IQUITOS, Atracctions surrounding areas
Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
- Iquitos
Located in the area where the Marañón and Ucayali
Rivers converge, this is the country's largest reserve, with
2,080,000 ha. and the fourth in South America. It was established
in 1982, to preserve the abundant and varied wildlife. Its countless
lakes, swamps and aguajales (watering trough) serve as shelter
to132 species of mammals, mainly rodents and monkeys; 330 species
of birds; approximately 220 species of fish, main source of
protein for the inhabitants of the Region, and approximately
150 species of reptiles and amphibious animals. Prominent are
the charapa turtles (podocnemis expansa), the paiche (or pirarucu
- Arapaima gigas, the largest freshwater fish in the world),
the Amazonian manatee or sea cow (trichechus inunguis), the
red river dolphin and the black river dolphin, the otters and
the black caiman (melanosuchus niger), all of them presently
endangered species. The Reserve can only be reached by river
and it takes al least one week to visit it, including three
days to access and exit the area.
Allpahuayo-Mishana Reserved Area -
Iquitos
This area is located on the banks of the Nanay River,
in the community of Mishana, in an area of approximately 57,667
ha. Established in 1999, to preserve eco-systems which are unique
to the Peruvian Amazon Region, such as the varillal and chamisal
brushwoods, which are home to endemic species of plants and
animals, many of them still un reported or without description.
It is easy to reach this area, as it is near the Iquitos - Nauta
road, and ideal for scientific research on the essential ecological
processes of the tropical rain forest.
San Juan
- Iquitos
This is a native community situated south of Iquitos,
where there is an important festival in commemoration of Saint
John the Patron Saint, on June 24. Different typical dishes
are offered, and it has a handcrafts market where one can find
popular art objects from the different areas of the Region.
Santa Clara - Iquitos
This is a hamlet located on the banks of the Nanay River, 12
km from Iquitos. Its main attractions are its white sandy beaches,
formed when the river ebbs, and its beautiful landscape.
Quistococha Tourist Complex - Iquitos
Located 6 km from Iquitos, this park has an area of 369 ha
surrounding a lagoon of the same name. The complex features
a museum, aquarium, serpentarium, small zoos, unpaved roads
around the lake and a pier where one can rent a boat. It is
varied wildlife includes fish such as paiche (pirarucu), shads
(family clupeidae) and bocachica (small fish of freshwater
fish, family characidae); birds like the blue and red macaw;
and mammals like the otorongo (or jaguar - panthera onca),
puma, ocelot, sachavacas (tapirus terrestris), sajinos (tayassu
tajacu), huangana (tayassu albirostris), giant otter, as well
as some primates and reptiles, among others.
As a sample of the local flora, the park features woods of
flooded varsea, better known as aguajales (watering trough),
with the hardly flooded banks, where the primary woods are
located. This forest houses the main varieties of trees, such
as the white cumala, renaco, marupa, cedar and catahua as
well as native fruit trees like the aguaje (mauritia vinifera),
zapote (quararibea sp.), humarí (poraqueiba sericea)
and pijuayo (bactris gasipaes).
The Quistococha Laggon has an area of 56 ha with clear and
dark waters due to the organic matter (humic acids) and an
artificial beach known as Tunchiplaya. Outside the park is
the Mirador Museum with dissected species of animals and an
amusement park for children.
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