3-day Amazon wildlife tour from Iquitos: Yarapa River lodge

Search for pink river dolphins, caimans and sloths on jungle trails and waterways

A 3-day Amazon wildlife tour from Iquitos based at an eco-lodge on the Yarapa River, a tributary inside the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve buffer zone. You travel by boat four hours from the city, then spend three days on guided jungle trails and river expeditions searching for dolphins, caimans, river otters, monkeys, sloths, tarantulas and birds. The lodge sits deep in the forest with private bungalows. Meals, transfers, expert local guides and jungle boots are included. Live guides speak English and Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Amazon jungle lodge experience

• Travel to ecological lodge at Yarapa River
• Explore Amazon trails and waterways
• Search for wildlife like caiman and dolphins
• Rest in private jungle bungalow
• Enjoy included meals

Day 2: Jungle exploration and river swimming

• Observe pink and gray dolphins
• See giant trees and monkeys
• Learn about Amazonian peoples
• Swim in Amazon and Ucayali rivers

Day 3: Relaxation and wildlife activities

• Go piranha fishing
• Learn about medicinal plants
• Look for sloths in natural habitat

The experience

The Yarapa River eco-lodge sits four hours downriver from Iquitos in a remote pocket of the Amazon where the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve protects the forest and its animals. You arrive by boat transfer, then stay in a private bungalow equipped with basic hotel amenities in the middle of the jungle. The lodge runs all-inclusive packages built around daily expeditions: guided walks on jungle trails where you search for sloths, tarantulas and snakes in their habitat, and boat trips on the Yarapa and Ucayali rivers where pink and gray river dolphins, caimans and otters surface near the water's edge. The guide is a local expert who knows where animals move through the forest and when they feed.

Each day follows a rhythm of early exploration, meals at the lodge, and afternoon or evening river trips. You'll have the option to swim in the Amazon and Ucayali rivers if you want to enter the water yourself. One day includes piranha fishing and a session learning about medicinal plants used in the forest. Jungle boots are provided so you can walk the wet forest floor without damage to your own shoes. Bottled water, lunch and dinner come with the package through your final day, and the lodge handles all the logistics of getting you there and back to Iquitos.

The tour is designed around responsible tourism that minimizes impact on the forest and its wildlife. You're in close contact with rare animals in one of Earth's most biodiverse regions, but the lodge and the guide work to keep that contact sustainable. The three-day length gives you enough time to move deeper into the forest and return without rushing the experience.

What’s included

• Transfers from Iquitos to the Yarapa River lodge and return.
• three nights in a private jungle bungalow.
• meals from lunch on day one through dinner on day three.
• guided jungle trails and river expeditions with an expert local guide.
• jungle boots.
• bottled water throughout the stay.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (18 to 45 years) · Senior (46 to 60 years) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupUp to 2

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lupuna jungle tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose the language you're comfortable following for three days in the forest. The tour runs at a pace built around wildlife spotting and river travel, which means early starts and time on the water, so it suits travelers who are ready for an active jungle schedule rather than a relaxed one.

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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: Youth (14 to 17 years). Children under 14 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals will I actually see on the Yarapa River?

Pink and gray river dolphins, caimans, river otters, monkeys, sloths, tarantulas, snakes and a wide range of birds live in the area around the lodge. The guide takes you on trails and boat trips where these animals move through their habitat, though sightings depend on the time of day and the season.

How far is the eco-lodge from Iquitos?

The Yarapa River lodge sits four hours by boat from Iquitos city. The transfer is included in the package, and you travel downriver to reach the lodge on your first day.

What's included in the 3-day price?

The package covers your transfer from Iquitos to the lodge and back, accommodation in a private bungalow, all meals from lunch on day one through dinner on day three, guided jungle and river expeditions, jungle boots, and bottled water throughout your stay.

Can I swim in the Amazon River?

Yes, you have the option to swim in the Amazon and Ucayali rivers during the tour. The guide will advise on safe times and locations.