1. Iquitos: 4-Day Amazon Jungle Trip
Spend four days and three nights immersed in the natural landscapes and wildlife of the Peruvian Amazon in Iquitos. Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and reconnect with nature in one of the most memorable natural landscapes in the world. Day 1: Get picked up from the airport or your accommodation in Iquitos, then get driven to the port to take a boat to the lodge. On the way to the port, receive a brief description of the city and its surroundings. Upon arrival at the lodge, visit the mirador (balcony) from where you can appreciate a clear view of the jungle. After lunch, enjoy a canoe ride with a professional native guide who knows all the trails in the area. Observe the local flora and fauna and learn the uses that the local people have for each plant. Spend the rest of your night at the lodge. Day 2: At dawn, enjoy a morning walk as you watch the sun rise over this unique landscape. Observe and learn about the typical birds of the area. After lunch, get prepared to go piranha fishing. Learn how to fish the local way with traditional instruments. Then, get a chance to observe the local pink and grey dolphins and take a swim in the Amazon River. Afterward, spend another night at the lodge. Day 3: Start your morning with breakfast at the lodge before spending the full day in the jungle. Set sail through the Amazon River and cross the town of San Juan de Huachalado, getting to know its locals and diverse flora and fauna. Reach the Yanayacu River, a river of black water, and spend the day exploring, fishing, sailing, and hiking. See the famous giant tree called Lupuma and spot Tarzan lianas (vines) on the way. With the help of your guide, find a lunch option at the home of any villager or camping area in the jungle. Next, visit the trapiche (mill) in San Juan de Huachalado, where you can learn how to make the typical local alcoholic beverages and optionally taste some. Later, return to the lodge and have dinner before calling it a night. Day 4: Start with breakfast at the lodge, then gear up for a jungle trek exploration of the tree La Ceiba de la Selva, also known by the Indians as Huimba. This almost 500-year-old tree has a height of up to 160 feet and a diameter of 10 feet. Near the end of the trip, check out and have lunch before leaving the lodge. Return via the Amazon River on an approximately 1-hour ride. Afterward, get transferred back to your pickup airport or accommodation in Iquitos.