Iron House (Casa de Fierro)

After spotting Eiffel’s structure on display at the 1889 International Exposition of Paris, rubber baron Anselmo del Aguila had to have it. In a move pit of the film Fitzcarraldo he had the entire thing shipped across the Atlantic and sent up the Amazon, to be put back together like a puzzle. The indisputable star of the city, come here for a meal and the view over the Plaza de Armas, with its obelisk, fountains, and hotels.

• Casa de Fierro is an ideal meeting place in town.
• A restaurant and bar serves meals and drinks throughout the day.
• The building’s ground floor is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

Casa de Fierro is located on Plaza de Armas in Iquitos, the principal city of Peru’s northern Amazon region. The unmistakable landmark is easy walking distance or a short taxi ride from any part of town. Arriving to Iquitos, most flights must first pass through Lima.

Casa de Fierro is open daily year-round. The restaurants inside serve meals and drinks from the morning into the night. Come in the evening for sunset. The climate in Iquitos is hot and humid, with the wettest months failing between October to April and the driest months, between June and September.

From Casa de Fierro, walk over to the sprawling Belén market, which covers nearly 20 blocks of the city and sells everything from fresh produce, fish, herbs, and medicines to clothing, car parts, and supplies for jungle treks and river expeditions. Exercise normal caution if sampling any of the local dishes at the kiosks and informal restaurants.