Belen Market And Floating Houses

We will collect you from select hotels or a designated meeting point to kick off a walking tour along the Iquitos Boulevard, where we'll dive into the lively ambiance of the city until reaching the traditional Belén neighborhood. If you prefer, you can choose a moto-tuk-tuk ride to the market—a quick (not included) and scenic option that lets you experience local life from a different perspective.

The Belén Market is one of Iquitos' primary commercial centers, a captivating place where the colors, aromas, and sounds of the Amazon converge. Here, you'll discover a remarkable assortment of products, ranging from exotic fruits and spices to local meats and even wild animals on display, like small caimans. We will navigate its narrow aisles, delving into the daily lives of merchants and locals who sustain the ancestral traditions of Amazonian commerce.

Within the market, we will arrive at Pasaje Paquito, a historic spot where you will learn about traditional Amazonian medicine. Locals utilize herbs and natural extracts to address various ailments, and here you’ll find renowned items such as Cat's Claw and Dragon’s Blood, celebrated for their healing properties. You will also have the chance to purchase handcrafted goods created by skilled local artisans, each piece reflecting a fragment of Amazonian culture.

We will proceed to the lower part of Belén, known as the "Amazonian Venice," where wooden houses are constructed on stilts to withstand the rising river waters. During this part of the tour, we will visit an area where locals work with mapacho, a natural Amazonian tobacco. You’ll observe the artisanal process, from drying the leaves on the ground to the manual crafting of these cigars—an art form passed down through generations.

As we continue, you will learn about "frotaciones," traditional medicine used in the jungle to alleviate muscle and joint discomfort. These concoctions are made from natural ingredients, including oils and fats extracted from regional animals, such as anaconda fat, and are employed by Amazonian healers in their treatments.

Next, we will board a canoe-style boat to explore the village of San José de Río Itaya, also referred to as the "Venice of Loreto." We will glide through its waterways, where houses seem to float on the river, adapting to the fluctuating water levels.

For those interested, there will be a unique opportunity to engage in a special experience: traditional piranha fishing with handcrafted rods—an optional activity that will allow you to connect with one of the Amazon’s most enduring traditions.

At the conclusion of our tour, we will return to the dock and transport you back to your hotel or meeting point.