6-Day Amazon Wildlife Tour in Iquitos, Peru — Antares Lodge
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Amazon Wildlife Tour in Iquitos, Peru — 6 Days Deep in the Jungle at Antares Lodge
Most people never make it past the edges of the Amazon. Antares Amazon Lodge changes that. Positioned further upstream on the Pampa Caño creek than any other lodge in the area — and sitting on the doorstep of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in South America — this 6-day private tour takes you into a part of the Peruvian Amazon that few travellers ever reach. Pink river dolphins, black caimans, howler monkeys, poison dart frogs, and the chance to swim in the Amazon itself: this is the bucket-list trip the internet keeps promising but rarely delivers.
What to Expect
From the moment you land at Iquitos Airport, a private guide is assigned exclusively to you for the entire trip. You travel by car to the port town of Nauta (about 90 minutes), then by boat up the Marañón River and into the Pampa Caño creek — a two-hour journey that already feels like crossing into another world. The lodge sits at the end of the creek, the furthest upstream of any lodge in the area, which means no constant boat traffic and no generator noise. Solar panels power everything, so what you hear is the jungle itself.
On arrival you’re handed a “menu” of activities and, together with your guide, you build your own daily programme. The six days typically include a full-day excursion into the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, a night boat ride to spotlight caimans, sunrise birdwatching, a medicinal plants walk, swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon River, a canoe ride through flooded forest, a visit to the indigenous Pampa Caño village, a blow dart gun workshop, and a night jungle walk to find tarantulas, tree boas, and night monkeys. Optionally, you can camp for multiple nights deep in the reserve or take part in a shaman ceremony.
The lodge has six private bungalows, all with private bathrooms, river-view balconies, hammocks, fans, and fine mosquito-net screening. The octagonal dining room serves authentic Peruvian meals made fresh by the lodge’s own chef — one activity even has you learning to cook a traditional juane dish yourself. All meals and bottled water are included throughout.
Who Is This Tour For?
This trip suits any independent traveller who wants genuine wilderness — not a resort with a jungle backdrop. Because your guide is dedicated solely to your group (up to 12 people), the pace and focus are entirely yours. Serious birders will find over 1,500 species accessible in the reserve. Wildlife photographers get close encounters with monkeys, sloths, macaws, river otters, and giant turtles. Families, couples, and solo travellers all book here: the youngest guests can join from age five when accompanied by a parent.
The Pacaya-Samiria Reserve is the key differentiator. Most lodges sit at the reserve’s outer boundary. Antares is closer to its heart, which translates directly into better wildlife sightings — including, for the very lucky, puma and jaguar.
Dates & Pricing
The tour runs year-round and is available on flexible start dates. Pricing starts at €1,168 per person in a private bungalow. A deposit of 14% is required to confirm your booking; the remainder is due 30 days before arrival. The deposit is non-refundable on cancellation.
What’s included: private English-speaking guide for your group, all activities you select with your guide, airport pickup and drop-off at Iquitos (IQT), transport by car and boat to the lodge, 5 nights in a private bungalow with private bathroom, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and bottled water, all equipment for included activities, and all applicable taxes.
Not included: flights to Iquitos, personal expenses, beverages other than water, flashlight, sunblock, binoculars, mosquito repellent, tips, handicrafts, hotel in Iquitos if needed before or after the tour, and the optional Ayahuasca ceremony (available at extra cost).
Location & How to Get There
The lodge is located on the black waters of the Pampa Caño creek, 116 km west of Iquitos in the Loreto region of Peru. There are no roads connecting Iquitos to the outside world — the only way in is by plane or river. Fly to Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport (IQT) in Iquitos; airport transfers are included. From the airport, a car takes you to the port of Nauta (1.5 hours), and a boat then carries you upstream to the lodge (1–2 hours). The boat uses a smaller, quieter motor to avoid disturbing wildlife along the creek.
The lodge sits next to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, the largest protected area in Peru and the second largest in South America. It is home to more than 1,000 bird species, 102 mammal species, 69 reptile species, and over 250 species of fish — numbers that make most other wildlife destinations on Earth look modest.
Why Book Through Us?
Antares Amazon Lodge is one of the most distinctive properties we feature — a genuinely remote, privately guided Amazon experience with no hidden markups. You pay the same price as booking direct. We earn a commission from the operator, not from you, which means our incentive is to recommend trips worth taking. If you have questions before booking, the lodge’s team responds in English and is available via the booking platform.
