What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Iquitos, Peru.
Photo: Nando Freitas / Pexels
Iquitos sits on the Amazon River in northern Peru and can only be reached by boat or plane, since no roads connect it to the rest of the country. It's the starting point for jungle lodges and river trips, but the city itself has its own character: the floating neighbourhood of Belén, a busy market, and a riverside walkway at Malecón Tarapacá. The best months to visit are May and June, when conditions are more favourable for exploring both the city and the surrounding rainforest.
Plan on 3 days for the city sights: Belén Market and its floating neighbourhood, the Malecón, Plaza de Armas, and a half-day trip to Pilpintuwasi or Quistococha. Add more days if you're heading into the jungle from here.
Belén
This is the city's biggest and busiest street market, with stalls selling jungle fruit, river fish, medicinal plants and bark remedies. It is the best place to see what Amazon people eat and use every day. Keep valuables out of sight, as the crowded lanes attract pickpockets.
Belén
Below the market, houses sit on stilts or float on rafts, and people get around by canoe when the river is high. Local boatmen offer short paddle trips through the channels. Water levels change a lot through the year, so the district looks very different depending on the season.
City centre
This riverside promenade has old rubber-era buildings with tiled fronts on one side and views over the Amazon floodplain on the other. It is the main place for an evening walk, with street food, cafés and bars along the way.
City centre
The main square is home to the Cathedral and the Iron House, a metal-plated building from the rubber boom that local stories link to Gustave Eiffel's workshop. It is a short, easy stop and a good starting point for exploring the centre on foot.
Padre Cocha
This butterfly farm also cares for rescued animals such as monkeys, a jaguar and a manatee. You reach it by a short boat ride up the Nanay River and a walk from Padre Cocha village, which makes the trip part of the fun.
San Juan Bautista
This centre rescues and rehabilitates orphaned Amazonian manatees and other wildlife before releasing them back into the wild. Guided visits explain the work, and you can often see young manatees being fed. It lies on the road towards Nauta, a short taxi or mototaxi ride from the centre.
San Juan Bautista
A lake surrounded by forest, with a small zoo of Amazon animals, a fish farm with giant paiche, and a sandy beach. Local families go at weekends to swim and eat, so it gives a relaxed look at city life outside the centre.
City centre
This small museum on the riverfront displays clothing, tools, masks and ritual objects from many Amazon peoples. Clear displays help you understand the region's indigenous groups before heading into the jungle.
City centre
The Ayapua is a restored rubber-boom riverboat moored near the riverfront. On board, exhibits tell the story of the rubber era, river trade and the harsh treatment of indigenous workers.
Road to Nauta
This protected area of white-sand forest is the closest real rainforest reserve to the city, reachable by road. It is known for rare birds and plants, and guided walks let you see primary forest without a long river journey. Expect heat, humidity and mud on the trails.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C / 24°C | 25 days (237 mm) | 8.6 h/day | 2.8/10 |
| February | 30°C / 24°C | 23 days (235 mm) | 8.4 h/day | 2.8/10 |
| March | 30°C / 24°C | 27 days (309 mm) | 8.0 h/day | 2.8/10 |
| April | 30°C / 24°C | 27 days (321 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 2.9/10 |
| Best month: May | 29°C / 23°C | 26 days (282 mm) | 8.7 h/day | 3.3/10 |
| Best month: June | 29°C / 23°C | 24 days (190 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 3.4/10 |
| July | 29°C / 23°C | 21 days (166 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 3.3/10 |
| August | 30°C / 23°C | 18 days (152 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 2.8/10 |
| September | 31°C / 24°C | 19 days (128 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 2.3/10 |
| October | 31°C / 24°C | 22 days (185 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 2.4/10 |
| November | 30°C / 24°C | 24 days (245 mm) | 8.8 h/day | 2.6/10 |
| December | 30°C / 24°C | 27 days (268 mm) | 8.6 h/day | 2.8/10 |
Highs reach 29.9°C with rain on about 25 days; heavy, frequent downpours give this month a low score of 2.8, reflecting tough, wet conditions.
Expect 30.1°C highs and rain on roughly 23 days; still very wet, scoring 2.8, so humidity and frequent showers dominate the month.
The wettest stretch: 309mm of rain over 27 days, highs near 30°C, and a 2.8 score showing persistent, heavy rainfall.
Rain falls on about 27 days with 321mm total, the year's wettest month; highs stay near 29.7°C and the score is 2.9.
Rainfall eases slightly to 282mm over 26 days, highs around 29°C; the score rises a touch to 3.3 but showers remain frequent.
Drier air brings 190mm of rain over 24 days and highs of 28.6°C; this is the year's best score at 3.4, though rain is still common.
One of the driest months, with 166mm of rain over 21 days and more sun at 9.9 hours; score holds at 3.3.
Rain drops to 152mm over just 18 days, sunniest hours rise to 10.1, yet highs of 30.1°C and the score falls back to 2.8.
Highs peak at 31.2°C with rain on 19 days; despite drier skies, this month scores lowest at 2.3, likely due to heat and humidity.
Rain returns to 185mm over 22 days with highs of 30.9°C; the score stays low at 2.4 as heat and rising humidity combine.
Rain increases again to 245mm over 24 days, highs near 30.4°C, giving a score of 2.6 as the wetter season builds.
Rain climbs to 268mm over 27 days with highs of 29.9°C; the score of 2.8 reflects a return to heavy, frequent rainfall.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Peru →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, short stays
This is the historic centre around the main square, with old rubber-boom buildings, tour agencies, banks and cafés all within walking distance. It is the easiest base for booking jungle trips and finding transport. The drawback is constant noise from motocarros, which runs from early morning into the night.
Good for couples, river views, evening strolls
The riverfront promenade just east of the main square has views over the Itaya River, bars and restaurants, and a lively scene after sunset. You can walk to everything in the centre. On weekend nights the music and crowds can be loud, so ask for a room away from the street.
Good for boat travellers, budget stays
This district to the north of the centre holds the main river ports and the Bellavista-Nanay area, where boats leave for villages and lodges. Staying here saves time if you start a river trip early. It feels more local and less polished, and you will need a motocarro to reach the centre's restaurants.
Good for families, quiet, airport access
This residential district to the south of the centre lies on the road towards the airport and has calmer streets and more space. It suits travellers who want rest between jungle trips. The drawback is distance, as most sights and restaurants are a motocarro ride away.
This is rice and chicken wrapped in bijao leaves, shaped like a bundle. Locals eat it at festivals and it's a common takeaway snack around the city markets.
Mashed fried plantain mixed with pork fat, served with smoked or salted pork called cecina. It's a hearty breakfast or lunch dish found in local eateries.
Fish from the Amazon river, wrapped in bijao leaves and grilled over an open fire. It's a typical riverside dish served fresh where fishermen bring in their catch.
A thick soup made with chicken, peanuts, corn, and cilantro. It's a comforting home-style dish often served in family restaurants in Iquitos.
A fermented corn drink with roots in Amazonian tradition. It's sold by street vendors and enjoyed as a refreshing local beverage.
Fresh juices made from native Amazonian fruits, sold at the Belen market and street stalls. Locals drink them cold as a snack or with meals.
June and May are the best months to visit Iquitos. June is the pick, with 190 mm of rain, 24.2 rain days, 9.4 hours of sun and a high of 28.6°C, the coolest of the year. May is wetter, with 282 mm, but still a little cooler than most months. Expect rain in every month. Iquitos is in the Amazon, so no month is truly dry.
September is the driest and sunniest time in Iquitos, but also the hottest. It has 128 mm of rain on 18.6 days and 10 hours of sun a day. Highs reach 31.2°C and nights stay at 24°C, so it feels hot and humid. It suits travellers who want more dry hours and don't mind the heat.
The wettest months in Iquitos are March and April. April gets 321 mm of rain and March gets 309 mm, with about 27 rain days each. December is also very wet, with 27.3 rain days. Rain falls on many days all year, though. Even August, the month with the fewest rain days, has 17.6.
Iquitos is hot all year, with little change between months. Daytime highs range from 28.6°C in June to 31.2°C in September. Night lows stay between 22.7°C in July and 24.2°C in October and November. Pack light clothes for every season, plus rain gear.
Plan a day for the city, a day for nearby trips and a full day for the forest. City centre sights like Plaza de Armas and Malecón Tarapacá take 30 minutes–1 hour each, and Belén Market takes 1–2 hours. Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm and Quistococha each need half a day. Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve needs a full day.
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