Overview
Muyuna is a small, self-sustainable and solar-powered eco-lodge in the Peruvian Amazon River Rainforest, about 140km from Iquitos and is accessible only by boat. This remoteness guarantees sightings of birds, monkeys, sloths, caymans, fish, and pink dolphins, amongst many others, in their natural habitat, without human intervention, making it a paradise for wildlife and nature lovers. This experience has four different itineraries, ranging from a 3-day Welcome to the Jungle package to a 6-day Full Adventure package. Whichever programme you choose, you'll be introduced to the charm of the Amazon rainforest, and appreciate its freshwater and forest habitats and biodiversity through adventures such as jungle excursions, nocturnal forest trips, and river cruises.
What you will be doing
We will pick you up from your hotel in Iquitos or the airport at 9 am, and we'll travel by road and river to the lodge. The trip will be 3 hours and will take us deep into the Amazon. We will then have our first jungle excursion to observe the diverse flora and fauna, including the Leoncito (Pygmy Monkey). We will enjoy the sunset on the Lake Sapote. By night, we'll have our nocturnal excursion by boat to see caimans and nocturnal birds and mammals. Lunch and Dinner are included.
The day starts with a swim in the Amazon River, and we'll see pink and grey dolphins. We'll also see Victoria Regia, the world's largest aquatic plant, and iguanas. After some Piranha fishing, we'll visit San Juan de Yanayacu's village. We'll finish the day with a night walk searching for huge tarantulas and frogs. All meals are included.
We'll take a boat excursion to Juanachi or Moena Lake to search for different bird species and monkeys. We'll carry out a specialised excursion about local medicinal plants. After nightfall, we'll take a nocturnal canoe trip to listen to the jungle. All meals are included.
We will have a full-day expedition to Shanticaño, which is a bit further away from the lodge. We'll be able to watch birds, sloths, monkeys, and the enigmatic anaconda if we are lucky. We'll have lunch in the middle of the jungle. You'll enjoy a free evening. All meals are included.
On the last day, we'll take a boat to a remote and difficult-of-access lake. You can also fill out your biodiversity checklist card with your guide. At 1:00 pm, we will depart the lodge and head to the airport or your Iquitos hotel. The estimated arrival time is at 4:00 pm. Breakfast and lunch are included.
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: Iquitos, Peru
🗺️ Instructions: Pick-up details: We'll pick you up at 9 am from your hotel/airport to head to our office in Iquitos. We'll provide an aluminium bottle for water and validate personal information before departing for the lodge. Then we'll take you to the port in San Joaquin De Omaguas (travel time is about 1.5h). From the port, we'll sail through the Amazon River for 1 hour, enter the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve and arrive at Muyuna Lodge. We are about 140 kilometres away from Iquitos. If your flight is delayed, we will wait for you at the airport and schedule another departure at no additional cost. Please let us know your flight numbers in advance. Check-out time is after your last activity (12:00 pm). Depart time to Iquitos is after lunch. If you missed your flight from Lima to Iquitos, and wish to change your flight back from Iquitos to Lima so that you can enjoy all the scheduled days in Muyuna, we can help you get a hotel in Iquitos (at your own expense).
Things to know
Accessibility:
Children friendly
Fitness requirement
Moderate fitness level
Tour Language
English
Spanish
License requirement
None
Additional information:
Accommodation: you will be staying in your own private bungalow with a private bathroom. Bring a good book to enjoy the free time in your hammock, listening to the deafening sounds of the Amazon Rainforest.
Electricity:electricity is supplied via solar panels and powers hot water, fans and lighting.
Climate: all year long you will experience heat in some way. Humidity can rise to 90%. The average temperature is c.31°C (88°F) and 24°C (75°F) at nights. Rains can happen at any time.
Seasons: High water season is Nov - May. The water level rises to 6 meters from the shallowest point. Bungalows are on top of the water and we do the activities using canoes and boats. You will see many wildlife closer to the canopy. The Low water season is Jul - Oct. This is the best season for fishing, walking, or having a beach day thanks to the sandy formations in the riverbanks. During this period, the river level decreases to the point that there will be a 20-minute walk to cross the Amazon River to arrive at Yanayacu River. We will take care of your luggage.
Things to bring: swimsuit, raincoat/ponchos, light-coloured clothing (mosquitoes are attracted to darker colours), dirty clothes bag, short-sleeves for walks and trails, light pyjama, trekking pants, shorts, sandals, walking shoes, sun protection (hat/cap for neck cover, sunglasses, paraben-free sunscreens) and mosquito repellent. Accessories: Passport inside ziplock, a physical notebook for biodiversity tracking, pens, Ladysoft / reusable pads, binoculars (8x42), camera with a good zoom capacity and fully charged, light torch, toothbrush & paste, socket adapter(220V, A/B/C). We sell some at the lodge if you forgot any.
Bring some cash (not too much) for buying optional handicrafts, tips, or at our bar.
Please bring any medication you are on or will need, e.g. (aspirin, ibuprofen, diarrhoea pills, motion sickness medication etc.). We have some basic ones on-site.
If you have a particular interest, you can consider hiring a private guide service. Let us know in the booking form and we'll confirm the quote and availability. Vaccines: Our surroundings have never had cases of Yellow Fever, Dengue, Malaria, or Zika. We advise you to check with your local health authorities for any recommended vaccine.
Safety: We have a first aid kit at the lodge and the guide also carries one during the excursions. The most dangerous thing is a snake bite, that's why we provide rubber boots. Since our founding in 1999, no travellers have ever been bitten. If it should happen, we have anti-venom serum and boats to transport you to Iquitos immediately.
Book recommendation: Some of our favourite books for your spare time reading: The Dream Of The Celt, The Storyteller by Peruvian Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa and The Three Halves Of Ino Moxo by Iquitos writer Cesar Calvo, a book that tells the Amazon story like no one ever has.
Tips: it is customary to leave tips to restaurant waiters and tour guides in Peru as a token of appreciation for good service. It is not mandatory and we understand the different cultures if you do not want to leave anything. If you want to leave a tip, we have two envelopes in your room: one is to distribute the money equally among all the workers and another one is for your guide. The amount is up to you.
Meals: vegetarian choice available
please let us know during the booking for dietary requirements
Inclusion ✅
Water
Refreshments
Tour transport
Tour guide
Accommodations
Airport pick-up
All activities
Aluminium bottle
Biodegradable amenities (shampoo, conditioner and soap)
Biodiversity species checklist
Board games
Water stations
Tour transport
Rubber boots
Towels
Fans
First aid
Hot water
Meals
Nature guides
Life-jackets
Pick up and drop off transport
Kayaks/ Paddles/ Canoes
Exclusion ❌
Snack
Alcoholic beverages
Binoculars
Gratuities
Rain poncho
Transportation outside schedule
About your host
Muyuna LodgeThe lodge was built in 1999 by Analia Sarfati, Percy Sanchez, and Santiago. Muyuna was built together with the San Juan de Yanayacu community, keeping a natural relationship with the jungle. The ethos of the lodge was to protect our beloved forests, and its diverse and unique flora and fauna. In Peru, much of the conservation effort is led by communities, many of which are funded by ecotourism. Since our founding in 1999, Muyuna has been working with the local Yanayacu community by providing them with medicines, river transport, economic aid, and logistics among other things. The villagers live without many luxuries. When we visit them, our intention is not to change their traditions or customs. You will find no dances, costumes, or shows for tourists. We simply follow their routine. If you wish to contribute to the village, you can bring oral care products, medicines, birth control products, encyclopaedias, tools, school supplies and books. Through a monthly meeting, we deliver the donations we collect equitably. This is not an obligation and San Juan does not expect it. They live quietly within the simplicity of their normal life.
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.
💛 From Kodama
Using ecotourism to support local conservation efforts is a founding reason for Kodama Travel. Ecotourism as a development strategy is less exploitative than alternatives such as ranching, fishing, and agriculture, and can provide vital economic income for local communities. In the Latin American context, the protection of habitats and key species is often community-led, such is the case for many parts of the Peruvian Rainforest. When I spoke with the Muyuna team, I was moved by their personal story of leading conservation through ecotourism. I was delighted to collaborate and bring it to Kodama Travel’s customers. I am also an advocate of citizen science. Species monitoring from citizens can help collect vital research data, and there are many unique species around Muyuna Lodge. If you are a wildlife watcher, we recommend also logging your wildlife sightings on citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist or eBird. As part of the Kodama Travel package, once a booking is confirmed, we’ll also provide you with travel and conservation tips leading up to the trip. You’ll also get a personalised discount if you enjoyed your Muyuna visit and would like to recommend it to friends and families.