Ohhhhh, So Am I So There, (Laugh)
[QUOTE=Surfer]The one on the left in the last picture Laredo posted is gorgeous. Even though Iquitos is FAR from the surf, I am SO there.[/QUOTE]I just finished canceling my last appointment for the period in question. I'm good, look to Thursday afternoon to finalize and purchase tickets if possible.
As you know, I am much more the expert on the other end of the Amazon, having been to Belem` three times and Manaus once. The jungle, the jungle, the fecund matta, the gorgeous green that stretches forever, and whatever one might find therein.
Sounds good to me.
Gauguin
How are the Jungle Cuties working out?
Gauguin,
How are the Jungle Cuties working out?
It would be good to have a report on the Chicas of Iquitos by a jungle expert like yourself.
Did you ever make it to the highway to Nauta with your motorcycle?
Please let us all know how you enjoyed your trip to the jungle.
My Partial, Factual, Report On Iquitos
I wrote this elsewhere for for someone leaveing for Iquitos in a couple of weeks. This is not necessarily what I intened to write for here, but as I look at it, I think that it would be helpful to others also.
If I am sometimes on the Edge, "X" is seemingly always well off the cliff face. Mr X has adventures that scare the crap out of me.
Equally important, "X" helped me greatly when I needed a quick ticket to Colombia earlier this year. He trusted me to send him a check for the ticket, which I did of course, but he had never spoken to or met me...anywhere at any time. So I am indebted to "X,"...and if he needs something now, I will do what I can to help him. Off to Iquitos???? You must be mad...lol
Essential Information:
1. You can fly Lima/Iquitos on TANS for about $75 each way. Of course, it was TANS that crashed on the Iquitos run last month. TANS is apparently owned by the Peruvian Military but many ex-pats fly TANS for the savings.
I flew LAN at the suggestion of Surfer. I was very happy with my LAN flight, but, since I ticketed only an hour before my flight, I ended up with an unrestricted ticket costing about $105, one way, $210 total. With a little planning LAN Iquitos flights can be had as cheaply as $175 round trip.
2. A MotoTaxti from the Airport to Downtown should cost 5/6Sl...8 if you feel generous, but it is a fairly long trip so don’t worry if it seems to be taking a while. (And don’t be shocked...Iquitos is a shit hole but you’ll be okay)
3. I was very happy at the Victoria Regina Hotel. Stated Rate is 175Sl per night, ($53), I offered 120sl which was immediately accepted. It was late, It was dark, I was desperate, I was tired...I think that they would accept 100sl
4. Hotel Real right down on the Malecon will give you an air-con single for as little as 24sl ($8), though there is a posted, non-bath room for 16sl...bath down the hall.
4. Hotel Europa is 66sl, ($20) but you might be able to negotiate lower. Damned if I know...but this over time came to trouble me...everything was negotiable, you never knew what anything was supposed to really cost.
5. Hotel Amazon, right across from the Plaza de Armas is okay and similarly priced.
6. I did spend a night in Hotel Anaconda...70sl...but they knew I was rich and I was tired of bargaining over .66 cents. Nice place, nice people, good breakfast on the upstairs roof, great view of the city...some working girls in the lobby, not bad looking but I was leaving by then. (No Hot Water).
7. You can call the US from El Cyber Café that is right across from the Plaza de Armas for .10cents a minute...it was fabulous in that other places were charging $1.00 per minute. I made lots of business calls and also called my brother just for the fuck of it...cost me $3.20...and I laughed.
8. Good dinner can be had at Pollon on the Plaza for 7.5sl (($2.50)...a good quarter chicken, fries, salad. The waitresses in the nicer, brighter restaurant almost next door on the corner can be had with a little work
9. I walked the city freely as late as 3am...but not Belen after dark, or even alone...you must have protection in Belen...always, really, trust me on this. I’d say especially lower Belen, along the river, but I don’t want to give you a false sense of security. Have a native friend with you if you enter Belen.
10. I never cracked the city. I was king of Lima, even with no Language Skill, but I never beat Iquitos. Maybe it was because I didn’t do any advance research. I never even was able to get a local map despite asking everywhere, I had no travel book on the area.
The touts and the begging kids and the heat and the constant negotiation for everything! Eventually wore me down.
It seemed that young pretty women were available...not for pay necessarily, but for presents and love, all along the Malecon, or river front walk in the early evening...I did not partake.
Of course, in my 5 brief days on the ground. I did get situated, I got laid 4 times, did Belen, spent a half a day on the river, (nice big, 200hp private boat, they want $100 per half day...I paid $50), and made it up towards Omaguas, but not as far as Nauta by motorcycle. I did not get down river to Mazan or Fransciso de Orellando. However, I did meet twice, and thought about sleeping with a Belgian girl, but she came back from this exact journey, really, really covered in nasty bites of some kind! Take lots of Deet with you if you make this trip.
My primary regret is that. I never got the river really knocked. I wasn’t ready for it. I was busy doing other things. My bad.
Next time!
Oh yeah, I paid Priss 100sl per night. I can afford $33 for someone that looks like her. She wanted 200sl, I just walked away, but she chased after and the deal was struck.I also paid as little as 20sl and that's about what it was worth. I think that 100sl is just about right, high, yes, but not really out of bounds for someone you really want.
With Affection,
Gauguin
Renting a Motorcycle in Iquitos
Yes, VM, you can rent motorcycles in Iquitos. I did not because I ended up too busy to try this, however, there are several places that will rent to you.
But, the bikes are brand spanking new. They are advertized in front of the shop for 30sl per hour, or about $10. I am sure that you can go lower. Ask any Moto-taxi driver and I am sure that they can take you there.
This caused me to worry a little in that the bikes looked so gorgeous, Were they theft bait? I actually carry 8 foot of chain everywhere I travel to lock up bags and what not. I could have used this on the bike, but if I was off wandering in the jungle, as is my wont, habit and desire, I would think that it would still be fairly vunerable, but maybe not.
I'm not trying to be paranoid on this, but I did want to let you know my thinking. I would suggest that you take something that would allow you to lock up a bike frame, (but also maybe the rental place gives you something), to a tree, especially if you are traveling alone, as I was. This doesn't have to be heavy gage or anything, just something to give the first level of security.
Or, those were my thoughts.
Let us know how it goes.
Best Wishes,
Gauguin