Iquitos at a glance
Iquitos is a city on the Amazon in the Peruvian region of Loreto. Its airport, Francisco Secada Vignetta (code IQT), is the usual entry point for trips on the Peruvian rivers. From here you can join a river cruise, visit the Pacaya-Samiria reserve with an authorized operator or take the ferry to the border with Colombia and Brazil.
Plan the river part first. Day trips and lodge stays are listed under Amazon River tours, and the boats are compared under Amazon river cruises from Iquitos. Many cruises sold as leaving from Iquitos board in Nauta, so read the first day of the programme closely.
Our picks: from Iquitos
The lodge and the jungle camp include two nights each; the lodge has a double room and airport pickup. For a short stay, the private Belén tour shows the market and the floating houses.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Wildlife lodge for three days from Iquitos
- Two nights in a double room
- Boat and excursions
- Airport pickup
Two nights in a double room at a jungle lodge, with the boat, the excursions and most meals. Plan an arrival flight before 9 a.m.
Check availability →
Three days at a jungle camp from Iquitos
- Two nights at the camp
- All meals
- Hotel or airport pickup
Two nights at a camp in the forest with all meals and the excursions on the programme.
Check availability →Belén market and the floating district by boat
- Guide and private transport
- Traditional boat rides
- All fees and taxes
Four hours with a guide through Belén market and by traditional boat past the floating houses, with fees and a motorcab back.
Check availability →Iquitos tours and river cruises
Jungle tours, Pacaya-Samiria trips and river cruises from Iquitos, with live prices and availability.
Things to do in Iquitos
What is worth your time in town and nearby.
Belén market and harbour
Belén is the market district at the water's edge, with streets of stalls and wooden boats at the harbour. Allow time to walk through slowly and carry only what you need.
Pilpintuwasi at Padre Cocha
Pilpintuwasi is open daily all year from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guided visits start at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Entry for foreigners is PEN 30 for adults, PEN 15 for students and PEN 5 for children (2026). Peruvians pay PEN 20, 10 and 5. The centre looks after rescued animals and does not allow direct contact with them.
Getting to Padre Cocha
Take a mototaxi to Bellavista, then a boat to Padre Cocha, then walk or take a mototaxi on. A shared boat costs about PEN 3 and a speedboat about PEN 20. There is no road for cars to the centre.
Pacaya-Samiria
The big flooded reserve is reached with an authorized tour operator. Fees, seasons and animals are covered on the Pacaya-Samiria page.
The Santa Rosa ferry
A fast ferry connects Iquitos with Santa Rosa, across the river from the Colombian town of Leticia. See Leticia and the tri-border area.
River cruises from Iquitos
Programmes on the Peruvian Amazon use a transfer from Iquitos to Nauta, where the boat is boarded. They cover the Marañón and the Ucayali, the Yarapa river and the place where the Ucayali and Marañón meet to form the Amazon. Plan the airport, the city and the harbour as three separate steps.
Two 2026 price examples, both per person in a double cabin: an expedition-style boat costs $1,947 for the standard cabin and $2,194 for the superior cabin on 3 nights, and $3,795 and $4,254 on 6 nights. That works out to roughly $632 to $731 per person and night. A luxury-class boat costs $3,860 to $4,020 for 3 nights in the regular 2026 rate and $4,230 to $4,390 in holiday periods. These are examples of two boat classes, not a market range, and flights, tips and transfers need checking separately.
Ferry from Iquitos to Santa Rosa
The fast ferry, 2026 fares.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Journey time | About 12 to 15 hours, seats with air conditioning |
| Departures from Iquitos | Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
| Departures from the border | Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday |
| Fare for foreign passengers | PEN 300 |
| Other fares | PEN 250 standard, PEN 80 reduced with conditions |
| Terminal fee | PEN 8.50, charged separately |
| Luggage | Two bags up to 30 kg, excess costs extra |
The ferry ends in Santa Rosa on the Peruvian side. It does not include a connecting boat to Leticia or the border formalities. A café on board sells food and snacks, but no full meals are included. For most travellers, plan with the PEN 300 foreigner fare plus the terminal fee. The lower fares come with conditions, so do not count on them.
Climate in Iquitos
Long-term averages.
Iquitos is warm and wet all year. Daily highs stay between 29 °C and 31 °C and lows between 21 °C and 22 °C. Monthly rainfall ranges from about 180 mm in June to about 350 mm in March. Even the less wet months bring regular rain, so a dry season in the sense of no rain does not exist. For the Pacaya-Samiria reserve, the flooding follows the rainy months from October to April. The weather by month page compares Iquitos with Manaus.
Health notes for Iquitos
Based on German travel advice as of October 2026.
Vaccination
Direct entry from Germany needs no compulsory vaccination. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for Loreto.
Malaria
The risk is medium in the centre of Iquitos and on large cruise ships, and high in the villages and on the tributaries around it. In high-risk areas, medication on top of mosquito protection can make sense. Decide with a doctor.
Dengue
Dengue is a possible mosquito-borne illness in Peru. Protect yourself by day and by night.
Jungle lodges and tours near the city are covered in the Iquitos and Peru jungle guide.
Plan the rest of your trip
More from the Amazon River.
Iquitos: frequently asked questions
What are the main things to do in Iquitos?
Walk the Belén market and harbour, visit Pilpintuwasi at Padre Cocha and join a river cruise or a trip to the Pacaya-Samiria reserve with an authorized operator.
Do Iquitos cruises leave from Iquitos?
Many start with a transfer from Iquitos to Nauta, where you board. Read the first day of the programme to see where the boat actually leaves.
How much does the ferry to Santa Rosa cost?
The fare for foreign passengers is PEN 300, plus a terminal fee of PEN 8.50. Other fares apply with conditions for residents. The journey takes about 12 to 15 hours.
How much is Pilpintuwasi?
Foreign adults pay PEN 30, students PEN 15 and children PEN 5 in 2026. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Do I need malaria tablets for Iquitos?
German travel advice rates the risk as medium in the city centre and high in surrounding villages and tributaries. Talk to a travel doctor about your route.
Is this the official website of Iquitos tourism?
No. This is an independent travel guide to the Amazon River. It is not run by the city, a reserve authority, a cruise line or a tour operator.