Major city · Peru
Iquitos
Base 3 nights: 2 for a jungle lodge or reserve, 1 for the city. Fly in — there is no road. Skip if you want beaches or ruins.
Iquitos is the largest city on earth you cannot reach by road: about 380,000 people, 106 m above sea level, ringed by the Amazon, Nanay and Itaya rivers. Flights from Lima take about 1 h 50 min. Most travellers come for three things — rainforest lodges and reserves, river villages, and ayahuasca retreats — and the city itself is a half-day of rubber-boom buildings and a riverfront walk. Heat is constant: 31–32 °C highs all year, rain in every month.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- PEN
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (drier, lower river)
- avoid Dec–Apr (wettest; high water floods trails and beaches)
- Airport
- IQT
- Nights
- 3
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Peru ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Peru's migration authority (Migraciones) or a Peruvian consulate; keep the entry record you receive, as hotels may ask for it.
- Peru ↗Machu Picchu entry is by timed ticket for a named circuit, with daily caps; in high season tickets sell out weeks or months ahead. Buy tickets only from the official Ministry of Culture seller or a licensed agency.
- Peru ↗The classic Inca Trail needs a permit booked through a licensed operator, often months ahead; the trail closes every February for maintenance.
- Peru ↗Altitude sickness is common above 2,500 m: ascend gradually, rest on day one, and ask a doctor before travel if you have heart or lung conditions.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Iquitos105 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Iquitos, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, S/).Peru-wide
- SIM or eSIMClaro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel sell prepaid SIMs; register with your passport at official shops.Peru-wide
- Tap waterNot safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.Peru-wide
- TippingRestaurants: About 10% if service is not included.Peru-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Peru-wide
- SafetyThe centre is busy and generally safe by day; take mototaxis after dark rather than walking Belén or the port area…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPaper in the bin; carry tissue and coins for public toilets.Peru-wide
- Emergency numbers105 police · 116 fire · 106 ambulance (samu) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close Mondays; strikes can shut roads and shops.Peru-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportIQT Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport (6.5 km (4 mi) southwest of the centre; mototaxi to town about S/10, car about S/20.).IQT Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport (4 mi (6.5 km) southwest of the centre; mototaxi to town about S/10, car about S/20.).
- Getting aroundMototaxis (three-wheeled motorcycle taxis) are the main transport: about S/2.5–3 in the centre, S/3+ to Belén, S/10 airport to centre.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealMenu del día (set lunch)S/10–20
- Beerbar or shopS/8–15
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Mototaxi across the centreS/2.5–3
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekS/30–60
- Museum or sight ticketReserve or animal-centre entryS/3–50
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personPEN 30
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomPEN 180
- High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomPEN 350
A day, not counting the bed: Budget PEN 120 · Mid PEN 250 · High PEN 500
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- IQT Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport (6.5 km (4 mi) southwest of the centre; mototaxi to town about S/10, car about S/20.)IQT Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport (4 mi (6.5 km) southwest of the centre; mototaxi to town about S/10, car about S/20.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Feb
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Mar
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jun
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jul
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Dec
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jun (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C) low), wettest Jan (22 rain days), driest Aug (15). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Iquitos: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
22 rd
Feb
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
19 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
22 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
21 rd
May
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
20 rd
Jun
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
18 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
17 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
15 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
16 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
18 rd
Nov
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
20 rd
Dec
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
22 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Mototaxis (three-wheeled motorcycle taxis) are the main transport: about S/2.5–3 in the centre, S/3+ to Belén, S/10 airport to centre. Agree the price first; drivers earn commission from hotels, so name your hotel and stay firm. Boats from Bellavista-Nanay port serve Padre Cocha, the animal centres and river villages; buy tickets at the port.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm and Amazon Animal Orphanage
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Mototaxi to Bellavista-Nanay port, then boat to Padre Cocha village
Butterfly life cycle plus rescued animals; Tue–Sun 09:00–16:00, adult S/30.Butterfly life cycle plus rescued animals; Tue–Sun 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, adult S/30.
Amazon Rescue Center (Centro de Rescate Amazónico)
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Mototaxi along the Iquitos–Nauta road to Km 13.8
Manatee rescue centre; Tue–Sun 09:00–15:00, adult S/30, student or child S/15.Manatee rescue centre; Tue–Sun 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, adult S/30, student or child S/15.
Quistococha
cautionDoor to door: About 30 min
Mototaxi to Km 6.5 of the Iquitos–Nauta road
Lake, artificial beach, small zoo and museum; daily 08:30–17:30, adult S/3. A family half-day, not a wildlife highlight.Lake, artificial beach, small zoo and museum; daily 8:30 AM–5:30 PM, adult S/3. A family half-day, not a wildlife highlight.
Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Mototaxi or tour van to Km 26.8 of the Iquitos–Nauta road
White-sand forest with endemic birds; go with a birding guide at dawn.
Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
overnightDoor to door: Half a day to reach
Boat from the city or Nauta, usually as a multi-day lodge or camping trip
Peru's largest protected area and the biggest floodable forest in South America; foreigners S/30. Two to four nights minimum.
Santa Rosa Island
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
Boat down the Amazon toward the Colombian border
Border island near Leticia and Tabatinga; check river levels and your entry stamp.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Plaza de Armas and Malecón Tarapacá
Walkable core: cathedral, Iron House, riverfront, most restaurants. Best for one city night.
Belén and the market edge
Cheaper beds and the floating market; busier and rougher at night. Use for early boat departures.
Punchana and the airport road
Quieter hotels with pools, 10–15 min by mototaxi from the centre; good with kids.
Jungle lodge (out of town)
Most visitors sleep 2–3 nights at a lodge on the Amazon, Nanay or a reserve; transfers included.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- S/120–200 excl. bed
- Mid
- S/200–400 excl. bed
- High
- S/400+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 3 nights × PEN 180 | PEN 540 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × PEN 250 | PEN 1,500 |
| Airport mototaxi, one way2 × PEN 10 | PEN 20 |
| Mototaxi across the centre2 × PEN 3 | PEN 6 |
| Boat to Padre Cocha and back2 × PEN 30 | PEN 60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × PEN 40 | PEN 80 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | PEN 221 |
| Trip total≈ PEN 405 per person per day, bed included | PEN 2,427 |
2026 estimate in soles; flights and lodge packages excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Menu del día (set lunch) | S/10–20 |
| Amazon river fish (paiche, gamitana) main | S/25–45 |
| Beer, bar or shop | S/8–15 |
| Mototaxi across the centre | S/2.5–3 |
| Boat, Bellavista-Nanay to Padre Cocha | S/15–20 each way |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | S/30–60 |
| Reserve or animal-centre entry | S/3–50 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No road in or out: flights fill up and cancel in heavy rain — build a buffer day before an international flight.
- So-called serpentarios (snake shows) near the city are illegal animal-exploitation operations and pay boatmen kickbacks; some boats bound for Pilpintuwasi or the rescue centres drop tourists there instead. Confirm the destination before you board.
- Ayahuasca is a strong psychedelic. Choose a retreat with medical screening, no alcohol or drug mixing, and a way to reach a clinic; avoid anyone who pressures you on the street.
- Heat, mosquitoes and dengue: repellent, long sleeves at dusk.
- Mototaxi drivers at the airport are pushy and may divert you to a hotel that pays them.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 105
- Fire
- 116
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 106
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
IquitosIquitos
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police105
- Fire116
- Ambulance106
Embassy
No embassies in Iquitos; most countries keep embassies in Lima. The US, UK, Canada and Australia all operate from Lima.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → centre, mototaxi: about S/10, 20–30 min
- Airport → centre, car: about S/20
- Mototaxi in the centre: S/2.5–3
- Bellavista-Nanay → Padre Cocha, boat: S/15–20, about 20 min
Say or show
- ¿Cuánto al centro? — How much to the centre? (KWAN-to al SEN-tro)
- Pare aquí, por favor — Stop here, please (PA-re a-KI por fa-VOR)
- Ya tengo hotel — I already have a hotel (ya TEN-go o-TEL)
- La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR)
- ¿Es seguro nadar aquí? — Is it safe to swim here? (es se-GU-ro na-DAR a-KI)
- Necesito un médico — I need a doctor (ne-se-SI-to un ME-di-ko)
Carry a copy of your passport; the Amazon border with Colombia and Brazil is a short boat ride away.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Iquitos. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep (drier, lower river) · avoid Dec–Apr (wettest; high water floods trails and beaches) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for IQT: fixed mototaxi and car fares, hotel-pickup fallback, late-arrival rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Plaza de Armas and Malecón, Belén market, Punchana, Bellavista-Nanay port.
- Place pages with verified hours and prices (Pilpintuwasi, Amazon Rescue Center, Quistococha, Allpahuayo-Mishana, Pacaya Samiria) and eat pages with last orders.
- Lodge and retreat vetting notes: medical screening, evacuation plan, animal-welfare red flags.
Sources
- officialiPerú — official tourist information and assistance
- officialCORPAC / ADP — Iquitos airport (IQT)
- officialPacaya Samiria National Reserve — Peru travel
- officialAmazon Rescue Center (Centro de Rescate Amazónico)
- officialPilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm and Amazon Animal Orphanage
- officialAllpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve
- secondaryWikivoyage: Iquitos, revision 5256352 (CC BY-SA 4.0)