Shopping

Market stalls on stilts hovering above the Amazon make up the Centro Artesanal Anaconda (Malecón Tarapacá, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily). Vendors sell jewelry, sandals, paintings, beaded curtains, shoulder bags, and other souvenirs.

There is also a line of crafts stores along Próspero south of the Plaza de Armas, though Iquitos [1]’s largest handicraft market is the Mercado Artesanal de San Juan (Av. Quiñones Km 4.5, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. daily), on the road to the airport. The colorful native jungle seeds sold by the kilogram are a notable find here. These can be used to make your own jewelry or for other artistic endeavors.

For books and drawing and writing materials, go to Librería Tamara (Próspero 268, tel. 065/22-1711, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. and 3:30–9 p.m. daily).

Rubber boots, binoculars, and other jungle equipment can be purchased with a buyback guarantee at Mad Mick’s Trading Post (Putumayo 163, 2nd Fl., tel. 065/975-4976, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily) near the Iron House [2].

Locals do their food shopping at the colorful Belén Market, which is liveliest in the mornings. Much of Iquitos [1] slows down, or shuts down, in this area during the afternoon, 1–4 p.m.

There is a cluster of handicraft stores on the sixth block of Arica,; they are generally open all day, 8 a.m.–9 p.m.