On tour with Estelle and Jean-Marc: Iquitos

From Leticia (Colombia) we took a merchant ship upstream on the Amazonas towards Peru. As there were no cabins on the cruiser, we had to buy two hammocks to spend the 3 days/2 nights’ journey on deck of the boat. The sound of the motor was so loud, that we didn’t unplug our earplugs during the whole voyage. The only thing we did was lying in our hammocks, reading, enjoying the view and sleeping. The boat stopped at various small villages to collect other people or merchandise. Among the trade items were also some chicken and cocks, who woke us very ‘gently’ with their ‘lovely’ crowing during the middle of the night.

During our trip, we were shocked about the fact that the locals on the boat used the river as their trashcan, from plastic wrapping paper and lighter to bottles and other waste, everything was just thrown overboard.

After 3 days, we arrived in Iquitos, the biggest city of the world that is just accessible by boat or plane. During the rubber-boom period, a lot of big mansions in the colonial style were built and you can still find the remains of them throughout the city.

Iquitos was also the place where the German Werner Herzog directed his famous Amazonas Epos ‘Fitzcarraldo’ with the eccentric Klaus Kinski.

As we were living on budget a few days, we decided to take a very big breakfast in one of the colonial buildings, an ancient mansion from 1910 of the rubber-baron Luis F. Morey, to bring to close our trip through the Amazonas.

Ready for departure from the Island Santa Rosa.

Finally our 'cruise line' arrived.

First in first served. As Iquitos was one of the first stops of the boat, we could reserve the 'best' spots ;)

After a few more hours the two floors were jam-packed.

Reading and relaxing, and at some point going periodically to the toilet.

One of the bigger ports on our journey to Iquitos.

Dowtown Iquitos ;)

Enjoying our healthy breakfast in a delightful special colonial mansion.

'La Casa de Fierro' is completely build out of iron. It is said that it was designed by Gustave Eiffel, fabricated in Belgium and brought piece by piece all the way through the jungle by a rubber baron.