Peru · 2026 itinerary
Iquitos 3-Day Itinerary
A day-by-day plan for Iquitos: the best attractions in order, where to eat, how to get around — with free hotel briefings for your stay.
Arrive & Explore the Highlights
Pedestrianised street lined with historic tiled buildings, ice cream parlours, and souvenir stalls. Connects the Plaza de Armas to the riverfront.
🕐 24/7; stalls and shops typically 9am-10pm
Free entry💡 Try a 'helado de aguaje' (local fruit ice cream) from the stalls – it's cheap and tastes like a tropical sorbet. Best visited after 5pm when it's cooler.
Hotels near Boulevard de Iquitos →Paved riverfront walkway along the Itaya River with benches, shade trees, and views of floating houses and passing boats. Popular at sunset.
🕐 24/7
Free entry💡 Walk the full stretch from the Clock Tower to the old Hotel de Turistas. The street food stalls sell fresh fruit juices for 2-3 soles.
Hotels near Malecón Tarapacá →Fitzcarraldo · ££
Chifa Primavera · ££
Deeper Into Iquitos
Small two-floor museum inside the regional government building, displaying indigenous costumes, tools, and ceremonial objects from Amazonian tribes.
🕐 Mon-Fri 8am-12pm, 2pm-5pm; Sat 8am-1pm
💡 Free entrance but you need to sign in with your passport at reception. Allow 45 minutes. No English labels, so bring a translation app or guidebook.
Central square with the ironwork bandstand, old rubber-boom buildings, and the Cathedral of Iquitos. Lively in evenings with locals and street food vendors.
🕐 24/7
💡 Check out the Casa de Fierro on the corner — an iron house designed by Gustave Eiffel. Free to admire from outside.
El Rancho
Chifa Long Fung
Final Favourites & Departure
Massive open-air market selling local produce, fish, crafts and oddities. Walk through the stilted houses on dry land or hire a boat to see the floating section
💡 Go early (6am-8am) to avoid heat and crowds. Keep valuables hidden; bag snatching happens in tight aisles. A boat tour costs around 15-20 soles per person.
Le Bateau Ivre - Bistro
Restaurant Cebicheria Paulina
Getting Around Iquitos
Negotiate firmly before you get in—standard rate for a shared taxi is 15 PEN, private 25 PEN. Drivers often try to charge tourists double.
Flag down any colectivo heading towards 'Centro' from the airport road. They’re cramped but cheap. Don’t expect a dedicated stop—shout 'baja' when you see the hotel’s street corner.
Agree the price before you climb into the sidecar. Short hops inside the centre should cost no more than 3–4 PEN. Carry small change.
Best for short, scenic trips. The driver pedals, you sit in the bucket seat. Agree a round-trip price if you're headed to a market—they’ll wait for 20 minutes for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Iquitos?
Three days covers the main highlights well. You can see the key attractions like Boulevard de Iquitos and get a genuine feel for the city. For a more leisurely pace or to explore neighbourhoods in depth, a 5-day trip is better.
What is the best time to visit Iquitos?
See our full best time to visit Iquitos guide — it covers weather month by month, peak vs. shoulder seasons and how to avoid the crowds.
Where should I stay for this itinerary?
A central location saves transit time between sites. Top options include Hotel La Casona, Hospedaje El Sitio, Hostal Colibri. See the full ranked list with free briefings for each.