Calendar 5 Jan
Anniversary of the foundation of the Iquitos river port
Feb-Mar
Amazonian Carnival
24 Jun
Saint John the Baptist Festival
Sept
International Raft Race
What to eat? In addition to the popular juane (steamed rice with chicken in a bijao leaves), tacacho con cecina (a banana dough with cured pork), the gastronomy of Loreto provides other servings that are fed from its abundant nature, such as chonta salad (made from the stem of the palm) and ceviche de dorado (a freshwater fish) and patarashca (fish wrapped in bijao leaves). Exotic local fruits are used to prepare cool drinks such as aguajina (based on aguaje) and chapo (ripe plantain) There are also masato (cooked and fermented cassava) and shibe (made with water and fariĂąa, fermented and roasted cassava). The best known liquors are siete raĂces (seven roots) and huarapo (fermented cane juice).
What to buy? Throughout the region, artisans work with products they extract from nature. They produce blankets and bags woven with plant fibers such as chambira, woodcarvings, black clay ceramics decorated with Kukama Kukamiria iconography and paintings on llanchama (the bark of a tree). These products can be purchased in Iquitos at the San Juan de Miraflores or the Anaconda handicraft markets. A visit to the Yaguas, Huitotos, Boras and Ocainas communities is also an opportunity to purchase handicrafts on which the craftsman depict their worldview. It is important to remember that trading in wild flora or fauna species is prohibited by law.