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Here is the map of Northern Peru
The Peruvian Amazon has been calling me for a long time. I have always wanted to experience the real Amazonian jungle and the might of the longest river in the world. However, commercial tours, expeditions, and jungle retreats never fascinated me as I wanted to have a direct and personal experience. So as soon as I found out that there are cargo boats shuttling up and down the river, offering a slow and intimate Amazon river experience when sharing the deck with the locals, I knew that was exactly what I was looking for.
La Boca Port, Yurimaguas
Moto taxis in La Boca port, Yurimaguas
Eduardo 7 departs on a journey from Yurimaguas to Iquitos
The skipper of Eduardo 7 navigates his way out of La Boca port
Passengers rest in hammocks on the Eduardo 7
The most memorable experience of the trip was sitting on the nose of the ship with two fellow travelers with our feet dangling down almost touching the water as the boat was gliding through the sunset-lit Amazon river and sharing a bottle of wine we bought previously in one of the jungle communities.
Men offload plastic cages with chickens in them, Maipuco
Moto taxi and its passengers in Maipuco
Lonely boat in the Amazon river
Passengers of Eduardo 7
Cargo boats are the lifeline for the communities along the river, and they also provide a unique travel experience. They depart regularly from La Boca port at the intervals of a few days, the departure date solely depends on how quickly the boat is loaded with goods and cattle, and that always takes longer than expected. Our boat – Eduardo 7 – was bound to leave at 5.30 pm on Saturday. However, we were told that realistically it wouldn’t leave until 7 am on Sunday. Finally, we ended up leaving at 2.30 pm.
Street life in San Jose De Saramuro
The way I photograph is very non-intrusive. I strive to impact the situation as little as possible with my presence. I seek to portray sensitive moments of human connection and convey the human soul at its purest.
Peaceful day traveling on the Amazon
Another cargo boat
A woman stands on the shore of the Amazon River
Another cargo boat traveling in the opposite direction
The man with his rooster
Chambira
Eduardo 7 took 52 hours to complete the 700-kilometre journey through the rivers of Huallaga, Marañon, and Amazon, which are all part of the Amazon river basin that covers more than 6,000,000 square kilometers. Along the way, multiple stops are made at small villages and communities to pick up and drop off passengers, offload cargo, or deliver packages to people. Several of those stops were long enough to disembark and spend a few minutes on land having a glimpse of life in the Amazon villages that depend solely on these kinds of boats for their survival. Some of those villages were large enough to even have a couple of streets and shops selling some basic food products, snacks, and even wine!
Villagers pick up their share of chickens from Eduardo 7, San Roque
The man with his hens, San Roque
A small community on the shore of the Amazon River
Pigs travel aboard Eduardo 7
The small boat regularly inspects the waters ahead of Eduardo 7 to make sure the river is deep enough for the cargo ship
Chickens travel on the top floor of Eduardo 7
Early morning mist and wooden boats on the shore of the Amazon River
Early morning mist and aquatic plants in the Amazon River
Men observe the passing cargo ship
Eduardo 7 boat makes a short stop in Tamshiyacu
Men carry plastic cages with chickens in them, Tamshiyacu
Eduardo 7 near Tamshiyacu
Bananas are being offloaded on a smaller boat as we approach the port of Iquitos
Moto taxis and trucks wait to pick up the passengers and cargo as our boat arrives at the port of Iquitos
Iquitos
The district of Belen, Iquitos
Street seller washes limes in Belen market, Iquitos
Churros (local sweet snack) stand in Iquitos
Moto taxis and vintage busses in Iquitos
As my journey comes to an end in Iquitos, the heart of the Amazon rainforest in Peru, it’s worth noting that the adventure doesn’t have to stop here. The Amazon River continues its majestic course, offering opportunities for travelers to delve deeper into its secrets. From Iquitos, you can extend your voyage further into the vast Amazon basin, crossing borders into Ecuador or Brazil, where new chapters of exploration await.
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