Hi, I just joined this forum. I've decided that I'm going to take a trip to the Amazon! I haven't ironed out any details yet. I'm hoping to be gone between 6 monthes and a year. There are so many places I want to visit both in and out of the Amazon but one of my main goals on this trip is to spend a lot of time near the river itself in various places.

I'm thinking of spending a while in Iquitos and taking a boat down to Brazil. I'm also hoping to go to the Manu nature reserve and possibly, hopefully explore some of the Bolivian Amazon area if possible. I was in Coroico for a very, very short time which is about the closest I got to the jungle. I'm hoping to leave in late spring, I should have enough money saved up for a bit of a long jaunt by then.

I guess I'd like to hear about places that you'd recommend going/seeing. Any issues you've had. Any info about how to get cheap housing in Iquitos, places to stop up the river from there, how to arrange travel up the river (in a way that isn't extremely touristy hopefully).

Also, do you think all this is possible as a vegetarian? I know going through peru before i had some issues with the meaning of vegetarian when i had food out.

i know this is all quite vague now and i'm sure i'll be hitting you up frequently with more specific questions but i'd love to know what kind of experiences you've had and what kind of travel tips you can share.

thanks!

Alan