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| RAINFOREST IN IQUITOS, PERU |
Founded in 1757 as San Pablo de los Napeanos by the
Jesuits. However, Iquitos did not grow until the rubber boom in the late 19th
century and early 20th century. A great wealth came from the extraction of
latex. Today, Iquitos is the center for exploration of oil in the Peruvian
Amazon. Also its of big importance the lumber industry, ecotourism and
commerce.
Warm, humid and with a heavy rainy season, Iquitos has
a typical tropical climate. The best time for visiting is from May through
October, when the rains diminish due to the dry season.
Puerto Maldonado: Capital of the Department of Madre de Dios, located at
the confluence of the rivers Tambopata and Madre de Dios. Puerto Maldonado is
considered as the biological capital of the world due to the amount of plant
and animal species found in this area. The climate is tropical, very humid and
warm, with the rainy season from December through April. That is why, it is
better to visit from May through November.
Puerto Maldonado is the starting point for visiting
the rainforests, some of the most beautiful protected areas in the country,
including Manu National Park, Tambopata Candamo etc.
Vegans and Vegetarians who travel to Peru, Bolivia and
Ecuador have great alternatives of vegetarian meals with high nutritional
value, including fantastic fruit, nuts many varieties of potatoes, and
wonderful cereals. Among the Andean cereals we find kiwicha (amaranth), kañiwa
and quinoa which was the staple food of the Inca, (the king of the Inca
culture) and considered a sacred and principal crop in the Andes
