be flown in! For example, strawberries in Iquitos cost 35 soles or almost 10 USD!
While there is one road between Iquitos and Nauta, another city in the Peruvian Amazon, it does not extend further. I was amazed by the size of Iquitos given its relative inaccessibilty in the jungle!
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!