UJ #16 - Amazon Cruises

THE STAR OF THE AMAZON
The penetrating
rivers in the
Amazon are
perfect for
observing
animal species
Despite being only a domestic flight away from Lima, the
jungle is often thought of as a remote and unfeasible
destination. Unlike other popular cities, like Cusco,
Mancora, Arequipa, and Puno, the Amazon continues to
be seen as a hidden, wild, and out-of-reach area.
Looking out the plane window, a thick, green blanket
covers all the landscape below as we make our way
towards Iquitos. Like a giant anaconda, the Amazon River
snakes its way through the millions of trees, yielding a
view as superbly impressive as the images seen in any
documentary about the area. All of a sudden, the lush
vegetation is interrupted by the concrete airport, and
the plane begins its descent.
Ximena Arrieta
We have landed in the city of Iquitos. Interestingly, Iquitos
is the only capital of a department (Loreto) in Peru that,
due to its location, is not connected by land to the rest
of the country. There are only two ways to get to Iquitos:
on an eight-hour – or more – journey aboard a boat from
Yurimaguas or Pucallpa, or on an hour-and-a-half plane
ride from Lima.
“IT QUICKLY BECOMES CLEAR WHY THE
AMAZON RIVER IS CONSIDERED ONE OF
THE NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD:
ITS MAGNIFICENCE IS OVERWHELMING.”
Iquitos
boardwalk,
the first
contact with
the Amazon
in the city.
Christian Declercq
The ‘Casa de Fierro’ (Iron’s house) in Iquitos, an
example of opulence during the rubber rush,
was designed by Gustave Eiffel around 1860.
After touring the city with the rest of the LimaTours
team, we make our way towards our real destination.
The fabulous Amazon Star awaits us only a few meters
from the city’s port. The ship is clean, and white as snow.
As we make our way into the on-board reading room,
we are welcomed aboard by cruise director Alejandro
Enriquez, who gives us a brief explanation about the ship
and the mandatory safety regulations aboard.
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