Amazon River tour: Pink dolphins & jungle nights

Four days waking to the Amazon, fishing, painting and walking the jungle at night

A 4-day guided tour based at Amazon View Lodge in Barrio Florido on the Amazon River, with three nights' accommodation, meals, and daily activities that mix wildlife watching, cultural visits and hands-on learning. You'll fish for piranhas, join a cooking class, ride to a monkey rescue center, hike to the giant Lupuna tree, and walk the jungle after dark. A live guide in English or Spanish is included, as is pickup from Iquitos airport.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Welcome Amazon

• Reception at Iquitos airport
• Cultural tour of Iquitos boulevard and Plaza de Armas
• Visit Bellavista Nanay market
• Cross Nanay Bridge
• Interact with Bora native community
• Explore Serpentary Sanctuary and artisan aquarium
• Drink tasting in medicinal rind trapiche
• Observe Amazon and Nanay rivers encounter
• Visit Amazolandia and Chullachaqui Ethnomuseum
• Lunch at Amazon View Lodge
• Hike to giant Lupuna tree
• Sunset at Independence community viewpoint
• Dinner and campfire at lodge
• Story of Amazonian myths and legends
• Outdoor cinema facing Amazon River

Day 2: Adventure in the Amazon

• Breakfast at Amazon View Hotel
• Visit Fundo Pedrito to see Victoria Regia and feed animals
• Experience Yagua Native Community culture and hunting demo
• Ride to Monkey Island primate rescue center
• Regional lunch on board
• Search for pink and gray dolphins
• Painting afternoon craft activity
• Sunset with complimentary drink at lodge viewpoint
• Dinner at Amazon View Lodge
• Night trek exploring jungle wildlife

Day 3: Culture and Nature

• Sunrise sailing on Amazon River
• Amazon bird watching
• Breakfast on board over Amazon River
• Jungle hike to Yanayacu River
• Piranha fishing activity
• Lunch
• Amazon cooking class with local
• Drone photo panoramic view
• Dinner at Amazon View Hotel
• Night walk to see stars

Day 4: Farewell with Amazon essence

• Amazonian sunrise at lodge viewpoint
• Breakfast
• Trekking to Paradise Green and swim
• Farewell lunch at Amazon View Lodge
• Return to city

The experience

The tour starts with airport pickup and a cultural walk through Iquitos: the historic boulevard, Plaza de Armas, the iron house and the Bellavista Nanay market where you'll see local fish and jungle produce. You cross the longest bridge in Peru, visit a serpentary sanctuary with piranhas and electric eels, and taste medicinal drinks before arriving at the lodge in time for lunch. That first afternoon takes you to the giant Lupuna tree and a sunset viewpoint, then dinner by a campfire facing the river with stories of Amazonian myths before an outdoor cinema screening.

Day two centers on the river and its wildlife. You'll visit Fundo Pedrito to see the Victoria Regia water lily and feed fish and caimans, then travel to a Yagua community for traditional dance and hunting demonstrations with blowguns. A boat ride to Monkey Island (a rescue and reintegration center) lets you watch free primates in their habitat. The afternoon brings a painting session where you make your own craft, a sunset drink at the lodge's private viewpoint, and a night trek through the jungle to spot frogs, insects and reptiles in the dark.

Day three opens with a sunrise boat ride on the Amazon and bird watching, followed by breakfast on the water where dolphins often swim near the boat. A jungle hike takes you along the Yanayacu River, a dark-water tributary where you might see sloths, eagles and wild monkeys among giant trees. You'll fish for piranhas (what you catch can become part of lunch), then join a cooking class with a local to prepare an Amazonian dish. A drone captures an aerial photo of the river before dinner, and the day closes with a night walk under the stars.

The final morning brings an Amazonian sunrise at the viewpoint, breakfast facing the river, and a trek to Paradise Green, a natural gulch surrounded by jungle where you can swim. A farewell lunch at the lodge precedes the return journey to Iquitos. Accommodation is at Amazon View Hotel all three nights. The guide speaks English or Spanish throughout.

What’s included

• Accommodation at Amazon View Hotel for three nights.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
• airport pickup from Iquitos.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• visits to the Bellavista market, Serpentary Sanctuary, Yagua community and Monkey Island rescue center.
• boat rides on the Amazon and Yanayacu rivers.
• piranha fishing.
• a cooking class with a local.
• a painting craft session.
• a drone photo of the river.
• jungle hikes including night treks.
• sunrise and sunset viewpoints.
• and a swim at Paradise Green.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 50 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 30 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Amazon View Lodge

Is this one for you?The tour runs dawn to dusk each day with boat rides, jungle hikes and night walks, so you'll be active and outdoors most of the time. Bring sun protection and insect repellent, and be ready for humidity and river travel. Early starts (sunrise boat rides and viewpoint visits) are built into the schedule, so plan to sleep early after the campfire and night activities.

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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 (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 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. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the schedule like each day on this Amazon tour?

Day one includes airport pickup, a cultural tour of Iquitos, the Bellavista market, and the Serpentary Sanctuary before arriving at the lodge for lunch, a hike to the Lupuna tree, sunset and campfire. Day two mixes Fundo Pedrito (where you feed caimans), a Yagua community visit, Monkey Island, a painting session and a night jungle trek. Day three starts with a sunrise river boat ride, includes a Yanayacu River hike, piranha fishing, a cooking class and a drone photo. Day four is sunrise, breakfast, a swim at Paradise Green and a farewell lunch before returning to Iquitos.

Will I see pink dolphins on this tour?

Pink and gray dolphins are part of day two's river activities, and the itinerary mentions hoping to see dolphins swimming close to the boat during the sunrise river ride and breakfast on day three. Sightings depend on the season and river conditions, but the guide will search for them during the boat time.

What meals are included in the 4 days?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included each day at the lodge or on the boat. Day one includes lunch at the lodge after arrival; day two has a regional lunch on board; day three includes breakfast on the river, lunch after piranha fishing, and dinner at the lodge; day four includes breakfast and a farewell lunch. Medicinal drink tastings are also part of the experience.

Do I need experience to fish for piranhas or join the cooking class?

No experience is needed for either activity. The piranha fishing is presented as something to dare to try, and what you catch can become part of your lunch. The cooking class is led by a local who teaches you to prepare an Amazonian dish from scratch.

What's included in the price, and what should I budget separately?

The tour includes accommodation at Amazon View Hotel for three nights, all meals, activities, the guide, and pickup from Iquitos airport. Extra food and drinks like rehydrators or soda, gratuities, and airport departure tax are not included and should be budgeted separately.

Is there air conditioning or hot water at the lodge?

The lodge does not have air conditioning or hot water in the showers, so pack light clothing for the heat and be prepared for cool-water bathing. The lodge is located on the river in a jungle community setting.