7-Day All Inclusive Guided Jungle Tour from Iquitos at Maniti Eco-Lodge

Disappointing jungle experience.

The lodge does not offer good value for money. The lodges are primitive, dirty, and run-down; the food was very monotonous—with little fresh produce. For a 7-day trip, the jungle here near Iquitos offers too little variety. Our guide Rene was very diligent.

via Tripadvisor (translated)

An Awesome trip

The trip was incredible! Our tour guide, Renee, was fantastic—kind and attentive to our needs as vegetarians. The meals were delicious, and the jungle was stunning. We had numerous excursions to choose from, allowing us to explore at our own pace. Camping in the jungle is a must; everyone we met was friendly and welcoming. This ranks among the most amazing trips I've experienced. I highly recommend the 7-day jungle tour for anyone seeking adventure and beautiful scenery. It’s a perfect blend of nature and fun, making unforgettable memories along the way!

via Viator

7 day taste of the Amazon

5/5 I had a phenomenal time. My guide Linder and the staff at Maniti were knowledgeable and hospitable! Almost everyday there was something that made me go WOW whether it was seeing river dolphins and swimming in the Amazon, playing with tarantulas, or getting close and personal with an anaconda. A few things tourists should know before attending: 1. It’s a lodge not a resort. There’s no AC, no fans, electricity for only 3 hours per day, and no hot water showers. There will be bugs (duh it’s the Amazon and my room had a very friendly and very large tree frog that kept me company. Meals are humble, delicious, and cooked with care. And if you’re polite the staff will share sweet mini bananas with you. 2. Unless it’s in captivity (reptile sanctuary and monkey island) you’re not guaranteed to see anything. Nature isn’t on your schedule. That being said I saw the following species in the wild: pigmy marmoset, squirrel monkeys, saddle-back tamarin, great egrets, Amazon kingfisher, green parakeet, gold headed manakin, herons, crimson-crested woodpecker, pink toed tarantula, piranha, pink and grey river dolphin, two species of poison dart frog, green vine snake, a three toed sloth and countless other species I can’t name. I also saw some of the freaky fish that live in the dark waters of the river when a fisherman pulled up his net. Truly sci-fi like things. 3. Bring bug spray and a good headlamp. Also long sleeve shirts and pants for night hikes. Good boots for when it’s muddy, sandals for lounging about, and moisture wicking shirts go a long way. 4. Your attitude matters. Be kind and be adventurous and you’ll have a great time. The people and communities you will interact with are fiscally poor but rich in life. They’re some of the most humble and kind people I’ve ever met. Many live without running water or electricity. I say that to remind you that entering the jungle is like entering their home. Treat it and them with respect. Leave your need for western comforts in Iquitos and embrace the jungle. It’s worth it.

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your feedback! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us – we are grateful to serve wonderful customers like you! We look forward to serving you again in the future!

via Tripadvisor

Not one dull moment. Every tour was unique and intensively educational. If booking this tour, be sure to ask for Rodrigo

Best trip ever Tour exceeded my expectations. Guide Rodrigo was knowledgeable, fun, professional. As a solo female traveller I felt very safe and comfortable in his presence. Extremely knowledgeable with degrees in Biology, ornithology and herpetology you will learn so much about the history, culture and way of life in the Jungle. Already planning my next trip there! The lodge is basic, but it’s all you need as you’ll be too busy exploring to to just chill. Food was amazing and I really pigged out on the delicious fruits. Best to bring a battery operated night light, flashlights and flashlight headband, mosquito face cover, loose clothing so the mosquitoes don’t bite through… People ask what my highlight was, basically every moment. Don’t book through your own country, your tours will be basic. Book through Maniti and you will get to do things beyond what others can offer. Ask for Rodrigo, he was the reason my tour was 20 out of 10 stars 🙂

Response from the operator: Hello, thank you for sharing your experience! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time in the Amazon with us and we hope to see you again in the future. Safe travels!

via Tripadvisor

Maniti Jungle Lodge Experience

If you don't know, this country has just suffered through 1.5 years of no visitors due to Covid. This was devastating to Peruvian businesses in a country where 80% of Peru's economy depends on tourism. Due to this, many places were running on skeleton crews to maintain bare minimum upkeep or just simply left vacant like Maniti Lodge was, with a single guard left on duty for security. These people have been in survival mode up until the country reopened recently. Many businesses are still trying to get up to speed. Know this before you read or leave any reviews on Peruvian businesses. My experience.... I stayed for 8 days/ 7 Nights, the longest package stay offered on the website. The facilities at the Maniti Jungle Lodge are extremely basic; no Hilton accommodations here. However, the "village" is beautiful. The grounds are kept up nicely and have all the necessary amenities one needs: a personal quarters with bed and bathroom, a dining hall, a bar or gathering area in the evenings which is still coming together, a hammock house which I found was the only place to cool off during the middle of the day, and 3 meals a day which were cooked by one of the best cooks in the Amazon; she was amazing! Room cleaning and bed making was done daily if requested. Laundering was done by request for a nominal fee. This could take a couple days if a lack of sun to dry clothes. Power is only available from 6-9 pm daily, no other time. Like I said, very simple. I more than pleased with the accommodations. The best thing about Maniti was the jungle tours. Most tours traveled into the local jungle within a short distance of camp. There were daytime, afternoon, evening, and night time excursions. All offered a glimpse at the natural beauty of the region. Longer stays get to travel further by either boat or longer trek into the swamps, where an overnight camp is setup, or into blackwater lagoons that is rich in wildlife. I saw pink river dolphins, an ocelot, river otters, many monkeys, snakes, etc.... I also toured multiple Amazon communities and got to interact with some of the most fun loving people you will ever meet. I tried local foods and drinks; I did it all. I was fortunate to have what I considered to be the best guide ever, Segundo. He knew everything about cultures, plants and fauna, animals and wildlife, and about the history of the region. I was blown away by his knowledge and expertise. Know that the guides are more than willing to discuss options as to what type of excursion you go on. I did purchase extras such as 3 Ayahuasca ceremonies and a tour of Iquitos. Know that this is a tour guide outfitter and not an Ayahuasca retreat. The Ayahuasca is offered as an extra item but is not what Maniti specializes in. If you want a retreat that specializes in Ayahuasca, I would suggest you go elsewhere. There were a few other people that I spoke to that were more than satisfied with their experience but I was not. My first ceremony was fine. The second one was a bit of a letdown, and the third was regrettable. That's the only thing I didn't like. I took a tour of Iquitos with a local guide who was one of the most terrific people I met in Iquitos. The city is very 3rd world but has loads of charm. We even made a trip out to a Maniti rescue park which was a great joy of the trip. If you keep your American expectations at home and come with an open mind to learning, you will have the time of your life. It is hot, so have clothing that is breathable and whisks away sweat easily. Have pants, long socks and a sturdy shoe for jungle hikes; you don't want any bugs getting into your pants. Remember to bring some cash for small purchases in the villages as well as tipping, which I did regularly. Enjoy this place, you won't regret coming.

Response from the operator: Hello, Thank you so much for taking the time to write us a review. We hope to see you again in Iquitos soon!

via Tripadvisor