Amazon River Lodge
Discover Heliconia Lodge, one of the most exceptional lodges within the 40-hectare rainforest reserve at the Northen Peruvian Amazon. Experience authentic comfort during your rainforest amazon trip in Peru amidst the wildlife, islands and lagoons, a perfect place to begin your low impact Amazon adventure.
Explore the jungle on the Amazon tour in Peru and feel the wildlife first hand and appreciate the wonder of nature. Go trekking, birdwatching as well as looking our for pink dolphins.
Your expedition to the Heliconia Lodge 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 rainforest foray worth its while, we have prepared this suggested itinerary for a short stay.
The name Peruvian Amazonia comes from the river that runs through its territory (the Amazon). This river runs through three countries: Peru, Colombia and Brazil. The Mismi mountain peak in Arequipa is the source of the Amazon River. It discharges into the Atlantic Ocean in Amapá, Brazil. The Amazon River is 7,062 km long and between 1.6 and 10 km wide during the dry season and up to 48 km wide or more during the rainy season which makes it the largest river in the world. The river discharges in a wide estuary that is 240 km wide.
*The order and schedules of the excursions can be modified according to your guide, and as seen fit through coordination with the management by considering the physical condition of the passengers, and the climate of the moment.
You will be met and welcomed by our staff at the Luggage Claim area of the Iquitos Int’l Airport where our staff will assist you and transfer to our Office in Iquitos town proper. A briefing about our services, what to expect during your stay, the do’s and don’ts in the jungle and some essential tips will make your stay comfortable.Soon after, you will transfer to the Iquitos Port, where you will board one of our speedboats to take you to the Heliconia Amazon River Lodge along the Amazon River.
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.
Meals: Lunch and dinner
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.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
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.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
| Destination | Tourist | Superior tourist | Superior | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Peruvian Amazonia |
Heliconia Lodge |
Heliconia Lodge |
None |
None |
| Price per person: USD | 426 | 426 | 0 | 0 |
PRICES
All rates are expressed in US dollars, per person, based on double occupancy and are subject to change without notice.
ITINERARY
All our itineraries have been very carefully prepared taking your trip’s best operation into account. However, changing the order of some tours or routes might be necessary in some cases. Although these changes occur in few instances, the itinerary details should be taken as a basic guide.
AIR TICKETS
If Colourful Peru oversees buying and issuing local-flight tickets, their prices may vary until the date of the flight’s booking and payment. Furthermore, the airline might change the flight number as well as its departure hour.
Once the flight reservation and payment are made, the latter will not be reimbursable. Changes regarding name, flight, route, trip’s date or cancellations are not allowed.
Hotel reservations that are not part of an organized trip
Cancellations and Reimbursements
Booked trips
Cancellations and Reimbursements
(*) Note: some suppliers consider stricter cancellation conditions, consequently, they reserve the right to charge additional fees for other penalties in such cases.
Regarding the Inca Trail: the reserve is subject to its payment and there will not be reimbursements in case of cancellations, moreover, neither name nor date changes are allowed.
During peak season, the company reserves the right to change the cancellation regulations in case the suppliers apply other penalties or make the aforementioned changes.
LIABILITY
Live Corporation carries out your trip’s arrangements, books transfer services, hotel rooms or other travel services required on your behalf, consequently, the company takes no responsibility for the loss of items, flight or tours delays due to events of force majeure, accidents or other events.
Important!
Live Corporation disclaims any liability for medical conditions, pregnancy, mental or physical limitations that might put at risk the health or integrity of the passenger or third parties during the operation of the booked tours or that might jeopardize the trip’s progress. Therefore, the company will not be obliged to any refunds or to address claims regarding the aforementioned reasons, even when there are not noticeable problems in normal circumstances.
Given this, it is important for the passengers to inform the company whether there is any of the aforementioned impediments, so we can offer and suggest suitable services according to the existing limitations.
CLIMATE
The climate in Peru can be divided by zones: the western Andes that has a dry and cold climate in winter and its very rainy during the summer. The rainforest that has a hot, wet and rainy climate and the desert coast with a warm climate without regular rainfall.
The climate in Paracas varies according to the season. During summer, it is very hot and in winter the temperature decreases and there are strong winds so it is advisable to have a windbreaker at hand.
The average temperature in the Amazonia is 28 ºC. It has a tropical climate, hot, wet and rainy throughout the year. The heavy rainy season is from November to April, so we recommend being prepared.
TIME ZONE
Peru Time Zone according to Greenwich Mean Time is -5 (GMT -5), same as Bogotá and Mexico throughout the year and same as New York during summer. When it is midday in Peru the hour in the most important cities is:
| São Paulo | 14:00 |
| Frankfurt | 19:00 |
| Nueva York | 13:00 |
| Londres | 18:00 |
| Hong Kong | 01:00 + 1day |
| Singapur | 01:00 + 1day |
ALTITUDE
In Iquitos: 106 meters above sea level
WE RECOMMEND
HEALTH
The Peruvian Andes are at high altitudes, so it is necessary to take precautions to avoid altitude sickness or “soroche”. It is important to rest a few hours, to walk slowly and to eat light before beginning any tour. We also recommend drinking coca tea that helps with acclimatization. Even though water is potable in most cities, it is advisable to drink bottled water to avoid any problems.
VISA
To know if you need a visa to enter Peru, please go to the closest consulate since the requirement may vary at any moment. For more information, please go to:
Visa types to enter Peru
LANGUAGE
Peru’s official language is Spanish, which is spoken by 80% of the population. However, there is a large portion of the population that speaks Quechua and Aymara (especially in the Peruvian Andes). Moreover, we can find 55 dialects in the Amazonian rainforest.
ELECTRICAL CURRENT
Electricity in Peru is 220 Volts and 60 Hertz. In some hotels, you may find dual voltage outlets, however, we suggest checking your appliances’ voltage and take precautions by having a power adapter or converter.
PERUVIAN GASTRONOMY
During the last years, the Peruvian gastronomy has become famous because of its variety and exquisiteness. Among the most known dishes you can find the ceviche, a dish made of fish and seafood marinated in lemon juice.
The most important dishes in Iquitos are made of river fish, jerky, chonta or heart of the palm and typical fruits from the area such as cocona and camu camu.
Restaurants during your trip:
Iquitos: all meals will be provided by the lodge.
IMPORTANT
Colourful Peru reserves the right to make any changes without prior notice due to weather conditions, river levels, transport departures or arrivals, etc., to assure a better development of your trip’s operation.
FOR THE RAINFOREST
Yellow Fever Vaccine:
We recommend receiving the yellow fever vaccine at least 10 days before your arrival to the rainforest. It is a must to have the vaccination certificate during your trip.
IMPORTANT
We ask the visitors to carry hand-luggage that doesn’t exceed 15 kilos (32 pounds) since it will be carried by hand from the boats to their room.
Amazon River Lodge
Our team will be contacting you as soon as possible.