Iquitos: When to Go

Part of the northern Amazon, Iquitos is covered in rain forest, so expect rain all year. Don't be fooled by talk of a 'dry' season (which, technically, runs from June to September) - it buckets down the whole time. That said, this magnificent region is at its best when drenched. Temperatures are moderate year-round: you might need an umbrella, but you won't need thermals.

Festivals in Iquitos generally echo the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar - they're celebrated with great pageantry and make for a fun time to visit. In the first week of January the city celebrates its anniversary; during the Festival of San Juan, on June 24, there's dancing and drinking, and it's a great time to buy local arts and crafts; Fiestas Patrias (National Independence Days), held on July 28 and 29, form the biggest national holiday; nearby Santa Clara, 14km (8.7mi) from Iquitos, celebrates a colorful crafts festival in August; the Festival of the Señora de la Natividad is held on September 7 in the province of Maynas; finally, on December 8, the Festival of the Purísima is celebrated in the district of Punchana, 3km (1.8mi) from Iquitos.

Weather

Wherever you go in the Amazon Basin you can be sure of two things: there will be rain forest and it's going to rain. Even in the 'drier' months of June to September, the whole area gets more rain than the wettest months in the mountains. And there are no surprises in Iquitos when it comes to temperature either: expect year-round averages of 30°C (86°F) during the day and a very tolerable 22°C (71°F) at night.

Temperature (average ° C)

Rainfall (average mm)