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How to get to Iquitos by Boat

November 6, 2022 By Travelsauro 12 Comments

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. There are other affiliate links too. This disclosure pertains to all product links.

Deep into Peru, we find one of the most fascinating areas of the country. A tropical forest where river routes replace roads. It’s the Peruvian Amazon, the famous lung of the planet, that unfortunately looks like it is being harmed day after day.

Iquitos is the perfect place to understand the madness of a huge metropolis which is accessible only by boat or plane. Logging, a decline in the rubber industry, prostitution and drug trafficing have given it a dark touch. But it still remains, without doubt, one of the most interesting cities in all of South America.

Belen neighborhood is composed of floating houses on the river, that are able to adapt to the irregular water levels caused by heavy rains. The market is a place you can not miss. You can find everything there! From very rare fish, turtles, alligator tails, fried larvae and other delights that I had never seen before.

Once in Iquitos, a jungle tour is a must do. The only logical way to do it is through an agency. The experience is really interesting. Near Iquitos there are some very nice lagoons, hundreds of rivers and unique small villages. It is very important to find a good guide who can explain to you the development of the region, the history of the logging and rubber industry, the different plants of the region and someone who is also experienced at looking for monkeys, alligators and other animals.

We were lucky to find a very good guide who had been a hunter for 25 years and knew every millimeter of the jungle. At the end of the 3rd day of the tour, he even took us to his village to celebrate someone´s birthday and we had a really nice party with all the locals. It was a lot of fun!

Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

Boat trip from Yurimaguas to Iquitos

boat trip iquitos Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos
Our beautiful boat!
iquitos boat trip Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos
Hammocks and hammocks everywhere

The city of Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon

Iquitos Belen Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos
Floating Houses

Belen Iquitos Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

Belen Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

belen market Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

belen market Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

belen market tobacco Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

monkey market iquitos belen

The 3 day tour to discover the best of the Peruvian Amazon

jungle tour Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

amazon fisherman Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

peru amazon people kids Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

tree iquitos Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos
Yeahh, that’s a tree!!

jungle frog Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

jungle monkey Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

tarantula Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

sloth Peruvian Amazon. How to get to Iquitos

guide jungle Raúl our guide
Raúl, our guide

guide raul Peruvian amazon

sunset peruvian amazon

sunset amazon peru
Sunset over the Amazon

HOW TO GET TO IQUITOS BY BOAT

First, you need to get to the city of Tarapoto. This is pretty easy, there are connections from all over Peru. I came from Chachapoyas, as I was visiting the Gocta falls.
Bus Chachapoyas – Tarapoto. 34 soles, 10 hours of travel.


From Tarapoto there is a van going to the river town of Yurimaguas.
Bus Tarapoto – Yurimaguas. 10 soles, 2 hours away.


Once in Yurimaguas take a boat going to Iquitos.

SLOW BOAT

These boats do not have a reliable schedule, but generally leave every few days. The problem is even if they had a schedule, sometimes they wait for more cargo and might stay a few days longer in Yurimaguas. The point is that you never know when it leaves, but usually you won’t wait for more than a day or two in Yurimaguas.

Slow Boat Yurimaguas – Iquitos. 100 soles, 3 days including food.

FAST BOAT

There is a fast boat connecting Yurimaguas with Iguitos. The company is called Servicio de Transporte Fluvial Romero. The trip from Yurimaguas to Nauta costs 140 soles. 

ACCOMMODATION IN NAUTA AND IQUITOS

Hostal Las Palmas. Nauta. 25 soles per double room with bathroom

Iquitos: Flying Dog. Clean, great atmosphere and cool kitchen.

TIPS ON HOW TO GET TO IQUITOS

BUY A HAMMOCK

On the boat there are no beds, just a metal bar where you can hang a hammock. In Yurimaguas hammocks are sold in most stores from about 15 Soles.


BRING WATER

Although the food is included in the trip, the water is not.


MAKE THE TRIP SHORTER

If you want to save half day on the boat, you can get off at the city of Nauta, about 120 km from Iquitos and complete the last part of the journey by Van.

Van Nauta – Iquitos. 10 soles, 2 hours

TRAVEL INSURANCE

I highly recommend that you get a good insurance policy before you visit Peru. Trusted by thousand of adventurers, World Nomads is one of the best and more reliable options (without breaking your bank).

COST OF THE TOUR TO THE JUNGLE

Jungle tour. 100 soles per day all inclusive. Accommodation in a lodge, camping in the forest, visiting several lagoons, jungle treks, information about flora and fauna, piranha fishing (yes, very touristy) and night alligator watching.

If anyone is interested in the guide I had, this is his Facebook Page. I have no commission. I recommend him  because he was a good guide.


Next Read: Hiking Santa Cruz Trek in Peru


Any questions about How to get to Iquitos? Leave a comment!

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book or buy a service, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link to stuff I love.

Travelsauro
Travelsauro

Hi, I’m Miguel; Adventure traveler, scuba diver and hiking lover. I have been traveling the world for the last 12 years and I hope my experiences, photos and hiking routes inspire you to travel the world too.

PERU

Comments

  1. Graciela says

    July 12, 2017 at 2:50 pm

    Hola!
    Estamos por tomar la barcaza lenta que nos llevará a Iquitos…queremos hacer excursiones ahí ( lo menos turístico posible!)…me mandarías los datos de tu guía??
    Gracias!
    Felices viajes
    Graciela y Héctor

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      July 12, 2017 at 3:33 pm

      Hola Graciela y Héctor!

      Que bueno! ese viaje es genial. el guía tiene una página en facebook.. se llama Tuqui tuqui amazon tours.

      Saludos y buen viaje!
      Miguel

      Reply
  2. Liz Matheson says

    November 25, 2017 at 11:42 pm

    Hello, I read that on the slow boat from Yurigamaus to Iquitos there are some small cabins which are very useful to hold luggage. Is this true? I am travelling alone and maybe not comfortable falling asleep on my own.

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      November 26, 2017 at 7:52 am

      Hi Liz, if you sleep on a hammock you need to keep everything with you. However, you can sleep in a private cabin too if you book it with time.

      Good luck!

      Reply
      • Travelsauro says

        November 26, 2017 at 11:27 am

        Hi Liz, if you sleep on a hammock you need to keep everything with you. However, you can sleep in a private cabin too if you book it with time.

        Good luck!

        Reply
  3. Jason M Rodgers says

    December 29, 2018 at 10:40 am

    I’m so undecided with Ecuador and Peru. I will have around three weeks and want to see the Amazon, as much wildlife as possible and a few days at Galapagos.

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      January 9, 2019 at 2:30 am

      How Jason! Well, both are great destinations. I think Peru has a bit more things to offer, but if you want to go to Galapagos.. then Ecuador.

      Reply
  4. Zoltan says

    March 3, 2020 at 10:36 am

    Hey! I’ve just met a Canadian guy (1st March 2020.) who is going by speed boat. He pays 90 soles and leaves 3am, the ride takes about 12 hours. FYI, Zoltan from Hungary, Tarapo

    Reply
    • Bins kaliyar says

      July 30, 2021 at 9:45 am

      Hello
      I was planning for pucallpa to Iquitos boat journey which take around 5 days,, actually I was not interested for a long journey without a internet connection. But luckily I got your website link and read easy way to get Iquitos via nauta from yurimaguas.. thank you for that information..

      Reply
  5. Thomas Beck says

    April 24, 2022 at 3:57 am

    Hi… very interesting web site!!

    Do you know on which days of the week there is currently a fast boat from Nauta to Yurimaguas?

    Would be very helpful for planning my trip Manaus to Lima. I want to go Mid-July 22.

    Thanks
    Thomas

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      April 27, 2022 at 7:30 am

      Hi Thomas, how are you? I’m not sure about departure days, as it has changed over the years. Maybe you can contact the company. Safe travels, Miguel.

      Reply
  6. Zhe says

    May 14, 2022 at 8:44 pm

    very cool guide, thanks Miguel!

    Reply

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