Pick up at the airport in Iquitos and brief city guidance during the
ride to select hotel.
City Tour: Walk sightsee in the beautiful surroundings of Plaza de Armas
bounded by interesting buildings constructed during the booming of the
rubber era; a major historical event which marked a period of economical
abundance in the city of Iquitos.
The Iron House.- This very famous architectural work was designed by the
renowned architect Gustave Eiffel. A man in the business of rubber named
Julios Toots brought it from Brussels in 1890 after having visited The
International Exposition of European Goods.
Its iron pillars and the other demountable structures allowed an easy
transportation to Iquitos. The building was divided in two parts: One of
them was placed on the Tarapaca Dike which unfortunately collapsed and
became junk. The other part was mounted on the intersection of Putumayo and
Prospero Streets, right across the street from Plaza de Armas, where it
still holds up until now.
Palace Hotel.- Represents one of the most emblematic buildings in the city
of Iquitos. It was built following the European Architecture lineaments of
those times; it is nowadays occupied by the Peruvian Army.
Tarapacá Dike.- Very attractive walk path along which we can find diverse
buildings most of which have been declared historical monuments.
Currently, it traces out the city boundaries getting to Itaya River, which
allows enjoying the Amazonian landscapes including the typical
Barrio de Belén.
Museo Amazónico (Amazonian Museum).- Historical building built in 1863 and
restored by the Regional Government in 1990. It displays 60 sculptures made
by sculptor Felipe Lettersten; they represent the principal ethnic groups of
the Peruvian Amazonian jungle such as Shipibos, Boras,
Yaguas, Witotos,
Ashánicas, Mayarunas and Aguarunas. It is also highlighted the wood carving
work that some of its walls display as well as the sky.
Return to the Hotel.
The rest of the day is off for personal activities or shopping.
Transportation to the pier to begin the boat trip to Amazonas Sinchicuy Lodge.
Boat trip down the Amazon River on very comfortable and safe vessels.
Shipping down the Amazon River; the one with the largest flow in the
world, on board very comfortable and safe vessels.
The trip will allow the observation of wonderful landscapes, in which the
magnificence of the river opens its way through the exuberant jungle where
picturesque riverside towns stand out with their characteristic color and
joy.
Arrival at Sinchicuy Lodge, which is located 45 minutes down the Amazon
River from Iquitos City.
Our Lodge, built in a native style with natural materials, is surrounded by
trees, plants and flowers; a real tropical garden on a no-flood land where a
great number of butterflies and birds reside.
Our staff will welcome you with a refreshing drink made out of regional
fruits (cocona, camu-camu, copoazú, and so on). Learning about the policy of
the lodge will allow you best ways to make your stay and participation in
the ecotourism activities more pleasant.
Immediately afterwards, you will be walked to your assigned room.
ECOCULTURAL Circuit (Ecosystem of the Sinchicuy River basin)
Canoe trip or hike excursion –depending on the season- to “Nuevo Peru”,
where the ethnic community of the Yaguas is located; their ancestors were
discovered by Francisco de Orellana on his first trip to the Amazon back in
1541. This visit will let you know their ancestral customs, you will be able
to appreciate their original outfits made of palm fibers; you can even try
to aim good shots using their “pucuna” (blowguns), hunting weapon the Yaguas
used for centuries.
Then, we will return to the lodge.
Lunch. The Amazonian Sinchicuy cuisine highlights due to the usage of fresh, natural products the
river and the Amazonian land produce. “Dorado” fish fillets (Brachyplatystoma
flavicans) accompanied by cocona sauce, regional vegetable salad, yam, beans
and fried bananas; a real delight which is another Amazonian attraction. Do
not hesitate to ask the chef for the recipe.
In the afternoon you will take on an ethno-botanical trip. You will
always be accompanied by an attentive tour guide; you will be able to know
very particular vegetal species such as Uña de Gato, Caña Agria, Copaiba,
Aguaje and even the Ayahuasca commonly known as “death rope”.
Visit to the local naturist healer or shaman; a person with great knowledge
of the secrets of nature which are applied for the treatment of body and
spiritual illnesses. He will give you an explanation of the wonderful
properties and usage of medicinal plants and roots. Tour through the
riverside town of Santa Maria de Ojeal, where you will observe some of the
productive activities the local people perform to make a living such as
sugarcane juice artisanal extraction; fruit gardens; fish farming of native
species; cattle raising (zebu and Brown Swiss crossing); artisanal fishing
in the rivers. Interaction with local people while you will be able to take
a look at their typical homes, schools, church and stores.
At the same time you will notice the different survival projects the
community is developing through the ecotourism.
Back to the lodge you will be able to observe the beautiful sunset with a
scale of pink, golden and violet shades reflected on the river while the
shadows of the evening start covering the great jungle. It’s imperative to
have your cameras ready so you do not miss this spectacular scene.
Night Trip / Amazonian myths…
Once the night has come, the jungle and its inhabitants let us enjoy unique
sounds and sensations. Your tour guide will let you know when the canoe trip
or hike excursion starts; it will make you discover silently and with the
help of a flashlight the mysterious world of nocturnal insects, cicadas,
spiders, praying mantis, and so on. Furthermore, you will hear the owl
singing and the “ayaymamas” known as the language of fictional beings in
local inhabitants’ imagination.
To end the night tour, after a tasteful dinner, the telling of legends and
myths of the very rich Amazonian mythology. Besides, if you want our staff
will share with you an after dinner moment of music and singing which will
help you have a better night’s sleep.
Sleep time.
Day 03: Amazonas Sinchicuy Lodge / Iquitos / Lima (B-L)
Bird-watching: During the first morning hours (5:00 to 6:00 am) it is
appropriate to watch the very many bird species that are feeding themselves
on the river banks or near the crops around the community. Your tour guide
will let you know the exact schedule to perform this activity.
Breakfast: Fresh juices and jellies made of regional fruit (papaya,
oranges, melons, cocona) accompany the dishes and hot drinks to start the
morning activities.
Right after breakfast, you will board a boat to take you to the opposite
extreme of the Amazon River commonly known by local residents as “huashalado”.
Flora and Fauna Circuit (Ecosystem of the Yanayacu River basin)
During the estimated 90-minute trip to Yanayacu (boat and hike trip), you
will have the chance to look at the wonderful river dolphins, main
characters of stories and legends of Amazonian Mythology. Due to their shy
nature, it is essential that you be patient and ready to see them; a good
picture will reward the wait.
When arriving at “huashalado”, you will be able to observe the yam, banana,
papaya and other fruit plantations, typical from the riverside agriculture.
Differently from Sinchicuy’s ecosystem, the land here is basically low and
floodable during high tide time. While taking the path to “Reino de los
árboles gigantes” (Kingdom of gigantic trees) on the Yanayacu River, you
will notice under the canopy of entwined branches the heat and humidity that
favor the growth of lichens and moss over the trunks of the gigantic trees
whose roots develop on land level. Carefully observing them, you could
discover any creature hidden in the foliage (monkeys or sloths). This is an
exciting hike in which your adventure spirit will arise, and without any
doubt you will enjoy it even more if you have rubber boots on or any
impermeable shoes, very appropriate for this rough ground.
On boat or canoe you will follow the course of the Yanayacu River to explore
this region rich in bird fauna, in whose species we can identify
kingfishers, sparrow-hawks, gray herons, and a pre-historic characteristic
bird called Hoatzin or “Shansho” (Opisthocomus hoatzin).
Also, there is in this region a great variety of medicinal plants such as “sachajergon”,
“oje”, “pan de arbol”, and the well-known “Uña de gato”; it is also possible
to find bromelias, plants that grow on top of trees. Undoubtedly it is
gigantic flora that causes amazement; between them we have “lupuna” a tree
that is over 50 meters high, and the water plant “Victoria Regia”, whose
floating leaves can be bigger than one and a half meters of diameter.
After the lunch break (box-lunch) in our second lodge El Tambo Yanayacu
(60 km NE of Iquitos), you will be able to go fishing in the river applying
native techniques which will allow you to catch piranhas, mojarras, lizas,
(skates), or any other fish species considered to be a real delicacy of
riverside cuisine.
Boat trip back to Amazonas Sinchicuy Lodge.
Return to Iquitos.
Our Staff will coordinate with you the most suitable schedule for your
transportation to the airport.
IMPORTANT NOTE The program can vary depending on arrival and departure times of the flights
and also because of the weather conditions.
For your flight to Iquitos we recommend that you take the first. For your return
flight to Lima we suggest that you take the last flight that leaves Iquitos at
night.
