Iquitos Market & Piranha Fishing Tour: 3 Hours

Belén Market, the Rubber Boom era, and piranhas in one morning

A three-hour guided tour of Iquitos pairs a walk through Belén Market (one of South America's most exotic markets) with piranha fishing in a secure river spot. The guide speaks English or Spanish, transport by boat and tuk tuk is included, and the day covers the city's Rubber Boom history, the floating neighborhood of Belén, and the daily rhythms of Amazonian life.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Iquitos and fish piranhas

• Learn about Old Iquitos history
• Walk riverside boulevard to market
• Visit Belén Market and Pasaje Paquito
• Boat to river spot for piranha fishing

The experience

Three hours covers the arc of Iquitos itself. The guide starts in Old Iquitos, walking you through the city's history during the Rubber Boom era when it was one of Peru's richest cities, then moves to the Boulevard, the riverside tourist area, before heading to Belén Market. The market is where the day opens up: colorful stalls packed with Amazonian fruits, medicinal plants, jungle meat, natural remedies, and local potions fill the space, and you walk through the medicinal street Pasaje Paquito to see what daily life actually looks like here.

After the market, you board a boat to a secure fishing spot on the river and fish for piranhas using traditional tools, the way locals do. The whole route (from the old city through the market's floating neighborhood and out to the water) moves at a pace that lets you absorb each stop without rushing. Tuk tuk and boat transport are included, and your guide speaks either English or Spanish depending on what you book.

What’s included

• Boat and tuk tuk transportation.
• traditional fishing tools.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• pickup included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:00

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 38 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Ronsoco Guiding Iquitos

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move between three distinct parts of Iquitos (its colonial history, the market's daily life, and river fishing) all in a single morning without arranging your own transport or guide.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is Belén Market actually like when I walk through it?

Belén Market is filled with stalls selling Amazonian fruits, medicinal plants, jungle meat, natural remedies, and local potions. You'll walk through the medicinal street Pasaje Paquito and see the floating neighborhood where vendors and residents live on the water.

Do I actually catch piranhas, or is this a demonstration?

You fish for piranhas yourself using traditional fishing tools in a secure spot on the river, fishing the way locals do rather than watching someone else do it.

How does the guide help me understand Iquitos during the Rubber Boom?

The guide walks you through Old Iquitos and explains the city's history from the Rubber Boom era, when it was one of the richest cities in Peru, and shares curiosities about Iquitos and its culture throughout the day.

What's included in the price?

Boat and tuk tuk transportation, traditional fishing tools, and a live guide in English or Spanish are all included. Pickup is also provided.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, so you can join regardless of your fitness or experience with markets or fishing.