Located in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Iquitos is inaccessible by land; the international airport and the Amazon River and its tributaries are the region’s lifeline. Jungle lodges are reached by boats that carry the visitor from the bustle of the city into the wilderness of the Amazon rainforest.

The city of Iquitos grew rapidly during the rubber boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The visitor can still see the Iron House designed by the famous French architect Gustave Eiffel and numerous mansions built during the days of the rubber barrons. Today, Iquitos is a delightful, mid-sized provincial capital that seduces the visitor with the happiness and warmth of its people.

Its top attraction, though, is outside the city in the vast Amazon rainforest.

Modern Iquitos has become a focus of ecotourism in the Amazon rainforest. Nearby nature preserves have recorded over 130 species of reptiles, 130 types of mammals, more than 300 species of birds, countless numbers of amphibians, and a large variety of fish, including the paiche that - at 400 pounds - weighs in among the world’s largest fresh water species.

Warm, humid and with a heavy rainy season, Iquitos’ tropical climate is typical of the Amazon rainforest. The best time for visiting is from April through October, when the rains diminish during the dry season.

For those who wish to delve deeper into the Amazon rainforest, cruises down the Amazon to Brazil and Colombia are available in comfortable, air conditioned river vessels.

DAY 1 / IQUITOS
Upon arrival reception, assistance and transfer to the hotel or to the dock for a river trip down the Amazon to your jungle lodge for overnight. (D)

DAY 2 / RAINFOREST
Walk along jungle trails to observe wildlife in a single hectare of rainforest containing innumerable plant and animal species. (B, L, D)

DAY 3 / IQUITOS
Transfer to the airport for departure flight. (B)
* Daily departures.
* Tour also available on a 2 day / 1 night package.

DAY 1 / IQUITOS
Upon arrival reception, assistance and transfer to river dock for an 80 km. (50 miles) boat ride down the mighty Amazon River to the Lodge. After lunch, walk along jungle trails for your first look at the rainforest. Return to lodge for dinner. (L, D)

DAY 2 / CAMP
After breakfast, take a boat ride down the Amazon to the Napo River, one of the Amazon major tributaries, and to the 250,000 acre Amazon rainforest reserve and the Camp. A late afternoon outing to explore the jungle trails before returning for dinner. (B, L, D)

DAY 3 / CANOPY WALKWAY - ACEER
After breakfast, visit the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research (ACEER), near the canopy walkway. This walkway is an intricate system of bridges, pulleys and ropes suspended 33 meters (100 ft.) above the jungle floor, affording rare glimpses of bromeliads and orchids, reptiles and other species that never venture below the tree tops. Overnight at ACEER. (B, L, D)

DAY 4 / ACEER - LODGE
Before returning to lodge, enjoy a walk along jungle trails and learn about ACEER’s projects. (B, L, D)

DAY 5 / IQUITOS

Morning free before returning to Iquitos after lunch. Transfer to airport for departure flight. (B, L)
* Daily departures.
* A 3 day / 2 nights canopy walk weekend package also available upon request.

Cruises down the Amazon to Brazil and Colombia are available in air conditioned comfortable river vessels with Amazon Camp & Cruises.