Skip to content 
A city in the middle of the jungle would be thought to be silent and peaceful. But not Iquitos. Iquitos is a burble of noise, color, and culture, from the endless motocarros, or tuk-tuks, racing around the cities to the flashes of nature in the surrounding Amazon rainforest.
Iquitos is the capital city of the Loreto Region in northern Peru, and sits in the middle of the Amazon rainforest surrounded by trees and its tributary, the Itaya River. It’s no wonder that it holds the unimaginable title of being the largest inland city on earth that is only reachable by boat or airplane.
The absolute best way to get to the most remote city in Peru is by flying. From Lima, the flight is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs up to US$198 depending on the season.
An unfortunate disadvantage of being in the middle of the Amazon rainforest and having such close contact to incredibly endemic flora and fauna, is surviving the humidity. Throughout the year, the average relative humidity doesn’t drop below the high 70s. Temperatures are quite similar throughout the year, with an average low and high ranging from 22°C (71°F) to 31°C (88°F).
The rainy summer season runs from November to May, but even outside of these months periods of heavy rain are always a possibility.
However, one advantage of Iquitos’ location is that its elevation of 106 meters (348 ft) above sea level offers tourists a respite from the numerous high-altitude Peruvian cities.
Iquitos serves as a gateway to the Amazon rainforest, offering diverse activities for various interests and physical abilities. Key attractions include jungle walks into the surrounding forest and the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, where guided tours focus on different species or areas. Pink dolphins can be spotted with experienced guides in the Amazon rivers. Eco-lodges provide immersive overnight stays, fostering rainforest conservation and enabling night walks and scenic sunrises. Amazon cruises offer a comfortable wildlife-watching experience. Iquitos boasts rich biodiversity, including over 850 flora species and numerous mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and unique creatures like pink dolphins and bull sharks. Extreme adventurers can enjoy a jungle zipline, while Monkey Island educates visitors about rescued monkeys and the illegal animal trade.
Iquitos serves as a gateway to the Amazon rainforest, offering diverse activities for various interests and physical abilities. Key attractions include jungle walks into the surrounding forest and the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, where guided tours focus on different species or areas. Pink dolphins can be spotted with experienced guides in the Amazon rivers. Eco-lodges provide immersive overnight stays, fostering rainforest conservation and enabling night walks and scenic sunrises. Amazon cruises offer a comfortable wildlife-watching experience. Iquitos boasts rich biodiversity, including over 850 flora species and numerous mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and unique creatures like pink dolphins and bull sharks. Extreme adventurers can enjoy a jungle zipline, while Monkey Island educates visitors about rescued monkeys and the illegal animal trade.
Due to the mix of cultures and ethnicities, Iquitos is a flurry of culture, film, entertainment and art, meaning that just walking around the city can be like walking in Alice’s Wonderland. The Plaza de Armas, or the Main Square, is the main point of tourism where art, vendors, and architecture collide.
On one corner of the Main Square, the Casa de Fierro, or the Iron House, is a large residence made from iron during the rubber boom. There were also many other mansions built during this era, and some have survived by being turned into hotels; several others, however, have been left to ruin. Another building of interest is the former Palace Hotel, and the Plaza 28 de Julio is the biggest square where several good “Chifa”, or Peruvian Chinese restaurants, are located.
Around the city, the different epochs are represented by the buildings. The mansions from the rubber boom have a distinctly European style with ceramic tiles, while the rustic architecture of the huts, palafitte, or stilt houses, and malocas, or indigenous communal long houses, stand in contrast around the city.
The market in the floating neighborhood of Belén is something that is typical of most South American cities, but with a twist. Visitors will find the normal foods, handicrafts and utensils, but also has a side of products influenced by the Amazon such as coca leaves, tiny monkeys, and a huge array of otherworldly fish. For brave tourists, there is street food, but be aware that it’s not recommended to visit this area at night.
More recently, something that has become popular in Amazon areas around South America is the shamanic medicine of Ayahuasca. People from around the world travel to Iquitos for an Ayahuasca retreat. Those who are interested should make sure they do their research thoroughly and choose an authentic service.
Iquitos is one of the major ports in the Amazon region with 400,000 inhabitants. It has always had an important place in Peru, even before the Spanish arrived. Thousands of years ago, it was inhabited by the Amerindians- the original inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere. But by the time the Spaniards arrived, the Napeano and Iquito indigenous groups were living in the area. Most of the groups were nomadic hunter-gatherers who followed the rivers and lived in small seasonal settlements.
Iquitos was officially established around 1757 by Jesuit missionaries on the shores of the Nanay River. The Jesuits gathered the local indigenous people to live in this first Mission and named it San Pablo de Napeanos. For 130 years, the Jesuit missionaries worked to convert the indigenous to Christianity and educate them. The various tribes were set to work in farming and other manual labor jobs around the settlement.
From the 1700s and to the 19th century, the political situation of Iquitos was nothing short of chaotic. Peru was fighting for independence, but Iquitos was highly isolated. After several years of fighting and debates, Peru was able to settle its borders to the north with Colombia in 1922 and with Ecuador in 1942.
In the 20th century, Iquitos became the richest city in Peru through the rubber boom when automobiles started to be mass-produced. It attracted immigrants from all over the world, creating a conglomeration of ethnicities, languages, and cultures. However, it also meant several hundreds of indigenous groups were exploited and abused in their work. After 33 years, Asian rubber was discovered and started to be produced at a lower cost, marking an end to the boom.
In February, Iquitos comes alive with vibrant Carnaval celebrations, featuring water and paint-soaking activities, music, art, and food. The Day of San Juan, celebrated on June 24, showcases the traditional dish juane and traditional dances. Visitors can explore the Butterfly Farm near Padre Cocha Village, accessible by motorboat from Bellavista or Nanay ports, where butterflies thrive in a magical setting. Nearby, the Amazon Animal Orphanage rescues animals. Santo Tomas village, near the airport, offers water skiing, boating, and a glimpse into the indigenous Cocama and Cocamilla people’s ceramic-making expertise.
Questions? Need help deciding? Have a chat with our Destination Experts that have enjoyed Peru’s itineraries!
