Iquitos can be a fantastic city to visit at all times of the year.
As there are some differences depending on your month of travel, we will mention some of the main points.
For example, if you’re sensitive to hot temperatures you may want to miss the hottest months. These are usually September, October and November.
Note that most people find these months an enjoyable time to visit. On average, temperature in the day goes up to around 32°C (90°F) and falls back down to about 22°C (72°F) at night.
There is a slight difference between the wetter and drier months. But this is only by one or two degrees with the wetter season being slightly hotter.
The temperature is usually pleasant from day to day and warms to its daily maximum around noon. This means you can enjoy some of the top Iquitos Amazon River tours at all times of year.
When you’re in Iquitos, you will be in the tropics. This means there isn’t the normal cycle of seasons. And instead you will experience just a wet and dry season. But if you want to get really accurate, there isn’t even a dry season.
As a tropical area, the water is drawn up into the clouds throughout the morning (mid-morning convection). This drops back down to earth in the late afternoon and sometimes throughout the night. The rain usually clears up by the following morning for a sunny day.
Iquitos Rainy Season
As Iquitos is a rainforest city, the rain can get intense over certain months. Although, as mentioned, it is usually restricted to only part of the day.
You will find most of the day warm and sunny.
The wetter season in Iquitos is between October/November and May/June (receiving around 300 mm of rain each month). The wettest of these months is usually April with a 50% chance of rain in the afternoon.
This means the drier season in Iquitos is between April/May and September/October. The driest period is usually around August or September when you can expect a 30% chance of rain.
The locals refer to two types of rain. One only lasts for a short time and is intense and heavy. And the other is soft and lasts for a lot longer.
If you’re walking around the city, you will see the locals simply waiting under storefront balconies to find shelter during the rain. They then resume what they were doing when the rain stops. This is a nice time to socialize with Iquitos residents and to see who is out and about.
Tourist Season & Festivals
Iquitos is busiest with tourists for rainforest tours during the December holidays. March is also a busy month, which is in the wetter season. Visitor numbers peak again during the drier season between June and August.
The main festival in Iquitos is the San Juan Festival. This happens from June 22nd to June 25th with the most activity on the 24th. This is to celebrate the birthday of John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista), the Patron Saint of the Amazon.
Best Lodge from Iquitos for Seeing Wildlife
Our favorite lodge from Iquitos for seeing the most animals and plants is the Tahuayo Lodge.
The lodge provides almost exclusive access to the biodiverse Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Reserve. You will also enjoy a custom itinerary and a professional private guide as standard.
For the Iquitos Amazon, this is our personal favorite as you will visit two deep Amazon lodges on tours of 6 days or more. These are the main Tahuayo Lodge & the Tahuayo River Amazon Research Center (ARC).
To learn more, click the video introduction below.
With the private guide and custom itinerary, you get to focus on your interests or enjoy a general rainforest tour.
The lodge is owned and operated by a mixed American / Peruvian family. And money from tourism helps support local communities.
The lodge is Rainforest Alliance certified. Owing to the wildlife and guides, the lodge has also been featured in National Geographic and Outpost Magazine.
To check availability, send your travel dates directly to the lodge using the tour bubble below.
The Tahuayo Lodge
Iquitos, PeruFrom the Tahuayo Lodge, you will explore the Amazon Rainforest’s wildlife-rich Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Reserve with a private guide on a
Best Time for Animals and Amazon Tours
To see the most animals and plants, it’s best to visit an Amazon Rainforest lodge over 100 km from Iquitos.
A recommended example is the Tahuayo Lodge mentioned above.
Because the rainforest is disturbed near a city, animals head deeper into the forest. The diversity is incredible if you venture farther from the city. This is where you can see many animals and plants. See several different monkeys, fascinating reptiles and many colorful birds. You will also find interesting plants and giant rainforest trees.
Wildlife-watching can be better in the dry season. However, the wetter months (October/November to May/June) are when many plants and trees drop their fruit. The ripe fruit attracts animals like monkeys and birds. The animals are then more easily found feeding on the seasonal fruit buffet.
The months with the most fruit are from January to April. This is also when the forest blooms with attractive flowers. The best time to see the most plants in flower in the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Reserve is between January and June.
If you’re interested in hiking, the best time of year will be the drier season. This is when trails are less muddy. However, there will be less canoeing opportunities.
The lowest water months are from May/June to October/November. The high water months are from October/November to May/June. And the highest water is between March & April. Canoeing is best done in the high water months as you can visit some of the harder to reach places.
Different activities are better at different times of the year. This means there is always something to do in Iquitos and in the surrounding rainforest.
However, if you have certain activities in mind, we recommend contacting the tour using their page on TourTheTropics.com.
Recommended cruises to enjoy the Amazon Rainforest from Iquitos include the Delfin II and the Delfin III. Both vessels offer a very comfortable rainforest experience.
For more information, you can click the tour bubbles below to check availability for your travel dates direct with the cruise.
The Delfin II
Iquitos, PeruThe Delfin II Luxury Amazon Cruise begins near Iquitos from the small town of Nauta. You will be transported in
The Delfin III
Iquitos, PeruThe Delfin III provides a luxury cruise of the Amazon River. The vessel features hardwood floors, designer furniture and is
The Best Time To Visit Iquitos Graphic
When to visit Iquitos • in/°F | mm/°C
For more information, you can see the Iquitos Travel Guide.
Other Considerations for When To Visit
Walking trails during the dry season are not as muddy and there is less chance of certain activities being postponed due to rain.
The tradeoff of the drier season is that you experience hotter weather. There are fewer tourists in the wetter season and you may find it easier to find amphibians and reptiles.
The weather and temperature changes depending on where you visit. If you’re planning on visiting Cusco as well as Iquitos, you can see the best time to visit Peru or when to go to Machu Picchu.
