Iquitos

Outdoor Activities

Your tour will begin when you set sail from your meeting point at the pier of Iquitos Boulevard, cruising down the three main rivers surrounding the city of Iquitos: Itaya, Amazonas, and Nanay.  Once you’re out on the Amazon, you might see dolphins and red buffaloes swimming around you. You’ll then continue on past the city before stopping to meet the indigenous community of the Kukama, where you’ll have the chance to get to know their dances and customs and to learn about their culture.  After the visit, you’ll take a walk along the shore of the community of Father Cocha and learn about the curious history of its founder. In a nearby location, you’ll visit the Pilpintuwasi, a butterfly farm where you'll learn about the life cycles and breeding habits of these beautiful creatures. When the tour ends, you’ll return by boat to Iquitos Boulevard.

Set sail from the pier of the Iquitos Boulevard and cruise down the Itaya River to meet the Amazon River. Visit a center that specializes in the breeding of paiches, fish also known as piracuru, as well as piranhas, macaws, lizards, and turtles. For a one-of-a-kind experience, try feeding these animals. Head to the great pond filled with the famous Victoria amazonica lily pads, the world’s largest leaves. Then, proceed to the Amazon viewpoint, which promises magical vistas over the legendary surrounding landscape. Enjoy some downtime on the hammocks, while taking in impressive views of the jungle and the Amazon River. Then, take a 15-minute walk into the jungle to see the gigantic and mythical Lupuna tree, said to possess magical properties and considered the protectors of the jungle. Before returning to the city, visit the Serpentary, where you can see the anaconda’s cage.

Your wildlife adventure begins in the morning with pickup from your hotel in Iquitos and heads to Nauta, a town considered to be the main gateway to the Amazon River from Peru. Explore Nauta’s market, and taste the variety of fresh fruits that exist only in this part of the world, grown by local farmers. From Nauta, embark on a boat ride along the beautiful Marañon River until you arrive at the confluence with Ucayali River. As you sail through the jungle waters, watch out for pink and gray dolphins as they catch the waves from the bow of the boat. From your local tour guide, learn everything there is to know about dolphins and how important they are for the Amazon environment. Arrive at Pacaya Samiria National Park and wander through the vast greenery of the landscape, looking out for capybaras, monkeys, birds, and snakes. Learn about the array of wildlife that lives here in the park, and the diverse role they all play in the biosphere of the jungle. Midway through the tour, enjoy a picnic lunch against the stunning backdrop of the park and immerse yourself in this truly amazing natural wonder. Then visit the indigenous village of Cocama to meet the local people and experience their unique way of life, learn about their use of medicinal plants, and listen to their language.

After convenient pickup from your hotel in Iquitos, you’ll head straight for Nauta to board a boat used for the day’s cruising. To enter the jungle, you’ll navigate a massive tributary of the Amazon, the Marañon River. Gaze at the vast wilds that surround you as you near the starting point of your jungle hike. Once you arrive at one of the jungle’s best places to observe the poisonous frogs, you’ll disembark from your boat. The frogs themselves are tiny, the largest of which grow only to be 2 inches in length—but what they lack in size, they make up for with their vivid coloring and deadly poison. They cannot be found throughout the entirety of the Amazon, but strictly in certain small habitats that you’ll be visiting over the course of the day. As you walk through the jungle, your expert guide will take you to the best frog-spotting locales—but keep your eyes peeled for other species that call this vibrant ecosystem home, like anacondas, sloths, and unique insects. Along the way, you’ll have a delicious picnic lunch, and meet some of the indigenous people of the Amazon River. After a full day of exploration, you’ll head back down river, bound back for drop-off at your accommodation.

After meeting your guide, you’ll head straight to the Nanay River Port, where you’ll hop on a boat bound for the jungle. Head up the Amazon River for a brief half-hour cruise before arriving at your lodge for the night. After finding your room and settling in with a small snack, you’ll head off on a guided walk through the jungle. Coming back to the lodge, you’ll enjoy a lunch of fish, legumes, and rice. Heading back into the jungle, you’ll find some of the largest trees in the area, as well as climb to the top of an exquisite viewpoint. On the way back, you’ll admire the technicolor jungle sunset, keeping your eyes peeled for green tree frogs. After dinner, you’ll retire for the evening in your river-view room. Waking up bright and early at 5:00 AM, you’ll catch the sunrise from the top of the lodge over breakfast. You’ll start the day’s touring by visiting a farm for lizards, piranhas, and pirarucus, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Afterwards, you’ll visit an animal rescue center, home to sloths and giant anacondas. After lunch, you’ll have some free time to wander and relax before heading back to Iquitos.