3-Day Amazon Rainforest Adventure from Iquitos with Pacaya Samiria

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Spot pink river dolphins near the meeting point of the Amazon, Marañón, and Ucayali Rivers
• 02 Explore the jungle by canoe and on foot while learning medicinal plant uses and survival skills
• 03 Swim near wild pink dolphins and visit Monkey Island to see rescued monkeys
• 04 Watch the Amazon come alive after dark on a night hike for caimans, tarantulas, frogs, and more
• 05 Enjoy birdwatching in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and try piranha fishing in Amazon tributaries

Embark on a 3-day adventure in the Peruvian Amazon from Iquitos, travelling by boat through the meeting point of the Amazon, Marañón, and Ucayali Rivers with chances to spot pink river dolphins and other wildlife. Explore the jungle by canoe and on foot, learning about medicinal plants, survival skills, and traditional uses of the forest from your guide. The experience also includes swimming near pink dolphins, visiting Monkey Island, birdwatching in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, and trying piranha fishing in Amazon tributaries. Your journey ends with a look at the conservation challenges and eco-tourism efforts that help protect the jungle and support indigenous communities.

Watch the jungle transform into a dark, loud chorus of nocturnal creatures.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Iquitos, Nauta, Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Amazon River Journey and Caiman Spotting

• 08:00 am. You will be picked up from your Iquitos hotel to begin the tour. Please share your flight or hotel details in advance so we can be on time. First, we drive to Nauta to board a boat to the lodge. From there, we travel by a typical boat along the Amazon River and make a brief stop where the three major rivers of Peru meet: the Amazon, the Marañón, and the Ucayali. Here, we may spot pink river dolphins, mainly in the Amazon River, so there is an excellent chance to see them.
• In a typical wooden canoe, we head out on the river around the lakes to become familiar with the nearby jungle area before our first lunch there. Along the way, we look for birds, monkeys, sloths, and other wildlife.
• After lunch, continue exploring the jungle by boat in search of monkeys, macaws, toucans, sloths, and other wild animals that can be observed during the tour. This small-boat experience allows us to reach wild areas and enjoy a unique expedition. During this outing, you may observe different species of monkeys and birds, as well as pink and grey dolphins from the boat, launching you into an adventure like those experienced by the intrepid European explorers of the 15th century.
• Finally, enjoy the sunset over the jungle from our boat before the group leaves by canoe to look for caimans at night. The guide will explain the nightlife, specialties, and nature of the Amazon and show you the different caimans, including black and white caiman. Depending on the sky, you may enjoy the ride back to the lodge with moonlight and stars reflected in the river, making this a truly incredible experience.
• We return to the lodge for a home-cooked meal and a good night's sleep.

2

Day 02

Jungle Trek, Pink Dolphins, and Night Hike

• After breakfast, we leave for a trekking journey through the jungle. You will learn how native people use and read the jungle, about medicinal plants, how to communicate with the help of trees, and which plants can be used for protection against a jaguar. The trek also gives you the chance to identify the diverse flora and fauna, including giant trees such as the Lupuna (Ceiba Tree), with the possibility of seeing animals such as monkeys, snakes, and birds.
• Learn about the medicinal plants locals use to cure illnesses, as well as traditional aphrodisiac drinks made from tree bark and roots.
• Then, our guide will give an experiential class on how to survive in the jungle and how to use what nature itself provides for our benefit, just as a local person would do. You will learn how to find your way if you get lost, drink water from the liana, and eat wild fruits.
  We will also look for Tarzan vines and have fun simulating their movements.
• Finally, we take advantage of the walk to collect some typical jungle foods, such as chonta and mushrooms, which we will eat for lunch.
• After lunch, we take a break in the hammocks and then head back onto the Amazon River to swim with the river dolphins. The pink dolphins will likely appear, but we should keep our distance and avoid touching them because they are wild animals. If all goes well, we will let them approach us and may be able to swim alongside them.
• Then we make a brief stop on the banks of a tributary river for a mud treatment at the local "spa." Roll in the mud and let your skin absorb its nutrients and minerals. Additional healing benefits include stress relief, muscle relaxation, skin moisturising, and toxin elimination.
• Finally, we cruise back to the lodge, ending the day by watching a stunning sunset over the Peruvian Amazon from our boat. Later, we venture out with flashlights and walk through the jungle at night, searching for anacondas, tarantulas, scorpions, snakes, and giant frogs. Watch the jungle transform into a dark, loud chorus of nocturnal creatures. A completely different range of fauna appears at night compared to the daytime, accompanied by the magical sounds of insects, frogs, wild cats, and owls.
• After dinner, if you wish, the guide will share local stories and adventures from his childhood.

3

Day 03

Birdwatching, Monkey Island, and Piranha Fishing

• For early birds, an early canoe trip offers the chance to enjoy the sunrise before breakfast. Macaws, toucans, shansho, the harpy eagle, and camungo are just some of the birds you are likely to see. The view is spectacular as flocks of winged warblers fill the rainforest in search of food. Peru has the largest number of bird species in the world, and Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is one of the best places to see them.
• Before breakfast, guests also have the opportunity to visit Monkey Island and interact with the monkeys by feeding them fruits that we bring for them. These monkeys were rescued from illegal loggers and released into this protected village area. Here, we can spend time playing with the monkeys.
• After breakfast, get ready to fish for the infamous piranha in the dark tributaries of the Amazon. Piranhas are known for their sharp teeth and their insatiable, aggressive appetite for meat, which has given them a prominent place in popular culture, including film, literature, and television.
• Enjoy our final lunch in the jungle before your onward journey. The guides will briefly discuss the current dangers facing the Peruvian jungle and the Amazon. It is not all bad news - eco-tourism is a great alternative to logging and mining and brings strong benefits to indigenous communities.
• Afterwards, return by boat and minivan for arrival at your Iquitos hotel or the airport. Please inform us of your flight number and time so we can plan accordingly.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Pick-up and drop-off at Iquitos Airport. For this purpose, please provide your flight numbers and times.
• Round-trip transportation to and from Curuhuinsi Lodge by minivan and boat
• 2 nights' accommodation at our lodge
• Rooms with private showers, bathrooms, and mosquito nets
• All meals and drinking water, with vegetarian meals available
• Guides available in English or Spanish
• Swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon River
• Best local stories in Peru, told by the local guide
• Canoeing to look for sloths and monkeys
• Birdwatching
• Alligator hunting - we only shoot with cameras
• Medicinal plants and survival skills
• Night tours to find anacondas, tarantulas, scorpions, and giant frogs
• Fishing for piranhas
• Hammocks

What's Not Included

• No beers
• No cigars
• No air tickets

What to bring

• Long and short pants
• Long sleeves in light colours
• Camera and extra batteries
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunscreen
• Swimwear
• Hat or cap
• Plastic bottle or cantinflora

Know before you go

• Your visit to the Amazon is designed to be authentic and enjoyable.
• Enjoy, live, and get excited - we have a different activity planned for each day.
• We were born to offer you the best of tourism in a family environment.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Iquitos, Perú

Tour start

Nauta 16300, Perú

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.