Heliconia Amazon River Lodge in Iquitos 3 or 4 days
Amazing Amazon – Heliconia Amazon River Lodge in Iquitos , north Peru
3 Days/ 2 Nights
Your expedition to the Amazon River offers a rare opportunity to see a totally different world, very detached from urban development where you will discover an astounding sphere of sheer nature and an effervescent biodiversity of flora and fauna. To help you experience an astounding Amazon Adventure and make your enchanting rain-forest foray worth its while, we have prepared this suggested itinerary for a short stay.
DAY 1 Lima / Iquitos / Heliconia Amazon River Lodge (L,D)
During the boat ride observe the noticeable convergence of the brown turbid waters of the Amazon River with the dark waters of the Nanay River. Enjoy the impressive jungle landscapes with the rustic small houses of the riverside towns.Then have a short stopover in Monkey Island (in dry season you will visit Fundo Pedrito), a family social enterprise focused on conserving and protecting endangered monkey species in the Northern Amazon. The goal is to enlighten rainforest guests on the effort to reintegrate monkeys and their survival in the wild. See the monkeys free in this reserve, not in cages. Their temporary stay here depends on their capability to adapt back to its jungle habitat.
After a 60 minute boat ride arrive at the Lodge where our staff will welcome you with an exotic jungle drink. Then check-in and settle in your room, at your leisure. Afterward taste your first Amazonia cuisine lunch.In the afternoon, begin your first excursion: set out to a jungle hike into the Yanamono primary rainforest reserve, for approximately two hours accompanied by our expert guides. They will point out and identify several flora species such as heliconia flowers,
medicinal plants and giant trees. You will also have the chance to sight several birds species such as the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes Aura), Black Fronted Nanbird (Monasa-Atia), And with a little luck you will be able to view a family of small monkeys such as marmosets (Saguinus Fusicollis), the Titi (Callicebus Mollock Mollock) and the squirrel monkey (Saimiri Boliviense).
Return to the lodge for rest and relaxation and be enthralled by your first, must-not-miss Amazon Sunset. As the darkness of evening comes around, take a boat ride along one of the Amazon River’s tributaries for an exciting evening in the jungle. With no lights, the jungle flora and fauna sparkle along the river’s edge. Your expert boat guide to take you to where you can appreciate and listen to the magical sounds of the jungle. If it is a clear night, you will see the bright magnificent moonlight, as well as observe the stars and constellations. With some luck you can also see some falling stars which are quite common in the area. Then motor back to the Lodge to rest and relax for an early wake up the next day.
DAY 2 Heliconia Amazon River Lodge (B,L,D)
Rise early for the Morning Bird Watching to see the birds flocked together during their morning feeding time, You will start very early going by boat to one of the several streams to look out for a number of variety of Amazon birds. You will be looking out for birds such as the Tuki(Jacana Jacana), Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle-Torquata), Black-Collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis), among others. Thereafter, you will return to the lodge, for a scrumptious and energizing breakfast.
Take a little rest, and then you will visit a riverside village to see an indigenous tribe of the Yaguas community where you will have the opportunity to learn and see their way of life along the Amazon River. See their homes, school, church, shops. Interact with the people, learn their techniques of fishing and farming. Observe their customs and tradition, and get enlightened by their unaffected and austere way of living.
In the afternoon, you will set off to a Native Fishing expedition unto one of the small tributaries of the Amazon River. Learn the local techniques of fishing and for the most daring you can try to fish for Piranhas. If you are lucky you have your catch cooked for lunch, when you return to the Lodge. During this excursion you can also have the opportunity to look out for the Pink River Dolphin (Inia Geoffrensis). Return to the Lodge for lunch.
In the evening, consider the Night Hike. Go on an enchanting evening trek within the secure periphery of the Lodge and you will witness the entrancing transformation from daytime to a night atmosphere. As you adjust to the dark environment you will appreciate the rainforest takes on a very different character and be aware of the existence and habits of nocturnal jungle animals. It’s the best time to see stunning tree frogs, shy snakes, and other rainforest creatures that only come out at night. Notice a range of completely distinctive fauna from the day as you listen to magical sounds of insects, birds, jungle cats and night owls. After 30 minutes of hike we back to the Lodge for Dinner.
DAY 3 Native Community Immersion in a Riverside Town (B,L,D)
Enjoy a delicious breakfast before we will board the boat towards a lake in Yanamono Island where you will be able to glimpse the Giant Water Lily, the Victoria Regia, the “Queen of water lilies”. Now renamed Victoria Amazonica, these native flora in the shallow waters of the Amazon River basin are mostly found in oxbow lakes and bayous. You may see some flowers that are white as they bloom on the first night some that have turned pink on the second night after blooming. They can grow to 40 cm in diameter, and are pollinated by scarab beetles. Victoria Amazonica is well known for its huge circular leaves, which are often pictured with a small child sitting at the center of its leaf to display their size and strength. Return to the Lodge for lunch and check-out. After lunch, depending on your flight schedule, transfer to Iquitos City and according to your departure, transfer to the airport.
Important notes
*Meet our driver in his booth # 5 at the luggage claim area.
*Our Programs may vary according to flight arrival / departure changes or weather conditions.
*For this program we recommend to take morning flights to Iquitos and your returning flight to Lima in the afternoon.
*Departures from Iquitos to Heliconia Lodge: just in the morning ( max. 10:00 am)
*Departures from Heliconia Lodge to Iquitos is at 14:00 pm
*Check in: 13:00 pm / Check out: 12:00 pm
What to wear
It is important that you bring only necessary clothing and travel gear to the lodge. Due to weight and space limitations on the domestic flight and on the boat to the Lodge, passenger luggage is limited to 10 kg. (22 lbs.) per person. You may store some of your luggage in our office in Iquitos City and take only the most essential during your stay.
*Light cotton clothes, pants and long sleeve shirts (preferably in earth colors: olive green, light brown/khakis of light, breathable, quick-dry material; please avoid using white color in the jungle)
*Hiking boots or walking tennis shoes resistant to humidity; cotton socks.
*Bathing suit
*A light water proof parka jacket, raincoat or sweater (when the temperature goes down considerably or when it rains)
What to bring:
*Hat / Cap (preferably with large visor)
*Sunscreen / Sunblock.
*Insect Repellent (with DEET)
*Sunglasses.
*Personal Medicines /medications; first-aid kit
*Flashlight
*Binoculars
*Portable converter, rechargeable batteries, electrical adaptor for your charger
*Camera with big memory card; preferably in waterproof case.
NOTE: When visiting Monkey Island, it is recommended not to put on any insect repellent during the visit.
- Additional services available upon request.
- Check-in 1:00 p.m. /Check-out 12:00m
- Children under 05 years old pay only 20% from adult rate according the program selected.
- Children between 05 and 12 years old pay only 70% from adult rate according the program selected.
- Children share room with their parents.
- Round trip transportation by land and river (Airport / Lodge /Airport).
- Overnight at Heliconia Amazon River Lodge.
- Fullboard.
- House beverages during meals.
- English and Spanish interpreter services.
- Programmed excursions.
- Basic equipment for each activity.
- Airfare and local airport taxes.
- Travel insurance.
- Personal expenses and tips.
Introduction
Heliconia Amazon River Lodge, named like that because of the beautiful tropical flower: Heliconia, is one of the most exclusives lodges in the Peruvian Amazon. It is surrounded the rainforest, islands and lagoons full of wildlife. This is a beautiful place to rest and make many activities like bird watching, observation of pink dolphins, jungle hikes, etc.
Location and Access
Heliconia Amazon River is located on the banks of the majestic Amazon river (margin left side) in Yanamono’s Communal Reserve, to 80 km away (50 miles away) from Iquitos City. Reserve that deserved the recognition to possess the most quantity of arboreal species in this part of Amazon jungle. This recognition and the characteristics of Yanamono’s Ecosystem commitment us to protect each portion of this jungle with daily sustainable work with the local communities.
To access this place, you must fly to Iquitos from Lima on a daily commercial flight that lasts 90 minutes. From the airport you will be transported to the port of Bellavista, where you will board our speed boat and take a ride for an 1 hour and 15 minutes downstream of the Amazon River
Facilities and rooms
Our lodge facilities were built with friendly criteria to the environment and always complying with safety standards, a key aspect of our business. The Lodge has a traditional and rustic design of the houses in the Amazon River and was built on stilts by the proficient teachers of Yanamono Community
The Lodge is an eight-building complex, four of them belonging to rooms, the loby / Bar, dining room, kitchen, pool area and other common areas. The roof of the lodge is built entirely using branches of palm leaves called “crisnejas” while the floors in the common areas are wooden, the floor in the bedrooms are tiles *.
The twenty-one rooms, restaurant, lobby/bar and hammock bungalow are completely protected by screens(prevents the entry of mosquitoes) and connected by corridors roofed with palm leaves
The twin, double and family rooms are spacious and comfortable. The walls dividing each room were built using a combination of native wood with dry wall, and also have ceilings that provide privacy for each room. The side that overlooks the forest and gardens has terraces (where hammocks are located) or 2 large windows on each side keeping the rooms ventilated. All rooms have private bathrooms and hot water for showers which is supplied by the Amazon River previously crystallized chlorinated
The rooms are not soundproof
(*) By now only in 7 family rooms, the rest is being remodeled
Food
At Heliconia Logde we provide our guests with three meals a day
The buffet service at the lodge is available for no less than 10 guests. Otherwise the food service will be served directly to each table and the meals consist of salads, a main course and deserts combining the regional Peruvian and international cuisine. We also offer bottled water, coffee or tea and refreshments during each meal.
The additional requests for refreshments, fruit juice, bottled water and sodas will be charged.
We recommend you inform prior to your arrival of any food dietary restrictions, allergies or special diets to program inputs before arriving at the lodge. To families with children we recommend you get in touch with the administrator to make any food arrangements.
Lighting and Electricity
The electric generator (completely encapsulated) is used for short periods: 2 hours in the morning and approximately 5 hours at night. Use this time to charge your batteries and/or electronic devices.
From 10:00 pm. to 6:00am Heliconia lodge is lit by the dim and romantic light of kerosene lamps providing a magical atmosphere to the place. We recommend that you bring a good flashlight to move through the corridors of the Lodge, if you wish.
Electricity: 220V* 60 Hz – Type A outlet
Communication
During your stay at the lodge you may still have signal for your Movistar cell phone and occasionally Claro cell phone, but we suggest you turn it off. We do not have public phones or internet.
