Amazon River tour: 3-day jungle lodge & pink dolphins

Live on the Amazon River for three days, not just pass through it

A 3-day, 2-night tour from Iquitos that puts you on the Amazon River itself, staying at Amazon View Lodge on the riverbank. You navigate the Nanay, Momón, Amazon, and Yanayacu rivers; visit Bora and Yagua communities; search for pink and gray dolphins at sunrise; explore primary forest and night jungle; and swim in the Amazon at sunset. Pickup from Iquitos is included, and a guide speaks English or Spanish throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Nanay, Momón, and Amazon Rivers

• Visit Nanay Producers Market
• Navigate Nanay River under bridge
• Navigate Momón River and visit Bora community
• See piranha aquarium species
• Observe Nanay–Amazon river confluence
• Navigate Amazon River and visit Pedrito's Background
• Arrive at Amazon View Lodge and paint crafts
• Night walk to observe nocturnal fauna

Day 2: Fauna, culture, and sunset

• Visit primate rescue project
• Visit Yagua community and learn culture
• Watch sunset and swim in Amazon River
• Enjoy movie night with Amazonian myths

Day 3: Sunrise and dolphin watching

• Sail at dawn to watch dolphins and birds
• Navigate Yanayacu River
• Hike in primary forest to giant tree
• Visit Neyser Sanctuary and artisanal trapiche
• Experience traditional piranha fishing
• Return to Iquitos after lunch

The experience

The tour starts at the Nanay Producers Market in Iquitos, where you'll see Amazonian fruits like aguaje and camu camu before boarding a boat to navigate the dark waters of the Nanay River. You'll pass under the Nanay Bridge and move into the Momón River, an Amazon tributary ringed by tropical vegetation and riverside settlements. A visit to a Bora community shows their traditions and ancestral relationship with the jungle, and you'll stop at a piranha aquarium to see electric eels, palometas, and other species of the Amazonian waterways. The day ends at the confluence where the Nanay's dark waters meet the Amazon's lighter current: a visible contrast between two rivers.

Nights are spent at Amazon View Lodge, a house-lodge directly on the Amazon riverbank with a private bathroom, pool, and Wi-Fi. Each day builds on the last: the second day includes a visit to a primate rescue project to observe capuchin, squirrel, and howler monkeys, then a stop at a Yagua community to learn their customs and ancestral knowledge. You'll swim in the Amazon at sunset (depending on season and water conditions) and end the evening with stories about Amazonian myths and legends. The third morning starts before dawn on the Amazon in search of pink and gray dolphins while birds wake up around you. After dolphin watching, you navigate the Yanayacu River (known for its reflections and dense vegetation), then hike into primary forest to reach one of the Amazon's giant trees, with chances to spot wildlife. A stop at Neyser Sanctuary introduces sloths, anacondas, and capybaras, and you'll try traditional piranha fishing using local techniques before the final Amazonian lunch and return to Iquitos.

Seasonal fruit juice is included with lunches and dinners. Purified water, coffee, and infusions are available throughout. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and pickup from your Iquitos accommodation is arranged as part of the booking. Children can travel (infants may sit on an adult's lap or use a specialized seat), and the itinerary requires at least moderate physical fitness for river navigation, jungle walks, and daily activities.

What’s included

• Pickup from Iquitos.
• three nights at Amazon View Lodge on the Amazon riverbank with private bathroom.
• all river navigation on the Nanay, Momón, Amazon, and Yanayacu.
• visits to Bora and Yagua communities.
• primate rescue project.
• piranha aquarium.
• Neyser Sanctuary.
• primary forest hike to a giant tree.
• piranha fishing.
• sunrise dolphin search.
• sunset swim in the Amazon (seasonal).
• night jungle walks.
• movie night with Amazonian stories.
• meals (lunches and dinners with seasonal fruit juice included).
• purified water, coffee, and infusions.
• guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 01:00

AgesAdult (18 to 24 years) · Senior (25 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 9 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 20

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 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Iquitos Experience Tours

Is this one for you?Pickup from Iquitos is included, so you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to the river. The lodge on the riverbank means you stay put rather than moving hotels each night, and the three-day length lets you move slowly through four rivers and multiple communities without rushing. The pace is built around what the Amazon actually reveals, not a checklist of stops.

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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 (10 to 17 years); Child (6 to 9 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What rivers do you actually navigate on this 3-day Amazon tour?

You travel on four rivers: the Nanay, Momón, Amazon, and Yanayacu. The Nanay and Momón are tributaries where you'll see riverside communities and the Nanay-Amazon confluence; the main Amazon River is where you search for dolphins at sunrise and swim at sunset; the Yanayacu is known for its reflections and dense jungle vegetation.

Where do you stay during the 3 days and 2 nights?

Amazon View Lodge is your accommodation all three nights: a house-lodge built directly on the banks of the Amazon River. Each room has a private bathroom, and the lodge has a pool and Wi-Fi.

Will you actually see pink dolphins on this tour?

The tour includes a dawn boat trip on the Amazon specifically to search for pink and gray dolphins while birds wake up around you. Sightings depend on season and river conditions, but the timing and location are built around the best chance to find them.

What do you do on the night walks?

Night walks explore the jungle surroundings after dark in search of nocturnal fauna such as tarantulas, stick insects, praying mantises, and amphibians. The lodge also offers a movie night with stories about Amazonian myths and legends on the riverbank.

Can you swim in the Amazon River during this tour?

Yes, on the second day at sunset you have the option to swim in the Amazon River, depending on the season and water conditions at the time of your visit.

What communities do you visit, and what do you do there?

You visit a Bora community on day one to learn their traditions and ancestral relationship with the jungle, and a Yagua community on day two to experience their customs and knowledge of the rainforest. Both visits are cultural exchanges rather than staged performances, built into the river navigation itself.