Amazon Wildlife Tour: Pink Dolphins & Jungle Lodge

You'll search for pink river dolphins at dawn and hear the rainforest come alive after dark.

A 3-day guided Amazon wildlife tour from Iquitos combines lodge stays at Cumaceba with daily river excursions, jungle hikes and night walks led by a naturalist guide in English or Spanish. The itinerary moves between wildlife spotting (pink dolphins, monkeys, sloths, caimans), and cultural moments like artisanal fishing and visits to Monkey Island sanctuary. Small groups keep the pace intimate. Eco-friendly cabins and meals made from local ingredients anchor each night in the forest.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Welcome and first nature encounter

• Arrive in Iquitos and transfer to port
• Visit Bellavista Nanay Market
• Boat journey to lodge along Amazon River
• Welcome at lodge and enjoy natural cocktail
• Have Amazonian lunch at lodge
• Try artisanal fishing for piranhas
• River excursion to spot pink and gray dolphins
• Optional swim in Amazon River
• Enjoy Amazon sunset
• Night jungle walk with flashlight

Day 2: Immersion in Amazonian biodiversity

• Visit Monkey Island sanctuary
• Observe wildlife along the river
• Boat exploration of Yanayacu River
• Observe giant Ceiba Tree
• Nocturnal lake canoe excursion

Day 3: Farewell and final rainforest connection

• Early morning canoe bird watching tour
• Guided jungle walk in forest
• Farewell Amazonian lunch
• Boat transfer back to Iquitos

The experience

You arrive in Iquitos and get picked up at the airport or hotel, then head straight to the port. Before boarding the boat to the lodge, you'll walk through Bellavista Nanay Market, where river communities sell regional products: a direct look at how people live along the Amazon. The boat ride itself is part of the experience: you'll see tropical birds, riverside villages and the vast jungle landscape unfold as you travel to Cumaceba Amazon Lodge in the Loreto region.

Each day builds on the last. Day one includes artisanal fishing using local techniques (you might catch a piranha), a river excursion hunting for pink and gray dolphins, an optional supervised swim in the Amazon, and a night jungle walk by flashlight where you search for frogs, glowing insects and nocturnal animals. Day two takes you to Monkey Island, a rescue sanctuary where rehabilitated monkeys live freely, then into the blackwater Yanayacu River to spot sloths, exotic birds and the giant Ceiba Tree. A canoe ride at night lets you listen to the rainforest's nocturnal sounds and watch for caimans and snakes. Day three starts before dawn with a bird-watching canoe ride on the black water lake: the best time to see kingfishers, toucans, herons and the prehistoric-looking Hoatzin. A guided jungle walk takes you deep into the forest to see centuries-old trees, hanging lianas and plants used by indigenous people for medicine and food. You return to Iquitos by boat around 4 p.m.

The lodge itself is designed to blend with the jungle: private rooms with bathrooms and insect protection, WiFi via Starlink, and meals built from local ingredients using traditional Amazonian recipes. A naturalist guide in English or Spanish leads all excursions and walks, explaining the biodiversity and ecology as you move through the forest and river. Small group sizes mean you're not competing for sightings or space.

What’s included

• Naturalist guide in English or Spanish.
• private room with bathroom and shower at Cumaceba Amazon Lodge.
• all excursions including river trips, jungle walks and night canoe rides.
• meals made from local ingredients (except breakfast on day one).
• WiFi at the lodge.
• transfers from your Iquitos hotel or airport to the port and back.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00 and 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Senior (71 to 80 years) · Youth (9 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

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 48 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 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Amazon Wildlife Tours

Is this one for you?Small group sizes keep the experience intimate and give you better chances at wildlife sightings, which suits travelers who want personalized attention over a crowded boat. The fixed 3-day schedule fits a long weekend or the middle stretch of a Peru trip. If you have more time, a 5-day version goes deeper into the forest, and a 2-day option covers the highlights faster.

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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 (5 to 8 years). Children under 5 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's included in the 3-day Amazon tour from Iquitos?

The tour includes a naturalist guide in English or Spanish, all excursions and river trips, private lodge accommodation with bathroom and shower, meals (except breakfast on day one), WiFi at the lodge, and transfers from your Iquitos hotel or airport to the port.

Can I see pink river dolphins on this Amazon tour?

Yes. A dedicated river excursion on day one specifically searches for pink and gray river dolphins. You'll travel by boat along the Amazon and Yanayacu River where they're spotted. Sightings depend on the season and conditions, but the guide knows where they're most likely to appear.

What happens on the night jungle walk?

You'll explore the forest after dark guided by flashlight, looking for colorful frogs, glowing insects, reptiles and amphibians while listening to the mysterious sounds of nocturnal wildlife. A second night excursion takes you by canoe to a blackwater lake to hear rainforest sounds and spot nocturnal birds, caimans and snakes.

How early do we start on the last day?

Day three begins around 5:45 a.m. with a canoe ride on the black water lake for bird watching. The best time to spot kingfishers, toucans, herons, hawks and the rare Hoatzin bird. After a guided jungle walk and farewell lunch, you return to Iquitos by boat, arriving around 4 p.m.

What's the Monkey Island stop?

Monkey Island is a rescue and conservation sanctuary where rehabilitated monkeys live freely. You'll observe their natural behaviors, diet and ecological role in the rainforest: a rare chance to see multiple monkey species in a protected setting.