Iquitos Amazon Jungle Safari: Full Day Tour Review

Okay, so you’re thinking of heading into the Amazon from Iquitos, Peru for a day? That’s really pretty awesome! I, too, spent time researching various tours and honestly, sorting out what’s worth your time and money is sort of hard. I looked at Iquitos because it seemed like a cool jump-off point and had an Amazon trip that I would like your opinions about. I am gonna tell you a bit, like your friend would, about my adventure on an Iquitos full-day jungle safari. I hope this info gives you some idea of what it might be like and helps you decide if it’s for you.

Setting off From Iquitos

You see, everything started super early, which is normal when you plan an excursion this cool! Someone picked me up from my hotel at what felt like the crack of dawn. So, they took me down to the river, which had all of those amazing jungle smells already. In that case, the boats they use? It’s almost long and skinny, with a cover to keep the sun off you—something you are probably going to really be thankful for! Then we went down the Amazon.

At the start, the thing to remember, that water is just brown. Still, in some respects, as you get moving, you realize the edges of the river are teeming with this fantastic plant life and it feels like you’re really going somewhere. Now, it’s about the trip out to the jungle itself, it goes very rapidly, as there is usually no commentary, which, for me, I mean I like the quiet. We get moving as a gaggle of tourists, very quickly getting away from this area of human expansion, deeper, where one knows things might be waiting.

Meeting the Yagua Tribe

The visit with the Yagua people, the indegenious local tribesmen was really thought provoking, and it was our initial planned activity. This stop gave what may seem to some to be, more or less, a window into their way of living. I really should remind everyone that cultures evolve, and these things change, just like they have everywhere in our lives. So, just anticipate it could be quite staged.

Okay, I should let you know they showed us their clothes, told us a little bit of how they hunt. Yet, in some respects, one of the big things for many tourists tends to be the photo opportunities that there might be, with blowguns for a little donation. I actually liked buying some crafts directly from them a whole lot, helping support their community directly feels like a real thing you know? Even though it lasts just for that one stop.

Jungle Walk and Wildlife Spotting

Now this bit, you know, it can kind of really make or break the trip, by the way. Like, I was seriously ready to traipse through the jungle. You will want some good walking shoes for the hike and some trousers. The guides usually are from a smaller area of land from that location and they point out some of the cool stuff and, clearly, the crazy-looking bugs that just exist all around you, alright?

Sometimes you’re seemingly going to see monkeys—we caught, basically, a glance of one hopping way up in the trees. As I was saying, birds too, if you are quite lucky. Still, at the end of the day, it is called a walk in the jungle, not a “see loads of animals guaranteed” tour. So just be prepared for lots of plants, trees, and the sounds, I mean the actual jungle sounds— which you realize fill your entire head after some time.

Piranha Fishing and Amazon River Fun

Fishing for piranhas might just sound a bit terrifying, really, doesn’t it? Don’t worry at all, as you don’t use your bare hands or anything, haha. The guides basically provide you with just a super simple pole and some bait; you really chuck it in and wait. I was sort of surprised at how quickly you typically got bites. Those teeny piranha, that you catch a few of, are definitely interesting in a “I wouldn’t want to swim with a million of those” type of way.

You can get chances to jump in the Amazon. I chose not to, yet there were others on our trip who went in with all of those piranhas in there. So they swam anyway, I guess! As a matter of fact, I had some awesome photos just from the boat, that’s just what I felt comfortable with doing that day. It’s almost very awesome just chilling on the water, very away from city sounds for a bit too.

Lunch in the Jungle

Typically lunch involved at least rice, maybe some chicken or fish, so simple foods that keep. When you take the opportunity, try to find out where exactly the place gets food or is sourcing it, as that is just another very real question, because if all that rice gets carted from hundreds of miles, is that not just harming the river?

For me, it felt nice to stop, refill and just have a breather after moving this whole time. I did chat some with people and trade off photographs too, that being another fine chance to actually get a different viewpoint, so yeah it’s fun!

What to Bring on your Iquitos Amazon Tour?

Insect repellent: The mosquitos and bugs can be just a bit much, clearly. Get something strong.
Sunscreen: Even when it feels cool and misty, in some respects the sun could be just hammering down, I feel.
Light clothing: Things that breathe! Also long sleeves and trousers will make you feel safe against bugs.
Comfortable walking shoes: The jungle trek bit tends to be not crazy difficult, still you don’t really want to attempt it in flip-flops.
Water: Basically, stay hydrated. Some excursions do provide this, so it is almost worth clarifying beforehand.
Camera: This can be as much of a really excellent phone camera and bring power banks or even extras!
Cash: More or less for souvenirs from the indigenous community, tipping your guides and stuff like drinks and stuff.

Is the Iquitos Amazon Tour Right for You?

I guess whether a full-day tour from Iquitos might be worthwhile depends on a bunch of stuff like this. Okay, you really have not got tons of time? I mean then just doing a full day could be a very good taste of the Amazon area without totally eating up your whole vacation! If you want somewhere quite wild with intense wildlife sightings guaranteed 100%, maybe keep doing more research because maybe this kind of whistle-stop trip might come off a bit light in intensity.

Another factor is how well you can cope with the weather conditions; that muggy and super warm environment actually could get really oppressive if it’s not the thing that you are familiar with dealing with. Also being realistic with what you can see in a short trip versus what you might only imagine from having seen way too many nature programmes on screens at your house is good. I just was happy getting a sense of the Amazon, being on that amazing river and getting away into some trees that grow real tall. One’s expectation might impact things more than you actually believe that it might!

Alternatives to a Full-Day Tour

Multi-Day Tours: So, you are truly passionate about wanting the whole deep Amazon expertise? Really spend extra on longer trips which tend to take you far beyond Iquitos!
Pacaya Samiria National Reserve: It might be that a bit of planning and extra money gets you entry into places such as Pacaya Samiria! That place just is one of Peru’s largest protected areas, by the way! So you should get wildlife in larger amounts!
Community-Based Tourism: Research whether you can be able to support communities through tours somewhere around Iquitos. Check with your local travel experts regarding these tour variations or locations.

At the end of the day, with your plans sorted out in some form or other, I think Iquitos really is your kick-off spot into an unbelievable and pretty unbelievable locale. With this particular planning done well, you just have to start preparing yourself just a bit and going and seeing it with your own eyeballs! Have a real awesome experience out there in Peru.

These bits, hopefully give a good viewpoint to help you know what your awesome next travels may look like when they are ready to happen.

Have a real fun Amazon visit!

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