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- Destinations
- South America
- Peru
- Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin
Nearly half of Peru lies within the Amazon Basin and the dense
Amazon Jungle represents over 50 percent of the rain forest on the
entire planet. It is an immense and, for the most part,
inaccessible region, and is sparsely populated.
Believed to be the most biologically diverse region in the
world, the rain forest and its rivers teem with mammals, reptiles,
birds, fish and plants. Much of the area remains untouched and
largely unexplored, with numerous varieties of plant species
growing underneath the vast canopy. Pink dolphins, jaguars, tapirs,
caiman crocodiles and giant anaconda snakes share the region with
the many indigenous tribes that are spread throughout the jungle,
living as they have done for thousands of years.
Jungle eco-tourism has taken off in Peru and the number of
travellers choosing to include the Amazon in their itinerary is
steadily growing. The best place to access the northern Amazon
Basin is from the city of Iquitos, connected to the outside world
by air and river only, and the largest jungle city in the Basin. It
is situated on the mighty Amazon River, the biggest in the world,
flowing across the continent from the Andes Mountains to the
Atlantic Ocean, covering an incredible 4,030 miles (6,500km) with
numerous tributaries. The vast system of rivers forms the primary
method of transport within the Amazon Basin and dugout canoes or
motorboats give visitors the opportunity to explore the
labyrinthine waterways or to travel between jungle towns.
Information & Facts
Language
Spanish and Quechua are the official languages, but many
other dialects are spoken. English is spoken only in major tourist
centres and hotels.
Money
The official currency is Nuevo Sol (PEN) divided into 100
céntimos. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card, but all
major international credit cards, including Diners Club and
MasterCard, are accepted in many, but not all, establishments.
Outside Lima facilities may be more limited. Travellers cheques may
also be difficult to exchange in small towns and villages, and
travellers are advised to have cash on hand. US Dollars are the
easiest currency to exchange and plenty of restaurants, hotels and
shops in the main cities accept dollars for payment.
Casas de cambio(exchange bureaux) often give better rates
than hotels and banks and can be found in any town on the tourist
circuit. ATMs are available in the main cities.
Time