About Iquitos
Iquitos is the capital of Peru's Maynas Province and Loreto Region, and the largest metropolis in the Peruvian Amazon, east of the Andes. It is the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road that is not on an island; it is only accessible by river and air. Known as the 'capital of the Peruvian Amazon,' the city sits in the Great Plains of the Amazon Basin, fed by the Amazon, Nanay, and Itaya rivers. The Iquitos metropolitan area is a conurbation of approximately 471,993 inhabitants consisting of four districts: Iquitos, Punchana, Belén, and San Juan Bautista. The area has long been inhabited by indigenous peoples, and the city was established around 1757 as a Spanish Jesuit reduction on the banks of the Nanay River. In the late 19th century, during the Amazon rubber boom (1880–1914), Iquitos became a center of rubber export and was influenced by numerous Europeans who flocked to it, leaving an architectural and cultural legacy. Later in the 20th century, the city and region diversified its economy, exporting timber, fish and its by-products, oil, minerals, and agricultural crops, and deriving revenue from tourism and related crafts.
Who this destination fits
Highlights worth planning around
Strong fit
- Largest metropolis in the Peruvian Amazon, east of the Andes, and the ninth-most populous city in Peru
- Known as the 'capital of the Peruvian Amazon' with a distinct river-based identity
- Rich historical legacy from the Amazon rubber boom (1880–1914), including an opera house and Jewish cemetery established during that period
- Accessible by river and air, offering a unique travel experience as the largest city in the world not reachable by road that is not on an island
Tradeoffs
- Not accessible by road; travel requires river or air transport, which may limit overland connections
- Historical context includes the rubber boom era's exploitation of indigenous workers by the Peruvian Amazon Company, a sobering aspect of the city's past
Plan the trip
Best time to visit
UNKNOWN
Planning lead time
UNKNOWN
Decision factors
Getting around
Iquitos is only accessible by river and air; it is the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road that is not on an island.