3-Day Amazon Rainforest Tour from Iquitos: Small Group Wildlife

Three days in the rainforest watching sloths, tarantulas and river dolphins from a rustic lodge on the water.

A 3-day, 2-night Amazon rainforest tour from Iquitos for groups of no more than five travellers per guide, staying at a rustic riverside lodge with private bathroom and Wi-Fi. The itinerary includes daytime and night jungle walks, piranha fishing, searches for sloths and pink river dolphins, a cultural visit to a Yagua community, and boat journeys along the Nanay and Amazon rivers. Hotel or airport pickup is included. Bilingual guides speak English and Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Rainforest Exploration

• Pick-up from Iquitos airport or hotel
• Boat journey on Nanay and Amazon Rivers
• Arrival at Amazon lodge and lunch
• Guided rainforest walk and medicinal plants
• Search for sloths and Amazonian birds
• Enjoy Amazonian sunset
• Night walk searching for tarantulas

Day 2: Wildlife and Cultural Experiences

• Experience Amazonian sunrise
• Amazonian birdwatching walk or boat trip
• Piranha and pacu fishing
• Search for Amazonian iguanas
• Optional visit to Yagua indigenous community
• Search for dolphins and enjoy sunset
• Seasonal mud bath and swimming
• Night-time rainforest sounds experience

Day 3: Final Wildlife Viewing and Return

• Observe Amazonian sunrise near lodge
• Amazonian breakfast
• Search for monkeys and sloths
• Lunch at the lodge
• Return journey along Amazon River to Iquitos
• Arrival at Iquitos port and optional airport transfer

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from Iquitos Airport for early arrivals or from centrally located hotels between 9:40 and 10:15 am, then heads straight to the port for a 2.5-hour boat journey along the Nanay River into the Amazon. The first stop is a search for pink and grey river dolphins, one of the trip's signature moments. You'll see the water change colour as the rivers meet, watch local communities along the banks, and get your first real sense of the rainforest's scale. By early afternoon you're at the lodge, a rustic building with a private bathroom, mosquito nets, Starlink Wi-Fi and electricity from 6 pm to 11 pm.

Each day follows a rhythm built around what the rainforest does: sunrise walks to watch birds and monkeys waking up, daytime activities like piranha fishing using traditional techniques or searching for iguanas camouflaged in branches, an afternoon boat trip hunting for dolphins, and night walks where your guide teaches you to identify tarantulas and nocturnal insects by their sounds and the reflection of light in their eyes. On day two you can choose an optional visit to a Yagua Indigenous community to see traditional clothing, handicrafts and blowpipe demonstrations. During the dry season, the itinerary includes a mud bath and swimming in areas the guide selects as safe. Meals use local ingredients (regional fish, seasonal fruit, fresh vegetables), and vegetarian or vegan options are available if you request them when booking.

The return journey on day three leaves at 2:30 pm, giving you a final sunrise and breakfast at the lodge before the 2.5-hour boat ride back to Iquitos, arriving around 5 pm. If you have an evening flight, an optional airport transfer takes roughly 40–45 minutes. The operator recommends booking departures after 7:30 pm to allow time for check-in. Your guide stays with the group throughout, answering questions and pointing out wildlife and communities along the way.

What’s included

• Bilingual guide in English and Spanish throughout the 3 days.
• hotel or airport pickup.
• all meals at the lodge using local ingredients with vegetarian and vegan options available on request.
• jungle walks, night walks and boat journeys along the Nanay and Amazon rivers.
• piranha fishing with traditional techniques.
• searches for sloths, monkeys, river dolphins and birds.
• tarantula and nocturnal insect identification.
• an Amazonian sunset and sunrise.
• optional visit to a Yagua Indigenous community.
• optional mud bath and swimming during the dry season.
• optional airport transfer on day three.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 29 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 205

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Yakumama Amazon Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide who stays with your small group throughout (you'll have time to photograph wildlife and ask questions without the pace of larger tours), and prefer lodging and meals handled in advance rather than arranging them yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What kind of wildlife will I actually see on a 3-day Amazon tour from Iquitos?

Pink and grey river dolphins, sloths, monkeys, toucans, parrots, herons, eagles, tarantulas and various insects are all part of the itinerary, though wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Your guide will teach you to identify species by their calls, behaviour and movement through the trees, and will take you to strategic locations where animals are commonly seen.

Where do I stay on this 3-day Amazon tour?

The rustic lodge in Yanayacu sits on the river and includes a private bathroom, mosquito nets, Starlink Wi-Fi and electricity from 6 pm to 11 pm. Meals are served at the lodge using local ingredients, and your bilingual guide is based there throughout the tour.

What is piranha fishing like on this tour?

Piranha and pacu fishing uses traditional techniques practised by Amazonian communities. Your guide demonstrates how to prepare the line, select bait and recognise the fish species you might catch. It's designed as a safe, participatory activity that lets every traveller try it.

Can I visit an Indigenous community on this 3-day tour?

Yes, an optional visit to a Yagua community is available on day two. Community members introduce visitors to their language, traditional clothing, handicrafts and customs, and may demonstrate the traditional blowpipe used for hunting. This is a respectful, educational experience you can choose to join or skip.

How early do I need to be ready for pickup on day one?

If you're arriving at Iquitos Airport on a flight before 9 am, the tour includes pickup from the airport. Travellers staying in centrally located hotels are collected between 9:40 and 10:15 am. If your accommodation is outside the tourist area, contact the operator when booking to arrange an exact meeting point.