Iquitos Amazon River

Iquitos is a working river city surrounded by jungle. It is one of the clearest examples in South America of what access means when roads are not the default. You arrive by air or by river, and that reality shapes everything from supply chains to healthcare delivery.

For IMA interns, Iquitos is a strong extension because it rewards curiosity without turning your schedule into chaos. You can keep it short and focused, or expand it into a longer Amazon plan that balances city context with guided nature time.

This is not a staged experience. You are seeing real markets, real waterways, and real community rhythms. The best plans keep the days structured, avoid late-night wandering, and rely on vetted guides for river and forest time.

The Best Approach: Anchor your plan around one river-and-forest day and one city-context day, then use the remaining time for recovery and reflection. Keep transfers conservative and plan as if weather will change your schedule.

Take a trip to the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon! Iquitos, located along the Amazon River, is the world’s largest city that cannot be reached by road and is surrounded by the Amazon jungle. You can fly into Iquitos, however, many arrive at Iquitos while boating down the Amazon River. Whichever way you get there, it’s definitely worth the trip!