Travel advisory · PeruSome governments advise against travel to parts of Peru.The warnings cover only these areas: VRAEM (Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro River Valley), 20 km strip along the Colombian border, 20 km strip along the Ecuadorian border, Amazonian border zone with Colombia (Putumayo River).Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

VRAEM (Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro River Valley) · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK
20 km strip along the Colombian border · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK
20 km strip along the Ecuadorian border · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, New Zealand
Amazonian border zone with Colombia (Putumayo River) · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy

Also named by one government: Amazonas (Spain), Loreto (Spain), Abancay (France), Huánuco region (Cordillera Azul) (France), Upper Huallaga River Valley (Canada)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country; advises against all but essential travel to parts of Peru (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution	Sep 4, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	Increased caution; no travel warning stated	Oct 13, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution due to violent crime (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

people riding on boat near brown wooden house during daytime

Iquitos

Iquitos is the usual starting point for jungle trips in the Peruvian Amazon, with river boats, jungle lodges and a riverside market.

Find a room in Iquitos Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Iquitos

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Iquitos is the largest city in the Peruvian Amazon and one of the largest cities in the world that cannot be reached by road. It lies in the Loreto region of northeastern Peru, on the Amazon River. Most visitors arrive by plane, often from Lima, or by river boat. The rubber boom of the late 1800s brought wealth to the town, and some of its grand buildings survive, including the Casa de Fierro, an iron house designed by the company of Gustave Eiffel, and the Teatro Municipal.

Iquitos suits travelers who want a jungle base with direct river access. Boat trips into the forest, wildlife watching and the riverside Belén market are the main draws. Juane, rice and chicken wrapped in bijao leaves, is a regional specialty. The drier months, roughly July to September, are the usual choice for river trips, while the rainy season brings high water and different access. Two or three nights covers the city and one river trip, and a lodge deeper in the forest needs more.

Iquitos in five

Book the flight into IquitosIquitos has no road connection to the rest of Peru. Most visitors fly into Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta airport (IQT), and slow river boats are the other option.Getting around
Book river tours with a written planMost jungle lodges and wildlife trips leave by boat from Iquitos. Before you pay, ask the operator for the boat type, the guide's language, the meals and what the price leaves out.Tours and tickets
Carry soles in small notesMarkets, mototaxis, boat trips and small stalls often want cash in soles. Break large notes early, since small vendors may not have change.Money and costs
Pack repellent and long sleevesMosquitoes are most active at dusk and after dark, both along the river and in the forest, and dengue is a risk in the region. Bring repellent with DEET or picaridin and light long sleeves.
Ask a travel clinic about yellow feverVaccine and malaria advice for the Amazon differs by route, so ask a travel clinic before you book. Carry your vaccination record on the trip.

Things to do in Iquitos

See all attractions in Iquitos

Museum · IquitosMalecón Iquitos

A person steering a long wooden boat on a river past stilt houses

Museum · IquitosIndigenous Culture Museum Amazonicas

2 men riding motorcycle in front of brown concrete building during daytime

Landmark · IquitosCasa de Fierro

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to IquitosPut the places you like in Iquitos on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Sol (PEN)
Entry: Visa-free short stays for many passports; others need a visa Read more
Emergency: 105 police, 116 fire, 106 ambulance
Tipping: Not required; a 10% service charge is often added
Time: UTC-5, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet, high water
FebruaryRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet, high water
MarchRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet, high water
AprilRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Wet, high water
MayRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Rains easing
JuneRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Drier, warm
JulyRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Drier, warm
AugustRain18 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Drier, hot
SeptemberRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low23°Dry-ish, hot
OctoberRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low23°Hot, rains return
NovemberRain25 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low23°Hot, humid
DecemberRain27 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low23°Rains return

Average daily high and low in Iquitos, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Iquitos

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 36°
Humidity: 70%
Wind: 2 km/h
Chance of rain: 78%

Iquitos

04:56 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today33°24°78%Monday: Rain. High 33°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 78%.
Tue32°25°71%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 71%.
Wed32°25°69%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 69%.
Thu32°25°75%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 75%.
Fri30°25°87%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 87%.
Sat32°25°69%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 69%.
Sun31°24°69%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 69%.

Updated 04:28 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.467 PEN

Amount

Converted to

PEN · Peruvian Sol

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserveabout 1 hour by roadA white-sand forest close to town, good for birds and small primates.
Isla de los Monos (Monkey Island)under 1 hour by boatA small island on the Nanay River with monkeys and a short walk.
Pacaya-Samiria National Reserveabout half a day or more by boatA large protected wetland for wildlife and river lodges, best booked as a multi-day trip.

Before you go to Iquitos

eSIM for IquitosOffline maps help on river tripsRead the guide

Insurance for jungle tripsCheck cover for remote river toursRead the guide

Cash in solesSmall stalls and boats often want cashRead the guide

Stays in IquitosStays in town and on the riverRead the guide

Rules for Iquitos, checked

Many nationalities enter Peru visa-free for short stays. Check your passport rules with Migraciones, Peru's immigration service, before you fly.Source
Do not take wildlife, plants or wood out of Peru without the right permits. SERFOR, Peru's forestry and wildlife agency, sets the rules.
Dial 105 for police, 106 for an ambulance and 116 for the fire service anywhere in Peru.
Ask before photographing people in Amazon villages, and follow the community's rules on visits.
Use registered taxis at night and keep bags closed in busy markets such as Belén.

Plan around Iquitos

All of Peru

Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Peru trip

Read the guide Where to stay

Hotels in town and lodges on the river

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash, cards and typical prices for a day in Iquitos

Read the guide Visas and entry

Entry rules by passport before you fly to Peru

Read the guide Tours and tickets

Jungle and river trips to book ahead

Read the guide Getting around Peru

Flights and river routes to reach Iquitos

Read the guide

Iquitos FAQ

How do you get to Iquitos?

Most visitors fly into Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta airport (IQT), since Iquitos has no road link to the rest of Peru. Slow river boats also run along the Amazon from other towns, and they take much longer.

Is Iquitos worth visiting?

Yes if you want an Amazon city as a base for river trips and wildlife. It is a busy, hot town.

Do you need a tour to see the Amazon from Iquitos?

Most visitors book a boat trip or lodge, since the forest and river sites are far from town and need a boat to reach. An operator with a written itinerary makes it easier to compare prices.

How many days do you need in Iquitos?

Two or three nights covers the city and one river trip. Add nights if you plan a lodge stay deeper in the forest.

When is the best time to visit Iquitos?

Iquitos is hot and humid all year. The wetter months run roughly December to May with high water, while July to September is drier and warmer.

Is Iquitos safe for tourists?

Use registered taxis, keep valuables out of sight in markets such as Belén, and check the current situation with your hotel before you go out at night.