Iquitos

Tailor-made Travel

Jan 2024

plan my trip

Self-confident and likeable, IQUITOS is for the most part a modern city, built on a wide, flat river plain. Only the heart of the city, around the main plaza, contains older, architecturally interesting buildings, but the river port and market area of Belén boasts rustic wooden huts on stilts – a classic image of Iquitos.

If it weren’t for the abundant stalls and shops selling jungle craft goods it would be hard to know that this place was once dominated by hunter-gatherer tribes like the Iquito, Yaguar, Bora and Witito who initially defended their territory against the early Spanish missionaries and explorers. The townsfolk today, however, are warm and welcoming, wear as little clothing as possible and are out in numbers during the relative cool of the evening.

Brief history

Though founded in 1757 under the name of San Pablo de los Napeanos, the present centre of Iquitos was established in 1864. By the end of the nineteenth century Iquitos was, along with Manaus in Brazil, one of the great rubber towns. From that era of grandeur a number of structures survive, but during the last century the town veered between prosperity (as far back as 1938, when the area was explored for oil) and the depths of economic depression. However, its strategic position on the Amazon, which makes it accessible to large ocean-going ships from the distant Atlantic, has ensured its continued importance. At present, still buoyed by the export of timber, petroleum, tobacco and Brazil nuts, and dabbling heavily in the trade of wild animals, tropical fish and birds, as well as an insecticide called barbasco, long used by natives as a fish poison, Iquitos is in a period of quite wealthy expansion.

Puerto Belén

The most memorable part of town – best visited around 7am when it’s most active – Puerto Belén looms out of the main town at a point where the Amazon, until recently, joined the Río Itaya inlet. Consisting almost entirely of wooden huts raised on stilts and, until a few years ago, also floating on rafts, the district has earned fame among travellers as the “Venice of the Peruvian Jungle”. Actually more Far Eastern than European in appearance, with obvious poverty and little glamour, it has changed little over its hundred or so years, remaining a poor shanty settlement trading in basics like bananas, manioc, fish, turtle and crocodile meat. While filming Fitzcarraldo here, Werner Herzog merely had to make sure that no motorized canoes appeared on screen: virtually everything else, including the style of the barriada dwellings, looks exactly the way it did during the nineteenth century.

Iquitos fiestas

Iquitos throws some good annual festivals. The carnival known as Omagua (local dialect for “lowland swamp”) has grown vigorously over recent years and now involves not only townspeople, but hundreds of Indians as well, with plenty of chanting and dancing. The main thrust of activities is on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before Ash Wednesday, and on Monday the town celebrates with the traditional Umisha dance around a sacred tree selected for the purpose. It’s similar to maypole dancing in Britain, though in Iquitos the dancers strike the tree with machetes; when it eventually falls, children dive in to grab their share of the many gifts suspended from it.

Perhaps the best time to visit Iquitos, however, is at the end of June (supposedly June 23–24, but actually spread over three or four days), when the main Fiesta de San Juan takes place. The focus is on the small artesanía market of San Juan (the patron saint of Iquitos), some 4km from the city and quite close to the airport. It’s the traditional time for partying and for eating juanes, delicious little balls of rice and chicken wrapped in jungle leaves; the best place for these is in San Juan itself. June is also the month for Iquitos Week: seven days of celebrations around the Fiesta de San Juan, though tending to spread right across the month.

In October the local tourist board organizes an international rafting competition, which draws enthusiasts from every continent for a five-hour, nineteen-kilometre river race, plus a longer six-day race. At the end of the month there’s the Espiritos de La Selva (Spirits of the Jungle) festival, which coincides with Hallowe’en and All Souls, and involves street processions with costumes depicting mythological figures, plus the usual communal drinking and eating.

Shamans and ayahuasca sessions

Ayahuasca sessions, or psychedelic tourism, have become a booming business in Iquitos. Ayahuasca is a jungle vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) that grows in the Western Amazon region and has been used for thousands of years as a “teacher plant”, gaining a worldwide reputation for divination, inspiration and healing of physical, emotional and spiritual ailments (see San Pedro). The vine is generally mixed with other jungle plants to enhance its powers and transform it into a bitter-tasting hallucinogenic brew, usually taken in a public session with a shaman.

The Temple of the Way of Light (templeofthewayoflight.org), out beyind Iquitos airport, has a good reputation for combining ayahuasca ceremonies with charitable and environmental work. There are also some well-known local ayahuasca guides, including Francisco Montes (Sachamama, 18km from Iquitos on the road to Nauta; try asking for him in hotels or the tourist office), who offers very traditional ceremonies with all the comforts of a lodge. Another popular shaman is Agustín Rivas, a famous sculptor who has dedicated over thirty years to working with ayahuasca; his sessions are run through Yushintayta Lodge on the Río Tamshiyacu, contactable via the Hostal La Pascana, Pevas 133 (065 231418). In addition, many if not most of the jungle lodges and camps around Iquitos regularly organize ayahuasca sessions.

This sacred business is currently not regulated at all and, given the extremely sensitive states of mind achieved by ingesting ayahuasca (which can be much more powerful than LSD), it’s important not only to feel comfortable with the scene and setting, but also with the person leading it.

Tailor-made travel itineraries for Peru, created by local experts

Peru: into the Incan Empire

8 days / from2429 USD

Peru: into the Incan Empire

Who were the Incas? What did they do? What happened to them? Discover the answers, and much more, with this unique trip into the heart of the former Inca Empire.

view tour ⤍
Female Empowerment Tour

8 days / from2822 USD

Female Empowerment Tour

From meditations in Miraflores over visits to craftswomen in Chincheros to gratitude rituals in the Sacred Valley. This itinerary will allow you to reconnect with your feminine energy and learn more about women's lives in Peru.

view tour ⤍
Culture, Nature and Adventure in Peru

19 days / from3510 USD

Culture, Nature and Adventure in Peru

Get to know Peru through its locals and breathtaking trails- full of history. Hop aboard a motorboat to get to know the local way of life of the Uros people, before you start the great Inca trail, where beautiful landscapes, archaeological sites and fresh air are waiting for you.

view tour ⤍
The Inca Empire and the Nazca Culture

8 days / from1885 USD

The Inca Empire and the Nazca Culture

Peru has a rich history and culture, this itinerary will give you a taste of just how special it is. Take a flight over the mysterious Nasca lines, head to Cusco for some brilliant archaeological sites and discover the Inca cities. This trip will leave you wanting more!

view tour ⤍
Peru - the modern, the iconic, the wild

12 days / from6970 USD

Peru - the modern, the iconic, the wild

Spend 12 days in magnificent Peru - famous Machu Picchu, legendary Titicaca Lake and the wild Amazon await. This tour is great for foodies with amazing Peruvian delights, for history and culture lovers in the Sacred Valleys as well as wildlife enthusiasts in the Amazon. Something for everyone!

view tour ⤍
Best of Peru & Galapagos Islands

14 days / from6565 USD

Best of Peru & Galapagos Islands

Split your South America trip into two fascinating countries: Peru with Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, as well as ocean-facing capital Lima. Afterwards, proceed to the Galapagos Islands. You will stay on 3 different islands and explore many more.

view tour ⤍
Best Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands Tour Package

11 days / from9192 USD

Best Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands Tour Package

Explore a trio of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in this Machu Picchu and Galapagos tour package! Your journey begins in Quito, home to the Middle of the World. Afterward, fly on over to the Galapagos Islands the best biodiversity hotspot and following with the sublime Machu Picchu in Peru.

view tour ⤍
Peru Express

7 days / from1640 USD

Peru Express

Soak up some Peruvian culture on a whirlwind tour of Peru. See the capital Lima, pretty Cusco and the Sacred Valley before you acclimatise to the high altitude of Machu Picchu, the greatest mountain city on earth and the gateway to the Incan Empire.

view tour ⤍
Culinary Peru

8 days / from2445 USD

Culinary Peru

Discover the taste of Peru on this unique culinary trip. Starting in Lima, and then travelling on to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu and later Cusco, this trip includes all the essential destinations, and adds a unique culinary dimension to each, giving a real flavour of the country.

view tour ⤍
Peruvian Inca Domains

13 days / from2419 USD

Peruvian Inca Domains

Ideal for everyone wanting to explore the Inca history and combine it with today's culture and traditions. Fly over the mysterious Nasca lines, visit the penguins on Ballestas islands, sail the Titicaca Lake and discover the stunning Sacred Valley with Machu Picchu.

view tour ⤍
Peru for Nature Lovers

11 days / from3050 USD

Peru for Nature Lovers

Peru is considered one of the most ecologically diverse countries on earth: 84 of the 103 ecosystems and almost 90% of the world’s recognised climates can be found within the country’s borders. Needless to say, Peru has a lot to offer nature lovers.

view tour ⤍
Galapagos Cruise and Scuba Diving Adventure

10 days / from7018 USD

Galapagos Cruise and Scuba Diving Adventure

The Galapagos Islands rank as one of the world’s top dive sites, famous for its incredible underwater wonders, and huge quantities of marine life. This package offers a full-day SCUBA diving tour for guests that wish to experience the impressive diving in Galapagos, all in a safe and fun environment

view tour ⤍
Essential Peru

14 days / from4697 USD

Essential Peru

Get to know the best of Peru with this 14-day trip. Explore the cultural and culinary parts of Lima, get to know more about the Andean textile industry, discover Machu Picchu and if that's not enough you will also travel along the most beautiful routes in the world aboard the Titicaca train.

view tour ⤍
Witness the Sun Ceremony Inti Raymi in 2024

7 days / from1750 USD

Witness the Sun Ceremony Inti Raymi in 2024

Celebrate the spectacular Sun Ceremony in Peru in 2024. This trip starts on the 24th of June 2024 to be able to witness the ceremony. Extensions and pre-programs are readily available.

view tour ⤍
The Andes to the Amazon: Peru Explored

14 days / from4396 USD

The Andes to the Amazon: Peru Explored

Peru has much to offer and excites the most intrepid of travellers, from vibrant cities brimming with history, art and culture to the lofty mountainous heights of Machu Picchu and the Andes. A foray into the steamy Amazonian jungle completes your Peruvian adventure.

view tour ⤍
The Enigmatic Sites of Peru

8 days / from2250 USD

The Enigmatic Sites of Peru

Explore the stunning sights of Peru. From the enigmatic Nazca Lines to the historical monuments of Cusco, this trip has it all. Visit the impressive Machu Picchu, a world heritage site, and hike up the magnificent Rainbow Mountain for breathtaking views.

view tour ⤍
The Best of the Mashpi Rainforest and Galapagos

10 days / from7795 USD

The Best of the Mashpi Rainforest and Galapagos

Begin this journey in one of the first cities to be given the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site – Quito, Ecuador! Afterward, just a few hours away, you’ll head down into the lush cloud forests that surround Quito to experience Mashpi Lodge. You’ll finish this journey with the the Galapagos Islands

view tour ⤍
Machu Picchu, Titicaca & Uyuni

11 days / from2980 USD

Machu Picchu, Titicaca & Uyuni

The highlights of every Peru and Bolivia trip: the fascinating ruins of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, followed by a trip to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Afterwards, continue via La Paz to the Salar de Uyuni, the incredible salt flats.

view tour ⤍
Exploring Southern Peru

15 days / from6380 USD

Exploring Southern Peru

Inca ruins and fascinating tribal customs make Peru a unique destination. Visit Machu Picchu, stay on the shores of Lake Titicaca and take in the beautiful scenery of the Peruvian Andes before you finish your journey on a cultural high note taking in Lima’s museums and colonial gems.

view tour ⤍
A hidden gem in Peru

10 days / from2437 USD

A hidden gem in Peru

Discover the wonders of Peru, with this less crowded route to the North of the country where you will enjoy rarely visited destinations. Archaeological remains will tell you more about its amazing history, and you will remain impressed with its vast nature and beautiful landscapes.

view tour ⤍
Coast, Mountain Ranges and the Amazon Rainforest

9 days / from1995 USD

Coast, Mountain Ranges and the Amazon Rainforest

Discover Peru, it's history, nature and culture. You will start in the captivating city of Lima, from where you will make your way to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu only to end in the Peruvian jungle....where you can find lakes, nature trails and stunning views.

view tour ⤍
Wonders of Peru and Bolivia

10 days / from2287 USD

Wonders of Peru and Bolivia

Start your trip by exploring Lima before heading out to Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Spend a few days exploring these wonders before heading off to Lake Titicaca. Just a short hop across the border lies Bolivia with the de facto capital La Paz, ready to be explored.

view tour ⤍
Hiking Adventures in the Sacred Valley

16 days / from4665 USD

Hiking Adventures in the Sacred Valley

A unique adventure including a challenging hike to the legendary Machu Picchu. Witness the mesmerizing Rainbow Mountain on a private tour, soar above the enigmatic Nazca Lines, and embrace the thrill of sandboarding amidst the dunes of Huacachina. Breathtaking landscapes and cultural treasures await

view tour ⤍
Active Machu Picchu

4 days / from950 USD

Active Machu Picchu

An unforgettable adventure from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Sleep in community houses and local accommodations to immerse yourself in the rich culture. Feel the thrill as you mountain bike through rugged terrains, soar through the air on exhilarating ziplines, and hike amidst breathtaking landscapes.

view tour ⤍
The "new" Machu Picchu - Chachapoyas

5 days / from995 USD

The "new" Machu Picchu - Chachapoyas

An incredible journey to Chachapoyas, Peru's hidden gem. Explore the ruins of Kuelap, an ancient fortress shrouded in mystery. Discover the breathtaking Gocta Waterfalls, one of the tallest in the world. Immerse yourself in Chachapoyas' rich culture, scenic landscapes, and archaeological wonders.

view tour ⤍

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

The Rough Guide to the A-Z of Travel
Make the Most of Your Time on Earth
The Rough Guide to the 100 Best Places on Earth 2022
The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget

Find even more inspiration here

Piazza San Marco in Venice with Gondola
10 unusual types of transport
Machu Picchu, Peru
Best places to visit in May
Sunset with high clouds in the Bolivian jungle near Chalalan lodge
The 10 best jungle lodges in the Amazon
orchha-india-shutterstock_132466622
Top ten gap year destinations
man-binoculars-birdwatching-shutterstock_1087826783
Ten perfect birdwatching trips
Tents on a music festival campsite
20 great places to pitch a tent
sweet-potatoes-black-corn-peru-shutterstock_674562694
6 Peruvian recipes you need to master
kuelap-chachapoyas-peru-shutterstock_312986969
Pyramids and human sacrifice: the top ancient sites in Peru
Crab soup
Behind the scenes of the best restaurants in Lima
ocongate-town-andes-peru-shutterstock_1349146016
Celebrate Qoyllur Riti, Peru
Rough Guides Editors

written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 26.04.2021

Ready to travel and discover
Peru?

Get support from our local experts for
stress-free planning & worry-free travels

Plan my trip ⤍