Iquitos, Peru is a unique place among the cities of the world. It is a city that is situated between several rivers, the Itaya River, the Nanay River and the mighty Amazon River creating an island that has no roads that lead to this isolated location deep in the Amazon Jungle. The only way to travel to Iquitos is by plane or boat. This leads to a unique culture primarily due to its isolation from the outside world. Surprisingly this city supports approximately 550,000 people in an area 7 miles long by 4 miles wide. Iquitos has been given the award for being the gateway to the Amazon since it is the largest city only at the beginning of the Amazon River and in 2012 received the designation as one of the seven wonders of the natural world. One of the exciting aspects of this city is the confluence of peoples that travel into the city from throughout the planet especially over the past twenty years or so using it as a springboard searching for the transcendent experience that has come out of the jungle by working with Ayahuasca and the shamans of the Amazon. Many have come to Iquitos, Peru to do ayahuasca ceremonies with the shamans of the jungle to heal, and many lives have been changed and altered for the better by the experiences they have had here.
Iquitos can be charming, and after living here for after 10 years I have learned much about the way of thinking of the people who live here steeped in the spiritual tradition of the Amazon Jungle, magic abounds and stories of ghosts and the existence of many healers and brujos. If something goes wrong with someone, there is always a magical source of the bad that is to blame. Many spiritually gifted people seem to find themselves either coming to stay or passing through. Iquitos has become a launching pad into the mysterious shamanic world of the Amazonian shamans and their magical brew Ayahuasca.
When coming to Iquitos, there are several recommendations regarding lodging and dining that I have for you. If you visit Kawsay Ayahuasca retreat center and would like to stay afterwards, several Hotels and hostels are available depending on your budget. I recommend several restaurants that offer clean delicious and affordable food. There are also many other excursions that can be enjoyed and experienced if you do decide to extend your stay in this magical place.