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Travel in Peru - getting to the Jungle

Questions about bus/air travel in Peru

Sarah Pencheff
Post Count: 1

Msg: #1 88 weeks ago, June 4th 2008

Hey all!

I will be in Peru for just shy of 2 weeks in August, traveling with a friend. I had a few questions about travel within the country. We are planning to head out to the Jungle, to Iquitos, and obviously we\'ll have to fly. The Lan Peru prices on the web are ridiculous, and while Star Peru is fairly reasonable I was wondering: has anyone simply gone into an airport and booked a ticket to get to Iquitos or elsewhere? Any suggestions or horror stories? According to my trusty Rough Guide there should be air colectivos that fly to Iquitos, but is there any way to learn of them before I get there?

For the rest of the trip we plan on bussing--aside from the train from Cusco to Machu Picchu. To those who\'ve bussed before, how difficult should it be to go from Lima to Nasca to Cusco (possibly with a stop in Arequipa as well)?

Any advice, stories, etc would be most appreciated!

Cheers!
-Sarah-

brotherJules

Jules Lapprand
Post Count: 3

Msg: #2 86 weeks ago, June 17th 2008

Hi Sarah,

if you're heading into the jungle I would highly recommend the services of Gerson Pizango. I just got back from a one-month long trip to Perú and my time with him (6 nights in the jungle) was by far the highlight of my trip.
He speaks excellent English, and is just an awesome genuine, honest and humble guy, really charming. We were definitely in good hands, and he was never one minute lax about looking out for our well-being.
The other thing is that he's a local Amazon man, from a fishing village about 260 km South of Iquitos, deep in the jungle. He kept on thanking us for supporting the local people by accepting his services, rather than going to jungle lodges and agencies run by people who are not from the jungle and who are known to exploit the locals.
It was absolutely splendid, and we didn't leave disappointed. We saw loads of wildlife (caïman, anacondas, monkeys, sloths, tarantulas, all kinds of birds) and medicinal plants (cat's claw, a cancer medicine, and many others). The sounds of the jungle are especially exciting - at night you listen to the cacophonic concert of the crickets, frogs, bats, other insects and night hunters.
Watch your step, follow his instructions and you'll be safe. It was real adventure, that's for sure, no pre-packaged tourism, but he knows the jungle superbly well - his knowledge of the environment and its inhabitants was fabulous.
It's hot! But under the jungle canopy it gets cool, especially at night - I actually had to use a blanket later in the night as it started to cool off a bit.
Witnessing the rainforest rain - now that's a powerful sight. It is always so welcome because of the sweat and dirt and heat, like the freshest, cleanest shower you will ever take. Just magnificent.
He'll come and pick you up in Iquitos - it's all included in his prices (which are much more affordable than the jungle lodges), which include everything, food, water, transport from Iquitos, etc.

If you want more info or stories just email me at jules.lapprand@hotmail.com

Or if you want to contact Gerson himself at amazonguidanceservices@gmail.com I know he would be delighted to hear from you. He and I are good friends now and I promise you won't regret going with him if you are looking to see the jungle for what it really is and meeting some lovely local people, his friends and family in the village.

Blessings and cheers, hope you have fun at any rate!

manuperuamazon com

Carolina Alegre
Post Count: 3

Msg: #3 83 weeks ago, July 3rd 2008

HELLO SARAH,

UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS ONLY LAN PERU FLYING TO IQUITOS. IF YOU WANT A CHEAPER AND NOT LESS NICER JUNGLE EXPERIENCXE YOU CAN ALSO VISIT AT MANU PERU AMAZON

tijnie

martijn
Post Count: 5

Msg: #4 80 weeks ago, July 25th 2008

He Sarah,

You don't have to fly to Iquitos, you can take the boat as well. But that will make it a large journey of about 5 days from Lima. I took the boat to get to Iquitos and bought a flight ticket from Iquitos to Lima in Iquitos which costed me about $100 if I remember correctly.

A good website for planning your bussing is www.sabuses.com

Lima - Nazca buses go all day with companies like Cruz del Sur, Tepsa, Civa, Oltursa
Nazca-Cuzco there is a night bus from Tepsa
Arequipa is not realy a stop from Lima to Nazca, Cuzco. But you could go from Cuzco to Arequipa and then from Arequipa to Lima

saludos

Miguel100

Miguel Angel
Post Count: 14

Msg: #5 80 weeks ago, July 25th 2008

Hi Sarah !

I worked with turism and i would like to help you!
i can give you all the informations about you want,
if you are really interesting about my help, we can exchange e-mails
you can email me telling me all about you want to know, and im gonna really help you.
Hope I can help u!

<snip>
Luck !

[Edited: 19:41 - Mell - Posting email addresses is against the forum rules. Please exchange these via the private messaging system. ]

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