PeruNorth's musings on events & destinations in Northern Peru, Amazonia ... and beyond. Detailed tour reviews.
Zhihao ‘Leo’ Liao - a resident of both Hong Kong and Shanghai, who studied Material Sciences at Cornell University, NY - spent three nights on board the Rio Amazonas Research Station in early 2026, and has now written a blog about this and his experiences in Iquitos - including his encounters with the Chinese legacy in Peru - which he has kindly allowed us to translate and share, along with some of the photos he took.
With almost two thirds of Peru being classified as being within Amazonia, there are numerous entry points to the ‘selva’. However, the two most popular starting points for a Peruvian Amazon adventure are the cities of Puerto Maldonado in Southern Peru, and Iquitos in the North.
A common question, then, is which one is ‘better’. An understandable, but very tricky, question!
Anne, from Edegem in Belgium booked an itinerary with nine nights in Manu, staying at four different lodges, and descending over 2,000m, by private vehicle and motorboat, to end in the low-jungle city of Puerto Maldonado.
After a night here, Anne was then off to another lodge, Chuncho, to enjoy its nearby kollpa on three separate mornings, before a final two nights beside Lake Sandoval.
Here is a pictorial diary of her epic Amazonian experience:
