Plaza de Armas de Iquitos is an important landmark for visitors. Concerts, festivals, craft fairs, outdoor activities and walks take place here; the event schedule may vary. Excursions to other attractions in the region can be arranged from the plaza. If you’d first like to get your bearings at a specific location, the square is a good starting point for exploring Iquitos.

Waterfront, rivers and views

Malecón Tarapacá is an urban waterfront promenade in Iquitos on the Amazon. You can book boat trips on the Amazon from there; operators and availability may change. If a trip is important to your plans, check the current options in advance. The promenade and a boat trip offer different perspectives on the river: one from the city’s waterfront, the other while traveling on the Amazon.

The Río Itaya also features at prominent locations around the city. Ex Hotel Palace is an Art Nouveau building in central Iquitos; the top floor has a viewpoint offering panoramic views of the Río Itaya. Museo Histórico Barco Ayapua is also located on the riverbank, at Plaza Ramón Castilla. Its ten exhibition halls feature historical objects such as naval uniforms, telescopes, compasses and furniture. This distinguishes two connections to the rivers: Malecón is on the Amazon, while the viewpoint at Ex Hotel Palace looks out over the Río Itaya.

Architecture and local cuisine

Casa de Fierro is a historic prefabricated iron structure in the historic center of Iquitos. It houses a restaurant on the second floor, where visitors can enjoy local cuisine and take in views of the city. As operating details may change, it’s a good idea to check them before visiting.

Casona Fitzcarraldo is a house from the rubber boom era in the Iquitos district and offers a dining experience featuring traditional Peruvian cuisine with international influences. Both places combine architecture with dining, but emphasize different things: at Casa de Fierro, the city view is part of the restaurant visit, while Casona Fitzcarraldo focuses on combining different culinary influences.

Museums and collections

Museo Amazónico houses 32 fiberglass sculptures of Indigenous people from the Peruvian jungle, as well as archaeological artifacts. Museo de Culturas Indígenas Amazónicas displays Indigenous jewelry, old everyday objects, pre-Columbian musical instruments, featherwork and ceremonial objects. The collections therefore offer a range of different objects, from archaeological artifacts to musical instruments and ceremonial items.

The history of Iquitos and the rubber boom era are also museum themes: Casa Morey serves as a museum and features artifacts and exhibitions on these subjects. Admission conditions may change; check them in advance if you’re planning a visit. Together with the collections at Museo Amazónico and Museo de Culturas Indígenas Amazónicas, Casa Morey offers another perspective on the city’s history.

Religious traditions and recurring events

Iglesia Matriz de Iquitos is a historically and architecturally significant Catholic place of worship in the Peruvian Amazon region. Masses, religious celebrations, weddings, baptisms and Catholic festivities take place there throughout the year; dates may vary. One specific date on the annual calendar is Fiesta de San Juan: it takes place every year on June 24 in honor of San Juan Bautista, the patron saint of Iquitos. The program may vary. If you’d like to plan your trip around a celebration, check the dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Iquitos, Maynas.

For the main travel overview: Loreto.