Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport: where to…

Iquitos is the largest city in the world with no roads connecting it to the rest of the country: you can only get there by air or by river, and Francisco Secada Vignetta airport is 7-8 km from downtown, 15-20 minutes by taxi. Those staying in the city find the historic centre on the Malecón convenient, steps from the Plaza de Armas; those in Iquitos only as a jumping-off point for the jungle can skip the city altogether and carry on by boat to a lodge on the Amazon, where the river transfer alone can take hours.

Centre and Malecón

Neighbourhood · 15-20 minutes by taxi from the airport for 7-8 km.

Best for: Those who want the Malecón Tarapacá, the Plaza de Armas and the Belén market within walking distance before or after a jungle excursion.

Pros

Malecón on the Amazon river, Casa de Fierro and the floating Belén market within walking distance
The handiest base for arranging a jungle excursion from the city's port

Cons

Heat and humidity make walking hard going during the middle of the day
Downtown has little to do with the jungle experience that brings most travellers to Iquitos

Recommended hotels in this area

DoubleTree By Hilton Iquitos: Formerly the Dorado Plaza, reopened after a multimillion-dollar renovation on Jr. Napo 258: 2 minutes on foot from the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral, the only international hotel in the old town.

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Lodge deep in the Amazon

Neighbourhood · From the port of Iquitos the Muyuna Lodge is reached in about 3 hours by boat going 140 km upriver on the Amazon; all-inclusive packages include the river transfer to and from the airport or the port.

Best for: Those with more days available who want to sleep in the forest, not in the city: pink dolphins, piranhas and nights without widespread electric light.

Pros

Watching pink dolphins, piranhas and Amazon wildlife directly from the lodge, with no need for further travel
All-inclusive packages covering meals, guided excursions and the river transfer from the airport

Cons

The boat transfer alone takes half a day, to be budgeted separately from the flight
Not an option for a mere layover or short stop: it needs at least 2-3 nights to make sense

Recommended hotels in this area

Amazon Muyuna Lodge - All Inclusive: In the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Communal Reserve, 140 km and about 3 hours upriver by boat on the Amazon from Iquitos; multi-day packages with meals, guides and excursions included, built for those who want the real jungle, not a day trip.

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