of August. A farm, livestock and crafts fair takes place in the small town of Santa Clara de Nanay, located from the city of Iquitos. September 7. Señora de la Natividad. Date in which the Tamshiyacu people, in the province of Maynas, honor their patron. December 8. Fiesta de la Purísima, celebrated in the district of Punchana, located from Iquitos Typical dishes and beverages The typical dishes in Loreto are very similar to those of other places in the Amazon region. Motelo or turtle meat soup and juanes (rice tamales with chicken or fish) are typical Loretan dishes. Vendors in the local markets offer fried or steamed monkey or lizard meat considered delicious according to the local people. Other typical dishes include, cecina (dried and smoked pork), tacacho (coal cooked bananas, pork, and chopped onions), chonta salad, palometa (fish soup), carachama (fish) and paiche (a large fish). Among desserts there is a refreshing aguaje ice cream. To drink, they serve masato (a beer made of cassava) or natural fruit juices such as aguaje, maracuyá (passion fruit), and cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum). Places of interest Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve Pucacuro Reserved Zone Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve See also Peruvian Amazon Iquitos References External links Peruvian Amazon Research Institute Loreto region official website videos of the Amazon Hope project in Loreto Estadisticas de Poblacion INEI, MINSA, Peru Regions of Peru Upper Amazon