IQUITOS TAHUAYO LODGES

4 Day Mini Experience

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey deep into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon with our 4-Day Mini Experience at Tahuayo Lodge—an unforgettable adventure based on the banks of the pristine Tahuayo River, a scenic tributary of the legendary Amazon River. Located near Iquitos, Peru, this award-winning eco-lodge is the perfect launch point for exploring one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.

Designed for adventurous travelers with limited time, this compact yet immersive Amazon rainforest tour from Iquitos offers a powerful mix of nature, culture, and adrenaline. From ziplining through the rainforest canopy to canoeing through flooded forests, each day is filled with opportunities to spot rare Amazon wildlife like pink river dolphins, sloths, howler monkeys, and exotic birds. Guests also have the chance to connect with indigenous communities, learn about sustainable conservation efforts, and support local development through visits to schools and health centers operated by our nonprofit partner, Angels of the Amazon.

With the guidance of your own private bilingual naturalist guide, your entire itinerary is fully customizable. Whether you want to focus on birdwatching, photography, jungle trekking, or simply soaking in the sights and sounds of the Amazon, the experience is tailored to match your interests and pace. Rustic yet comfortable accommodations, delicious local meals, and unparalleled access to remote jungle habitats make this 4-day adventure one of the best ways to experience the true Amazon in a short amount of time.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival to Iquitos & Transfer to Tahuayo Lodge

Important: You can arrive to Iquitos in the morning or early afternoon (before 2pm); we start when you arrive.

  • Airport or hotel pickup – Our staff will pick you up on arrival from the Iquitos Airport or directly from your hotel in Iquitos City. Land transfer from airport (30 min) to our office/dock complex in Iquitos City. Note: If you will be staying in Iquitos before/after your trip we also offer accommodations in Iquitos city. See:
  • Transfer to Tahuayo Lodge – speedboat transfer (note–is up to 4 hours) up the Amazon River, then the Tahuayo tributary to our lodge.
  • Arrival to Tahuayo Lodge – Arrive to the Tahuayo Lodge. Lodge orientation & meet with guides. Afternoon excursion (if morning arrival) and evening excursion of your choice.

Lunch, Dinner

Days 2 & 3

At the Tahuayo Lodge Amazonia’s main lodge on the Tahuayo River is not a resort, nor a hotel, but a rustic lodge, comfortable for adventurous travelers. Cabins are private, and all have private bathrooms. Explore from the lodge with your private guide in and around the Tahuayo Reserve. We offer fully customizable itineraries and excursions day and night. To get you started, here is a list of some of our more popular activities:

  • The Canopy Experience – Experience the Tree Giants & Canopy of the Amazon Rainforest. Completely rebuilt in 2019, our NEW Canopy Experience allows you to explore 6 canopy platforms and zoom through the rainforest on 4 ziplines more than 100 ft above the rainforest floor.
  • Igapo/varzea Forest Exploration – Explore the Igapo forest with your guide in search of wildlife. Search for beautiful birds, primates such as pygmy marmosets, night monkeys, howler monkeys, and other wildlife.
  • Tahuayo River Exploration – Go by boat with your private guide to explore the Tahuayo River. Here you can spot colorful birds (macaws, tanagers, hawks) sloths, neotropical river otters and monkeys along the riverbank.
  • Cultural Visit –Learn about life in the local communities and about the work of our nonprofit organization Angels of the Amazon. You can visit the Hospital we built and support or the schools we built (and are continuing to build).
  • Tahuampa (flooded forest) Excursion – Canoe in and around permanently flooded forest around either Tabano Lake or Traves Lake, with a vast diversity of wildlife. Search for the spectacular hoatzin (one of the world’s most interesting and unique birds), black caiman, horned screamers, wattled jacana, giant fishing spiders, giant ficus fig trees and much more.
  • Frog Valley (Terra Firme) – For this full-day excursion, you will ride a motorboat up the Rio Blanco to visit terra firme (never flooding) ecosystem. Hike through the dense forest searching for beautiful little poison dart frogs, harlequin toads, marmosets, leaf cutter ants and more.
  • Dolphin Search – Explore nearby oxbow lakes searching for the incredible Pink Dolphins of the Amazon Rainforest. Swimming is possible in some lakes. Note: we do NOT feed or disturb the dolphins in anyway.
  • Birding – early morning birding along the Tahuayo River. With over 600 species, our region has a higher count of bird species of any site in lowland Amazon Forest.
  • Fishing – Head by boat early in the morning or late afternoon to fish for the Piranha, Pacu, Vampire Fish, and other species.
  • Night Excursions – Go for a night hike to search for scorpions, tarantulas, snakes, and other nocturnal wildlife. Explore by boat on the Tahuayo or Blanco River; here you can search for caimans, snakes, and frogs. If you are in the mood to relax….enjoy the constellations while you listen to the jungle symphony all around you.
  • Anything else you want to see or do? Just ask. Your trip is fully customizable.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Return to Iquitos

The Research Center is more remote. On the boat ride to the Research Center we stop to see bats, sloths, monkeys, raptors,toucans.

  • Morning Excursion
  • Speedboat transfer (note–is up to 4 hours) back to Iquitos.
  • Arrival back to Iquitos – transfer to airport or hotel

Breakfast

A NOTE ON OUR TWO LODGES

The Tahuayo Lodge (Main Lodge)

  • Cabins have private bathrooms
  • Greater variety of activities

The Research Center Peru Lodge (ARC)

  • Cabins have shared bathrooms
  • Better hiking, over 50 miles of trails through a variety of ecosystems
  • More wildlife
  • Lodge is more remote, in more pristine forest
What's included?

Shorter or longer trips are available.

All in-Amazon costs included

  • Private guide
  • All transfers
  • Lodging
  • Buffet Meals
  • Excursions customized to your liking
  • Standard gear such as jungle boots
  • Hot shower water
  • Fans available for cabins
  • Unlimited purified drinking water
  • Wi-Fi
  • Entrance fees
  • Conservation fees
  • Entrance Fees & Taxes

Optional expenses:

  • Soft Drinks & Beer
  • Souvenirs
  • Tips
  • Laundry