This post is so long due! In this blog, I’m going to share our daily excursions in the Amazon Rainforest in Iquitos, Peru. We went on this trip from July 8 to July 11, 2019. Click here to read about our experience staying with Libertad Jungle Lodge. This lodge is one of the few places that offers private tour experience around the Amazon Rainforest in Iquitos, Peru. If you decide to go to Iquitos, I highly recommend it!
If you’re planning to visit Peru in the future, click here to read about our 10 day itinerary! I also posted a video of our time in the Amazon Rainforest:
Day 1 – Arrive at Libertad Jungle Lodge + Pink Dolphin sighting
We took an early morning flight from Lima to Iquitos around 9am. A tour guide from Libertad Jungle Lodge was there to meet us. After around 3 hours of travelling by car and then by boat, we finally arrived around lunch time. After lunch we went on our first excursion, Pink Dolphin sighting! We saw many dolphins actively swimming in the river, trying to catch fish.
Caiman sighting at night
We rode the motorboat out onto the Ucayali river after dinner. I still remember everything was so dark and quiet, that I could see the fireflies flying near the bushes. Our amazing guide, Remigo, has eyes of an eagle. He tried to show us how to spot caimans. The eyes of a caiman reflect light at night and you will see their eyes shine dimly. We found a couple of baby caimans!
Day 2 – Hiking in the Amazon Jungle
We rode on our little green motor boat and went deeper into the jungle today. Since it is dry season, we were able to explore many areas on foot. We spotted so many different wild animals along the way. We also got stuck in this huge mud puddle as we were walking. My leg sunk into the puddle up to my knees and my boot was completely soaked with water. Thank goodness for Remigo and Diego for saving us.
Beautiful caterpillar 
This frog camouflaged so well!
Fishing for piranhas
We went back to our lodge for lunch, and then went out again for fishing! Our first fishing experience and we are fishing for piranhas. It definitely requires patience, but I believe we had beginner’s luck since we managed to catch quite a few! We brought it back to our lodge and the kitchen staff fried the piranhas for dinner. I thought they were too bony to eat though.
Tarantula sighting at night
After dinner, we walked out into the community and walked into the nearby jungle. There, we sighted a few tarantulas climbing the trees. Interesting fact: Tarantulas build their nests underground near the trees.
Day 3 – Full day Amazon rainforest excursion- Spotting Monkeys and other wildlife
We went deep into the jungle today since it is a full day of activities without returning to the lodge. We did more hiking and fishing during the day. Remigo and Diego packed ingredients on the go so they can cook lunch in the jungle. Here are some wildlife that I managed to capture with my camera during the day.
We also spotted Macaws but I wasn’t able to photograph them. After dinner at the lodge, we went out during the night for Boa sighting! I remember riding on the motor boat in the middle of the river, and it was very dark. Suddenly, Remigo turned the boat and we went towards the jungle. Somehow, Remigo was able to spot this little baby boa hanging on the branches.
Day 4 morning – Meeting a Sloth + going to Cuzco
So this is definitely a highlight moment of the trip, meeting my favourite animal!! We woke up at 6am and visited an Amazonian family. This family rescues sloths from eagles and later releases them back into the wild. We were able to meet this little cutie. He was 14 years old. Interesting fact: The orange mark on its back indicates that it is a male.
We returned to the lodge in time for breakfast. After that, it was time to say goodbye and catch our morning flight to Cuzco.
That concludes our 4 day experience in the Amazon! These four days in the jungle were definitely eye opening and I am ever so grateful to see so many wild animals in their natural habitat. It is in our hands to ensure their safety and protect this ecosystem. I left a piece of me in the Amazon rainforest, both literally and figuratively. My favourite straw hat fell into the river on our way back 🙁 So it’s somewhere at the bottom of the Amazon river now. I highly recommend visiting the Amazon if you’re up for an adventure 🙂
Thank you for reading and feel free to leave me a comment below!
Janice
P.S: Amazon rainforest: Iquitos VS. Puerto Maldonado
For those who are planning to visit the Amazon rainforest, there are two entry points to the Amazon rainforest in Peru: Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado. Iquitos is closer to Lima, and Puerto Maldonado is to the South, closer to Cuzco. I know I had a hard time deciding between both locations. The main difference for me was Iquitos is located right on the Amazon river and you can spot pink dolphins. However, I heard Puerto Maldonado is less well-developed so you can easily spot many wild animals without going deep into the jungle. Click here to read more in details! I found this blog quite helpful.
In the end, the key to having a good experience is to choose a jungle lodge that will best suit your needs! So make sure to do your research!