Hotels of Iquitos Peru; Reviews, Rates, Recommendations
Hotels of Iquitos Peru; Reviews, Rates, Recommendations
I am asked for recommendations about hotels in Iquitos Peru nearly every day. This article should be a valuable resource for travelers to Iquitos. I have listed the benefits and the prices of the hotels I recommend.
Prices range from $5 to $250, and fluctuate with the exchange rate, the season, promotions, supply and demand, and sometimes the whims of the owners.
At some hotels, you can negotiate a discount. It won’t hurt to ask. The lowest rates can usually be negotiated from November to May.
A lot of this information comes from my personal experiences and opinions, from the experiences and opinions of my friends, and from guests who have stayed at the hotels reviewed here.
If a hotel or hostel is in this list you can consider it a recommendation within the hotel’s price range and your budget. If the price is under $20 do not expect hot water and air conditioning. If you require hot water and air conditioning you will not be happy with the low price choices. If you are on a tight budget, you will not be happy with the El Dorado Plaza, or the Victoria Regia. Please choose accordingly. Don’t say, “I can not believe Bill recommended this hotel. It doesn’t have a pool.”
I love Iquitos Peru, and want to share that love with you. I always recommend my guests schedule at least one day in Iquitos before their Amazon cruise or Jungle Cabin adventure and at least one day after we return. That usually means hotel rooms. If you choose Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises for your Amazon adventure, we will make the reservations at the hotel of your choice for you.
The Iquitos Peru Hotel Reviews, Rates, Benefits, and Recommendations
Listed by price, not strength of recommendation
El Dorado Plaza, Napo #252, $150 single, $180 double or matrimonial, $250 Junior suite, the only 5 star hotel in Iquitos, very nice, excellent breakfast, fancy swimming pool with fountain, and water fall. Well located on the Plaza de Armas, one and a half blocks to the river and boulevard, two blocks to our Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises office. The El Dorado Plaza is the best and most expensive hotel in Iquitos. Airport pick-up and delivery included. I like Francisco Grippa’s art on display in the lobby.
El Dorado Hotel, Napo #362, $ 73 single, $83 double, sister hotel to the El Dorado Plaza, continental breakfast and airport pick up included. A half block to the Plaza de Armas, two and a half blocks to the river and boulevard. I stayed here. I like the swimming pool and Francisco Grippa’s art on display in the lobby, but I consider this hotel to be over priced. Be sure to negotiate a discount.
Victoria Regia, Ricardo Palma #252, $66 single, $77 double, $90.20 junior suit $127.60 Deluxe Suit. Well run, arguably the best hotel over all for the price, comfortable rooms, air conditioning, hot water, nice swimming pool, buffet breakfast, complimentary airport pickup and delivery, fairly quiet, but not as well located, 8 blocks from the Plaza, 10 blocks from the Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises office, 4 blocks from the river and boulevard. I have stayed here many times. It is the best hotel in Iquitos for the price.
Acosta, Huallaga # 254, $44 single, $55 double, same family owns and operates it as the Victoria Regia, very well run, air conditioning, hot water, beautiful lobby with fresh bouquets, continental breakfast, complimentary airport pick up, noisy, ask for a room in the back, two blocks from the Plaza de Armas, 4 blocks from our office, 3 blocks from the river and boulevard. I have had friends stay here. The rooms are comfortable. I like the lobby décor, the heliconia and ginger bouquets. It might be the best hotel for the price if a swimming pool is not important to you.
La Casa Fitzcarraldo, Avenida La Marina #2153, not really a hotel, rather a large famous house with possibly the best pool and jungle garden in Iquitos. It is certainly the only place with a three story tree house. It is the house that Warner Hertzog and Walter Saxer bought for a home base to produce the most famous movie made in Iquitos, Fitzcarraldo, considered by many to be the most difficult movie ever made. Marmelita and I lived here for several months. There are a lot of good things about La Casa Fitzcarraldo, but it is a 10 minute moto-kar ride from the Plaza de Armas and our office. If getting away from the hustle and noise of the city center sounds good to you, I recommend it. Cost $44.
Hotel Marañon, Located on the corner of Fitzcarrald and Nauta # 285-289, $36 single, $44 double or matrimonial, $56 triple, air conditioning, hot water, swimming pool, continental breakfast, airport pick-up. Well located two blocks from the river and boulevard, one block from the Plaza de Armas, rooms on the street side are noisy; rooms facing the pool are quieter. Arguably the best value, considering the pool, location, and price. Reservations recommended.
Hotel Doral Inn, Raymondi #220, $35 single, $45 double, $60 triple, includes continental breakfast and pick up from the airport. The top floor is an observation tower, the floor below is a roof top patio occasionally used for parties. The lobby and rooms are small; the rooms to the back are quieter. Well located a block and a half from the Plaza de Armas and the boulevard.
Hotel Safari, Napo #118, $32 single, $45 double or matrimonial, price includes continental breakfast. The Safari is only a few yards from the boulevard, and one block from the Plaza de Armas. The matrimonial rooms have a view of the river. The Safari was completely remodeled in 2006-2007, so it is practically new.
Hotel Ambassador, Pevas #260, $24 single, $37 double or matrimonial, $49 triple, includes continental breakfast. I do not have any personal experience with the Ambassador, but a friend of mine always stays there and likes it, so I include it on his recommendation. The Ambassador is two and a half blocks from the Plaza de Armas, and the boulevard.
Hostal El Colibri, $13 single, $16 matrimonial, private bath rooms, safe, clean, affordable, fairly quiet, well located, you can choose to pay extra for hot water, and air conditioning, no complimentary breakfast. El Colibri is located right around the corner from the Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises office, half block from the river, and boulevard, one block from the Plaza de Armas. I frequently recommend this hostel to my guests.
Hospedaje La Pascana, Pevas # 133-A, $11 single, $15 double, $18, triple. Well located on a quiet street that ends at the river. Three blocks to the Plaza de Armas, two blocks from the Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises office, and the boulevard. The two best features are the quiet tropical garden every room faces and opens on to, and the nice family who owns the hostel. They will help you with nearly everything you will need. I lived here for several months. If you are on a budget, and are staying for a month or more ask for the monthly rate, it is a small discount that helps makes La Pascana a good choice.
Hobo Hideout, Putumayo # 437, budget alternative three blocks from the main square. The rooms to the back are the quietest, $7 dormitory bed, $13 double, $18, matrimonial. The Hobo Hideout is a good choice for outdoors people, fishermen and hunters on a budget. The décor tends toward a hunter’s den, with pet parrots and macaws, snake skins, animal hides, trophy fish, etc.
Mad Mick’s Trading Post and Bunkhouse, #163-202 Putumayo, up the stairs, $5 bunk bed, dormitory style. Well located a half block from the Plaza de Armas, half block from the river and boulevard, two blocks from the Dawn on the Amazon Tours and Cruises office. I know this place well. Mad Mick’s is the most secure place to stay on a tight budget. Be sure to bring your own lock for the security box. Mad Mick is actually Mike Collis, owner and editor of the Iquitos Times
There are many more hotels and hostels that are not mentioned here, either because I do not know them, do not like them, or because I do not consider their location to be favorable for most travelers.
I stayed at the Real Iquitos over a decade ago. It has fallen on hard times, but is still an interesting place, with huge rooms, a view of the river, and a great location.
I lived at the Posada Del Lobo, Cabo Pantoja 417, for six months. It has a nice pool, friendly staff, nice owners, but is a 10 minute moto-kar ride from the city center.
The Parthenon and the Sol de Oriente are both fine hotels but not well located for most travelers. They have excellent swimming pools. The Sol de Oriente is the best hotel near the airport, and makes a good choice if your flight is delayed or canceled.
Posado Del Lobo, Oro Verde, Amazonas, Real Iquitos, Anaconda, Europa, Sandalo, Copoazu, Jhuliana all have their loyal guests.
I invite you to share your opinions and experiences about the hotels of Iquitos with us in the comments below this article.
I will update this article periodically as prices change and with new additions to the recommended list as you convince me with your comments.
Hotels of Iquitos Peru; Reviews, Rates, Recommendations
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Bill Grimes
Here are more links where you will find value;
Bill’s and Marmelita’s Favorite Restaurants in Iquitos, Peru
Navigating the Lima Airport and Arriving in Iquitos Peru
Geographic and Climatic Data for Iquitos Peru
Peruvian Cuisine with Dawn on the Amazon
To Answer the Questions You Should Ask Before Booking a Jungle Adventure
My favorite with the biggest bang for the buck has to be Victoria Regia. Remember that most of the prices mentioned here are there official rates and many of the hotels will drop there price as much as 50% if need be. Mention my name and I know the owner, Tito who speaks great english, will give you a discount.
Comment by David Volkmann — June 21, 2008 @ 12:57 pm