PE
Iquitos
The Amazon city you can only reach by air or river: rubber-boom mansions, Belén and jungle lodges
The Amazon city you can only reach by air or river: rubber-boom mansions, Belén and jungle lodges
The main square is surrounded by rubber-boom buildings. On one corner stands the Casa de Fierro, a prefabricated iron building often said to have been designed by Gustave Eiffel, although evidence for that is scant.
Photo: Estados Unidos de América del Sur, CC BY-SA 4.0
The riverside promenade overlooks the Itaya and its floodplain and is lined with tiled mansions from the rubber era, bars and restaurants. It is busiest in the evening.
Photo: Estados Unidos de América del Sur, CC BY-SA 4.0
Belén’s market is a crowded maze of stalls selling river fish, jungle fruits and medicinal plants. Below it, the low-lying district has stilt and floating houses, sometimes called the “Venice” of Iquitos, best seen by canoe when the water is high.
Go in the morning with a local guide and keep valuables out of sight.
Photo: M M from Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0
Reached by a short boat ride from Bellavista Nanay, this butterfly farm and animal rescue centre breeds dozens of species and cares for rescued animals.
Photo: Taco Witte, CC BY 2.0
This vast reserve of flooded forest between the Marañón and Ucayali rivers is known for pink river dolphins, giant water lilies and birdlife. Trips usually start from Nauta, at the end of the only road out of Iquitos, and last several days.
Book with a licensed operator.
Photo: Techylm, CC BY-SA 4.0
Amazonian food is distinctive: try juane (rice and chicken wrapped in a bijao leaf), tacacho con cecina (mashed plantain with smoked pork), grilled fish such as paiche and doncella, and fruit juices from camu camu and aguaje.
The Malecón has many restaurants and bars; for the best local snacks, try the Belén market in the morning.
Iquitos’s airport, Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta, has several daily flights from Lima (about 1 hour 45 minutes) and some from other Peruvian cities. Slow cargo boats run upriver to Yurimaguas and Pucallpa, a journey of several days, and fast boats go downriver to the border with Colombia and Brazil near Leticia.
Motocarros (motorbike rickshaws) are the main way to get around the city. Jungle lodges arrange transfers by boat.
Peru uses the sol (PEN). Iquitos is reasonably priced, but jungle lodges are usually sold as all-inclusive packages.
Budget jungle trips are available, but check reviews and licences.
Lodge packages usually include meals, guides and boat transfers.
Multi-day river cruises are the most expensive option.
Spend a day in the city, then head into the jungle.
Explore the Plaza de Armas and the Malecón, then visit Belén market with a guide. In the afternoon take a boat to Pilpintuwasi.
Go to Belén early, when the market is liveliest.
Travel to a jungle lodge on the Amazon or one of its tributaries for guided walks, canoe trips, birdwatching and night walks.
Bring a headlamp, rain jacket and long sleeves.
Continue with excursions from the lodge, such as dolphin spotting or fishing, before returning to the city on day four.
Yellow fever vaccination and malaria precautions are advised for the Peruvian Amazon; get advice before travel.
The river is highest around May and lowest around October, which changes access to trails and channels.
Use licensed guides and be wary of touts at the airport.
Bring strong repellent and long sleeves.
Quick answers for planning time in Iquitos.
No. Iquitos has no road connection to the rest of Peru and can only be reached by air or river.
Flights take about 1 hour 45 minutes.
The Amazon can be visited year-round. High water (around May) allows canoe access deep into the forest; low water (around October) opens more walking trails.
It is recommended for the Peruvian Amazon; check current advice with a travel health clinic.
At least three or four, including two or three nights at a jungle lodge.
Planning a wider trip? Our Peru travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.