Discover Loreto

Explore Loreto through a range of travel interests: protected landscapes and outdoor activities sit alongside museums and historic buildings in Iquitos. Destinations also include water-based experiences, from a warm bathing pool to trips on the Río Amazonas. When planning, it is worth keeping each destination’s focus and specific visitor requirements in mind.

Protected Areas, Trails, and Wildlife

The Reserva Nacional Pacaya-Samiria extends across the provinces of Alto Amazonas, Ucayali, Loreto, and Requena in the Departamento de Loreto. To visit, you must use the services of tour operators authorized by SERNANP or local tourism groups. Check the current visitor arrangements before your trip.

At the Reserva Nacional Allpahuayo Mishana, endemic species are associated with the white-sand Varillal forests. Two routes there offer different experiences: the Ruta de la Biodiversidad in the district of San Juan Bautista offers birdwatching and hiking. The Ruta Nanay offers these activities as well, along with recreational fishing, boat trips, and opportunities to observe flora and fauna. When comparing activities, the Ruta Nanay therefore offers additional options beyond hiking and birdwatching.

Six primate species are undergoing rehabilitation on the Isla de los Monos. The visitor and interpretation center provides information about primate conservation and briefs visitors on interaction and hygiene procedures before the tour. The Parque Turístico de Quistococha in the district of San Juan Bautista has a zoo featuring animals and birds characteristic of the region. The park also includes Tunchi Playa, an artificial white-sand beach.

Water Destinations and Planning Your Time

At Aguas Calientes in the district of Contamana, a warm pool used by bathers forms where hot and cold water meet. The water experience at Catarata Lágrimas de Amor in the district of Contamana is different: the waterfall is in the Zona Reservada Sierra del Divisor, drops about 100 meters, and forms a small pool where visitors can bathe. The round trip follows a trail and passes through a ravine with cold water. The 3.5-kilometer round trip is estimated to take about three hours, so plan your time accordingly.

Museums and Architectural History in Iquitos

The Museo de Culturas Indígenas Amazónicas is dedicated to preserving, exhibiting, and sharing the cultural diversity of Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Its collection includes artifacts, musical instruments, weapons, funerary urns, and crowns. The Museo Amazónico in Iquitos houses 32 fiberglass sculptures of Indigenous people from the Peruvian rainforest. It also has three galleries with monthly rotating exhibitions. Educational workshops for children, talks on environmental protection, and temporary exhibitions are held occasionally; check current listings for specific events.

The Casa de Fierro, also known as Casa Eiffel or Casa de Hierro, is a historic prefabricated iron structure in Iquitos. The second floor houses a restaurant serving local cuisine, and the building is also used for cultural events and exhibitions. Check the building’s current use and accessibility before visiting.

The Museo Histórico Barco Ayapua in Iquitos is a museum ship built in Hamburg in 1906. It is 33 meters long and 5 meters wide, and has ten exhibition rooms containing various antiques. The details of its construction date, dimensions, and rooms offer visitors a distinctive historical and spatial perspective within the city’s cultural attractions.

River Trips and Regional Wildlife

The Acuario del Amazonas in Loreto features, among other species, the arapaima, also known as pirarucu, giant stingrays, electric eels, and around 120 regional ornamental fish species. The Río Amazonas also offers a distinctive perspective on the destination: boat trips, motorboat trips, and canoe trips are possible on the river in the Loreto region, as are journeys aboard medium-sized cruise ships. The watercraft mentioned range from smaller boats to medium-sized cruise ships.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Francisco De Orellana, Santa Fe, Mazán, Tamshiyacu, San Jerónimo, Iquitos, Paraíso, Puritania, San Regis, Nauta, Yarina, Sucusari, Shapajilla, Pucate, Maynas, Lagunas, Puerto Pardo, Yurimaguas, Arica.

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