Top places to visit in Iquitos

• Casa de Fierro (Iron House)

  historic building · 4.0 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Iron House on the Plaza de Armas, a prefabricated metal building attributed to Gustave Eiffel's workshop and shipped here during the rubber boom. A landmark of Iquitos's belle-époque wealth.

• Belén Market

  public market · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Iquitos's sprawling, chaotic riverside market in the Belén district selling Amazonian fish, exotic fruits, jungle game meat, and the notorious Pasaje Paquito row of herbal remedies and shamanic potions. Raucous and authentic — go with a…

• Belén Floating District

  neighbourhood · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The "Venice of the Amazon" — a neighbourhood of wooden stilt and floating houses on the Itaya River that rise and fall with the seasonal flood. Best seen by canoe (peque-peque) during high-water months.

• Plaza de Armas

  square · 4.1 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The main square of Iquitos, ringed by the cathedral, rubber-era mansions and the Iron House. The social heart of the city, lively in the evenings.

• Malecón Tarapacá

  promenade · 4.4 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  Iquitos's riverfront boardwalk lined with rubber-boom mansions decorated in Portuguese azulejo tiles, bars, restaurants and viewpoints over the Itaya/Amazon. The promenade comes alive at sunset.

• Amazon Rescue Center (Manatee Rescue Center)

  rescue center · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  CREA conservation centre on the Iquitos–Nauta road that rehabilitates orphaned Amazonian manatees, plus river otters, sloths and turtles, for eventual release. Visitors can learn about and sometimes help feed the manatees.

• Quistococha Lagoon & Zoo

  park · 4.0 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  A recreational park on the Iquitos–Nauta highway with a black-water lagoon, an artificial white-sand beach (Playa Tunchi) and a zoo of native Amazon species including jaguars, tapirs and giant otters. A favourite weekend escape for locals.

• Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm & Animal Orphanage

  sanctuary · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Across the river in Padre Cocha village, a butterfly farm and rescue sanctuary home to rehabilitated monkeys, a jaguar, tapir, manatee and an anteater. Reached by motorboat from Bellavista-Nanay port.

• Plaza 28 de Julio

  square · 3.8 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A leafy local square south of the centre, quieter than the Plaza de Armas, surrounded by everyday Iquitos life.

• Iglesia Matriz (Cathedral of Iquitos)

  cathedral · 3.9 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The neo-Gothic Catholic cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, built in the early 20th century during the rubber boom, with a clock tower that is a city landmark.

• Nanay River & Bellavista Beach

  riverside · 3.9 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Bellavista-Nanay riverside port and seasonal sandy beaches on the Nanay River, departure point for boats to Padre Cocha and nearby villages, lined with fish restaurants.

• Museo Amazónico

  history museum · 3.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Housed in a restored rubber-boom mansion on the Malecón, this museum displays fibreglass life-casts of Amazonian indigenous peoples and regional history exhibits.

Things to do

• 2-Day Amazon Jungle Lodge Stay Nature · 48 h · from PEN 650 per person
• Pink River Dolphin & Monkey Island Day Trip Boat · 8 h · from PEN 280 per person
• Belén Market & City Tour Cultural · 3 h · from PEN 90 per person
• Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve Expedition Nature · 72 h · from PEN 1,450 per person
• Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm Half-Day Tour Wildlife · 4 h · from PEN 110 per person
• Amazonian Cooking & Jungle-Fruit Experience Cooking Class · 3 h · from PEN 130 per person
• Sunset Amazon River Boat Cruise Boat · 2.5 h · from PEN 120 per person

Day trips and tours

• Iquitos City & Belén Market Tour 4 h · from PEN 90
• Pink Dolphins, Monkey Island & Native Community 8 h · from PEN 290
• Quistococha & Amazon Rescue Center Day Out 6 h · from PEN 160

Where to stay in Iquitos

• Plaza de Armas / Centro about PEN 50 per night

  Iquitos' riverfront centre near the Malecón Tarapoto boardwalk, restaurants and tour offices.

Hotels

• Hospedaje La Pascana 2-star · PEN 70 to PEN 120 per night
• DoubleTree by Hilton Iquitos 4-star · PEN 420 to PEN 750 per night
• Hotel Marañón 3-star · PEN 160 to PEN 240 per night
• Hotel Casa Morey 4-star · PEN 280 to PEN 460 per night
• Nativa Apartments 3-star · PEN 150 to PEN 260 per night
• Flying Dog Hostel Iquitos 2-star · PEN 35 to PEN 130 per night

Where to eat

• Al Frío y al Fuego Amazonian, Peruvian, Seafood · about PEN 95 per person
• Dawn on the Amazon Café Amazonian, International, Peruvian · about PEN 45 per person
• Amazon Bistro International, French, Peruvian · about PEN 50 per person
• Fitzcarraldo Restaurant Bar Peruvian, Amazonian, International · about PEN 45 per person
• Karma Café Café, Fusion, Vegetarian · about PEN 35 per person
• Antica Pizzería Italian, Pizza · about PEN 45 per person
• Huasai Amazonian, Peruvian · about PEN 30 per person
• La Gran Maloca Amazonian, Peruvian · about PEN 55 per person

Getting to Iquitos

Airport: Iquitos (IQT)

How visitors arrive in Iquitos

• Flight from Lima By air from Lima · common

  The city has no road link to the rest of Peru; most visitors fly in from Lima, Pucallpa or Tarapoto. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• River boat from Yurimaguas By ferry from Yurimaguas · possible

  Passenger and cargo boats come down the river from Yurimaguas, often via Nauta. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• River cargo boat from Pucallpa By ferry from Pucallpa · possible

  Cargo-passenger boats run down the Ucayali from Pucallpa. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Mototaxi from Iquitos airport

  Mototaxis (motocars) and a few cars wait outside the terminal and are the usual way into town. Agree the fare before you set off and state your hotel firmly. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Touts at the airport earn commission from hotels. Repeat your hotel's name and arrange pickup in advance if your hotel offers it. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the port to the centre

• River boats to Iquitos

  Iquitos has no road link, so besides flying you arrive by river: cargo and passenger boats from Yurimaguas and Pucallpa, and speedboats from the Tabatinga/Leticia border area. Source: bushop.com

Getting around

• Boat main way to get around

  Iquitos cannot be reached by road, so boats on the Amazon and its tributaries are the main way to travel to and from the city.

• Taxi

  Regular taxis are available in Iquitos, though mototaxis are the more common way to get around town.

• Tricycle main way to get around

  Mototaxis, motorcycles with a small rickshaw-style cabin, are the common way to get around Iquitos town.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Fake jungle-tour guides at airport and port

  Iquitos airport arrivals, Plaza de Armas, river ports

  Touts ("jaladores") approach arriving tourists posing as guides or lodge reps, take a deposit for a jungle tour or cruise, then deliver a substandard trip or vanish. Some impersonate well-known lodges.

  How to avoid it: Book only with established, reviewed operators directly at their office or online. Never pay a full deposit to a stranger on the street; verify the company name and address.

• Illegal animal-selfie operators

  Plaza de Armas, Malecón, monkey-island tours

  Vendors and some boat operators offer photos holding sloths, monkeys, anacondas or baby caimans for a fee. The animals are taken illegally from the wild, often die quickly, and the trade is illegal.

  How to avoid it: Refuse all paid animal-handling photos and report operators. Choose tours visiting genuine rescue/rehabilitation centres only.

• Overpriced or fake lodge bookings

  Online and street agents

  Travellers are sold "all-inclusive" jungle lodge packages at inflated prices, or for lodges that do not match the advertised photos and amenities. Pressure tactics push immediate cash payment.

  How to avoid it: Compare prices, read recent independent reviews, and confirm exactly what is included in writing. Avoid cash-only deals with no receipt.

• Mototaxi (motocarro) overcharging

  Citywide, airport runs

  Drivers quote inflated fares to tourists or claim no change, especially from the airport or at night. No meters are used.

  How to avoid it: Agree the fare before boarding, ask locals or your hotel the going rate, and carry small bills. A short central ride is only a few soles.

• Ayahuasca / shaman retreat fraud

  Belén Market herbal row, retreat touts

  Unqualified or fake "shamans" run unsafe ayahuasca ceremonies; there have been reports of theft, assault and serious health incidents at unvetted retreats.

  How to avoid it: Only attend ceremonies at long-established, well-reviewed centres with proper screening and a sober facilitator. Never go alone to an unknown location.

Best time to visit Iquitos

• Jan 32°C
• Feb 32°C
• Mar 32°C
• Apr 32°C
• May 31°C
• Jun 31°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 32°C
• Sep 33°C
• Oct 33°C
• Nov 32°C
• Dec 32°C

More in Peru

• Cusco
• Lima
• Aguas Calientes
• Arequipa
• Puno
• Ica

Frequently asked questions about Iquitos

What are the top-rated places to visit in Iquitos?

The highest-rated places in our Iquitos guide are Amazon Rescue Center (Manatee Rescue Center), Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm & Animal Orphanage, Malecón Tarapacá, Belén Market, Belén Floating District.

Where should I stay in Iquitos?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Iquitos: Plaza de Armas / Centro.

How do I get around Iquitos?

Ways to get around Iquitos covered in our guide: Boat, Taxi, Tricycle, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Iquitos?

Scams reported to us for Iquitos include Fake jungle-tour guides at airport and port; Illegal animal-selfie operators; Overpriced or fake lodge bookings. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Iquitos?

Average daytime highs in Iquitos run from 31°C in Jun to 33°C in Oct.

Which airport is nearest to Iquitos?

The nearest airport to Iquitos has the code IQT.