Located at the confluence of the Amazon River and the Nanay River, Iquitos is the largest city of the Amazon in Peru. It is the gateway to the Amazon rainforest and one of the most visited cities by tourists and locals alike. This city welcomes the traveller with exuberant landscapes, exotic gastronomy and customs as well as ancestral traditions. It is a destination full of interesting nooks and crannies and wild nature to discover, an adventurer’s dream. Discover what things to do in Iquitos, Peru.
What are the best places to see in Iquitos Peru?
1. Bethlehem neighborhood
The Belén neighbourhood, in the east of Iquitos, shows the real face of the city. It is a very humble area where tourists are attracted by its “floating houses”, constructions built on the water that serve as shops, homes and even discos.
To get to the most interesting spots, it’s common to take a boat and make stops at different points in the neighbourhood. A must-see in the Barrio de Belén is its market. Here you’ll find everything from exotic drinks made from jungle fruits such as camu camu and aguaje.
- To get there, you can walk from the city centre or take a mototaxi.
Organise your travel itinerary with Passporter easy and functional. Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you the most, adding them to the route map.
2. Ayapua boat-museum
An authentic steamer from the rubber era now docked at the malecon of Iquitos as a museum of a bygone era. It was built in 1906 in Germany and transported in pieces to Iquitos, where it was assembled. It began service in 1910 as a rubber boat. Its mission was to travel the upper Amazon basin collecting the rubber that was collected in the stations. The engine room is still intact.
3. Malecon of Iquitos
Beyond some rich houses of the rubber era scattered in the Plaza de Armas and surroundings, Iquitos has nothing monumental. But it does have a place of a certain magic: the Malecon. The riverside promenade along the Itaya river has atmosphere all day long. But it is very special at sunset, when the climatic rigours subside, the air is filled with aromas of river and jungle and the Malecon is populated by couples, families and gangs of friends who stroll and entertain themselves in this space free from the noise of the omnipresent motocarts.
4. Monkey Island
This is a refuge located on the banks of the Amazon River, where around 50 monkeys of more than 10 different species live. Here they receive primates that are rescued from endangered areas or that have suffered some kind of problem and have to be rehabilitated. Once they are recovered, they are returned to their natural habitat.
The fun part of this tour is that the monkeys roam freely around the island and approach you as normal, even taking the confidence to climb on your back when you least expect it! They also live with other animals, such as the adorable sloth bear and colourful toucans.
- To get to Monkey Island, you can either go on a scheduled tour or on your own. If you go on your own, at the Port of Bellavista-Nanay, located 15 minutes from the centre of Iquitos you will have to take a boat to Monkey Island, 30 minutes approximately.
5. Museum of Amazonian Indigenous Cultures
The different Amazonian ethnic groups have a dedicated space in the Museum of Indigenous Cultures of Iquitos. Here you can learn about the cultures that inhabit the Amazon region of Peru, Colombia and Brazil. You will learn about their customs, and you will be able to see some of their most representative costumes and analyse the objects of their daily life.
- The Museum of Indigenous Cultures is located on the Malecón Tarapacá, one of the main attractions of Iquitos. You can reach it on foot from any point in the city.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to do in and around Iquitos Peru?
1. Amazon birth
From the Nauta pier, there are boats that take you to the confluence of the Ucayali and the Marañon, where the river officially begins to be called the Amazon. In reality the Amazon is born thousands of kilometres upstream, at the Apacheta col, near Arequipa.
It is only from this point that it finally begins to be called the Amazon. The body of water is so large that you can hardly see the confluence: you just see brown water everywhere and a green line of jungle in the background. But for geography geeks, standing at the place where the Amazon officially starts to be called the Amazon is a travel landmark.
2. Allpahuayo-Mishana national reserve
About 45 minutes drive along the road to Nauta (27 km) is the ranger house and entrance to this nature reserve, the best example of varillal forest in the Peruvian Amazon region. It is a patch of jungle that has grown on a background of white sand, which means that the trees that have adapted to this nutrient-poor environment have a thin trunk (hence the name varilla or varillal).
It has an incredible variety of species, from flora to reptiles, birds, several types of monkeys endemic to the park and large mammals. The simplest visit is to walk, guided by a park ranger, the two trails signposted from the access booth. You can also access by boat on the Nanay River, in this case it takes about two or three hours to the village of Nina Rumi.
Map and travel itinerary to Iquitos
Here we leave you our map with the places we recommend to visit in Rabat so you can organize your trip easily and quickly. You can also add important documents such as travel tickets, hotel reservations and even invite your friends to be part of the itinerary organization. Using Passporter is free of charge and will help you travel in a more organized way. You have the option of registering on the website or downloading the app to keep everything centralized and in your pocket.
What things to do in Iquitos Peru in one day
In one day you will be able to visit the main points of interest of the city of Iquitos such as:
- Barrio de Belen
- Ayapua Boat Museum
- Malecon of Iquitos
- Monkey Island
- Museum of Amazonian Indigenous Cultures
- Malecon of Iquitos
What things to do in Iquitos in two days
During your second day in Iquitos you will be able to visit some of the most emblematic and surprising places around the city such as:
- Birth of the Amazon
- Allpahuayo-Mishana national reserve
How to get to Iquitos Peru
The most common way to arrive in Iquitos is by plane from Lima, which receives most international flights, to Coronel FAP Francisco Secada International Airport, located about 7 km from the city of Iquitos. Flights from Lima to Iquitos take about an hour and a half.
Due to the degree of isolation of the city and the geographical difficulty of the Peruvian Amazon, the city of Iquitos has no highways or roads that allow land transport. Iquitos can also be accessed by navigating the Amazon River and its main tributaries such as the Ucayali River and the Maranon River. However, these are long trips that take several days.
Where to eat when you travel to Iquitos Peru
One of Iquitos’ greatest treasures is undoubtedly its food. A range of flavors, aromas and textures that conquers the palate. Through ancestral recipes and their own secrets, the villagers have promoted culinary tourism by offering original dishes.
Some of the most representative recipes with the Tacacho with jerky or a succulent Patarascha, accompanied by a fresh chonta salad or Jugo de cocona. Here is a list of some best-rated restaurants, perfect for sampling some of the most typical foods of Iquitos Peru.
- Blanquita is a place that was originally a food stall in an Iquitos neighbourhood and has become a very famous restaurant. It is a restaurant with traditional cuisine and typical recipes, ideal for a taste of Iquitos gastronomy. It has a price range of €15-25.
- Al Frío y al Fuego is a floating restaurant on the Itaya River, with local food, bar and swimming pool. A relaxed day out near Iquitos. It has a price range of approximately €25-45.
- El Bucanero is a restaurant near the above for dining overlooking the Itaya River and the Amazon basin. Its delicacies include local as well as national dishes. It has a price range of around €25-35.
- Parrilladas Chipy is a speciality restaurant for grilled fish, chicken and beef (in Peru they say carne de res) with a touch of Iquitos. The price range is around €30.
Where to stay during your Iquitos vacations
Finding accommodation where to stay in Iquitos is easy as it is one of the main cities in Peru, I can recommend the following, click on each name to see prices or rates, and availability for your trip to Iquitos.
- Doubletree by Hilton Iquitos, (Ex El Dorado Plaza Hotel) 5-star accommodation in the Plaza de Armas of Iquitos. It has an indoor swimming pool and the rooms are carpeted, fully equipped and decorated. The price range is €95 per night for two people.
- Casa Morey, is a four-star accommodation, located in an old mansion from the Caucho era. Located on the banks of the Itaya River, it features an outdoor swimming pool and elegant, spacious rooms. It is also 3 blocks from the Amazon Museum and the city’s shopping area. It costs around €50 per night for two people.
- Epoca boutique hotel, with views of the Amazon River, located in a 1902 Iquitos mansion. It costs around €45 per night for two people.
- Amazon Oasis Floating Lodge is accommodation located in the middle of the Amazon and has 4 floating bungalows. Rooms feature a patio, river views and a private bathroom with shower. It is located 14 km from Iquitos airport. The price per night is around €120 for two people.
Tips for your trip to Iquitos Peru
- Wearing comfortable shoes is a must in Peru in general.
- The climate in Iquitos is tropical and rainy, so you should bring waterproof clothing.
- It is advisable to bring cash which you can easily change there in exchange houses.
- Never attempt to go into the jungle without the company of an experienced guide.
- To enter protected natural areas, you’ll need a permit issued by the national office.
- In Peru, you shouldn’t drink tap water and salads and ice are best left out. It is important to take the usual safety precautions and to always keep an eye on your personal belongings.
How to organise what to do in Iquitos Peru
Register or download the App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it
- Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Iquitos Peru
The most common way to get to Iquitos is by plane from Lima, which receives most international flights, to Coronel FAP Francisco Secada International Airport, located about 7 km from the city of Iquitos. Flights usually take about an hour and a half.
It is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world.
The climate of Iquitos is very warm, excessively rainy and oceanic. The average annual maximum and minimum temperatures are 31.4 °C and 21.8 °C, respectively.
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