5-day Amazon tour from Iquitos: River dolphins, jungle camping

Five days deep in the Amazon, sleeping where the animals live

A 5-day Amazon Rainforest tour from Iquitos, Peru, with bilingual naturalist guide, lodge accommodation, one night camping, all meals and local transport included. You travel by canoe down the Nanay and Yanayacu rivers, fish for piranha, swim in the Amazon, walk jungle trails at night listening for nocturnal animals, visit Monkey Island to see eight primate species, climb a wooden tower in the Garzal to watch birds and white alligators, and trek through deeper forest to find medicinal plants and the giant Victoria Regia water lily. Maximum group size is 10 travelers.

The experience

The expedition starts with a 9am transfer from Iquitos to Nanay Port, then a two-hour canoe ride downriver to the lodge. That first afternoon sets the rhythm: after lunch you're on the water searching for pink and gray river dolphins, then casting lines for piranha, then swimming in the river itself. The night walk comes after dinner: your guide leads you into the dark listening for frogs, snakes, spiders and the calls of nocturnal animals. Most travelers find the night sounds disorienting at first. By the end of five days they become the soundtrack of the place.

Day two is a full day on the Yanayacu River, where the forest floor floods seasonally and creates what locals call the "Forest of Mirrors." You walk among the Lupuna trees, the largest species in the Amazon, spotting sloths, monkeys, lizards and birds as you move. Monkey Island comes next, a stop where you see up to eight primate species in one location: spider monkeys, woolly monkeys, titi monkeys, pygmy marmosets, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys and others. Children and adults interact with the animals here. It's the closest most travelers get to understanding the sheer variety of primate life in one ecosystem.

Day three moves to a camping site at Palo Alto and the Garzal, a wetland area where you climb a three-story wooden tower 15 meters high to watch birds and scan for white alligators below. The walk to reach it takes about 40 minutes through jungle where squirrel monkeys and tamarins move through the canopy. You sleep at the camping site that night. Day four starts early with a bird-watching tour around the Garzal before you pack up and canoe back to the lodge, then walk into deeper forest in the afternoon. The final day is a jungle walk focused on medicinal plants and the Victoria Regia, the giant water lily that floats on the river, before you return to Iquitos by lunch.

What’s included

• All meals during the five days (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
• private lodge accommodation with bedding, mosquito nets, shower and toilet.
• one night camping with full equipment.
• bilingual naturalist guide (English and Spanish).
• all local canoe and river transport.
• fishing poles and first aid kit.
• purified water, coffee and tea.
• pickup from your Iquitos location and return to the city.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 75 years) · Youth (9 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupUp to 10

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 40 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Amazon Wonder Expeditions

Is this one for you?Choose this five-day trip if you want to sleep in the forest and do multi-day river exploration. Shorter alternatives skip the overnight camping and deeper jungle sections.

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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 (9 to 17 years); Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

Can I really swim in the Amazon River on this tour?

Yes, swimming in the river is part of the first afternoon's activities after you arrive at the lodge. The guide chooses safe areas and the group swims together.

What animals am I most likely to see on the 5-day expedition?

River dolphins (pink and gray), monkeys (eight species on Monkey Island alone), sloths, iguanas, birds, white alligators, and at night frogs, snakes, spiders and lizards. The Garzal is particularly good for herons and the prehistoric-looking Hoatzin bird.

How does the camping night work? What's the setup like?

Night three is spent at a camping site at Palo Alto near the Garzal. The operator provides all equipment and bedding. You have mosquito nets, a shower and toilet facilities. Meals are included.

Is the 15-meter tower climb difficult?

The wooden tower has three floors and is climbed as part of the Garzal visit on day three. The walk to reach it is about 40 minutes through jungle terrain. The climb itself is a fixed wooden structure with railings.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay for separately?

All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), accommodation at the lodge and camping site, bilingual naturalist guide, canoe and local transport, fishing equipment, and first aid are included. Airport transfers to Iquitos, souvenirs, extra food, airfare, travel insurance and gratuities are not included.