To visit the Peruvian side of the Amazon, we arrived in the jungle city of Iquitos and spent some time in town before going into the wild.
La Casa Fitzcarraldo was our base to explore the biggest city within the Amazon and we spent a few days, no more no less, than in what used to be Mick Jagger’s room. Rock’n'roll! When visiting such a cool destination, it’s important to find a great hotel to match!
Facade of Casa Fitzcarraldo
Allow me to put you into context… A few decades back, movie director Werner Herzog and producer Walter Saxer came to the Amazon to shoot the epic film Fitzcarraldo, starring Klaus Kinski and Claudia Cardinale. This movie took several years to be completed and, as Mick Jagger was part of the initial cast of the film, he stayed in “the Blue Room”, which we had the pleasure to spend our nights at.
The blue room at Casa Fitzcarraldo, Iquitos
As a person who studied cinema and used to work in TV/film production, I was excited to be at what today is Walter Saxer’s B&B. I learnt about director Wener Herzog in film class and now here we were, staying at his buddy’s hotel. I felt like I was digging into film history in the most unlike of places: the Amazon! The house has photos and memorabilia of the movie shot in the region and planned in that house itself, but the hotel is way more than that now-a-days.
Fitzcarraldo movie poster
There are only 4 rooms in La Casa Fitzcarraldo. Spacious, with private bathroom, fan, satellite TV, WIFI and wonderful views to the garden with swimming-pool. The outdoor area of the property definitely stands out and even those guests that do not sleep in, can enjoy the pool during the day for a reasonable fee. There are hammock areas and even a very tall tree house, all surrounded by luscious Amazonic vegetation. The area is truly inviting and the pool does the trick: it is very refreshing and I am sure you’ll appreciate that once you feel the tropical heat getting under your skin.
The pool area
Hammocks area
Very inviting!
There is also a restaurant and bar by the pool, serving a variety of well-cooked and presented regional, national and international dishes. I’d recommend the charcoal grilled meats or fish and the camu-camu juice (a local Amazonian fruit, extremely flavorful and cooling).
Outdoor restaurant
Grilled fish with fried yuca and camu camu juice. An ace meal!
Although not in the very centre of Iquitos, La Casa Fitzcarraldo is less than 10 minutes drive away, and moto-taxis are as available as they could be – the never ending number of vehicles on the roads is probably one of the first things you’ll notice upon arrival. If you need a taxi, just ask the staff at the hotel and they’ll book you in with a trusted driver that charges very reasonable prices.
The amazingly tall treehouse!
La Casa Fitzcarraldo is charming, full of film history and the perfect place to sleep well just before heading deep into the Amazon, or by the time you come back after missing a nice comfy bed and delicious cooked breakfast when you wake up!
More info:
La Casa Fitzcarraldo
info@lacasafitzcarraldo.com
+51-65-601138 / 601139
Avenida La Marina 2153
Iquitos, Peru
so amazing! i love that tree house! and the pool… (oh how i miss summer).
You’ll get a taste of summer when you come to India!.. you should spend some time in Goa or somewhere beach(y) and chilled like that! :)
Oh my god. What a beautiful place is this. I think this is a dreamy place. The bedroom is superb. The most amazing thing is the tree house! The decoration is very good. I like this place very much.