A visit to Peru's Amazon is not all about adventure and adrenaline. There is nothing more pleasurable than enjoying the heat of the jungle, while relaxing in a pool. And luckily for visitors to Iquitos, there are a number of ways to do this, both in the city and the surrounding rainforest.
Multi-level pool at Double by Hilton Iquitos.
1. Doubletree by Hilton: located on the city's Plaza de Armas, opposite the Cathedral, this upscale business hotel has a number of amenities, including an outdoor pool and bar area, along with a spa and gym.
Courtyard pool at Casa Morey, Iquitos.
2. Casa Morey: this is a Rubber Boom-era mansion that has been lovingly restored to combine much of its original atmosphere with more modern features, such as WiFi, A/C ... and a small pool in a handsome patio.
Pool at Avatar Lodge, Iquitos.
3. Avatar Amazon Lodge: A homely lodge, with just 9 bungalows, located 12 miles (19 km) downstream from Iquitos. The small, circular pool is a focal point.
Other amenities include a ‘Canopy Park’, made up of suspension bridges, zip lines and rappelling lines set up amongst the rainforest trees.
Pool at Heliconia Lodge.
4. Heliconia Lodge: just over an hour downstream from Iquitos by speedboat, in the Yanamono (black monkey) jungle, this lodge has a large tropical garden with a refreshing pool at its centre.
Here you can cool off, and watch the fauna - such as squirrel monkeys and kingfishers - that inhabits the surrounding rainforest.
Swimming pool with slide at Ceiba Tops.
5. Ceiba Tops: a little further up the Amazon River from Heliconia Lodge, this is probably the most comfortable jungle lodge in northern Peru.
Bungalows are large and air-conditioned, and the swimming pool boasts a water slide, which will keep kids (and adults!) entertained for the time between excursions.
Swimming pool at Samiria Ecolodge.
6. Samiria Ecolodge: this eco-lodge is located upstream from Iquitos, on the banks of the Marañon River that forms the northern boundary of the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, and is accessed from the town of Nauta.
Like Ceiba Tops, bungalows are spacious and air-conditioned, and the large swimming pool is a centrepiece.
Update: Sadly, Samiria Ecolodge has not re-opened since the COVID pandemic.
Perhaps the ultimate in Amazon water-borne indulgence is to sit in a plunge pool, sipping a cocktail, while your cruise boat sails calmly along the Amazon River, or a tributary. For practical reasons, these are smaller than those on terra firma, but they are equally refreshing.
Private plunge pool on Delfin I.
These plunge pools are only to be found on the higher-end vessels, such as the M/V Zafiro and Delfin III, where they are to be found on the Observation Deck, for the use of all passengers.
On the Delfin I, the two lower deck cabins have their own private plunge pools on the terrace. You can even opt to have your meals served to you here!
Finally, don't forget that by being in Iquitos, you are pretty much surrounded by the world's largest outdoor freshwater pool, the Amazon River and her tributaries ... and there are lots of entry points for swimming!
So to take advantage of all this enticing water, get in touch with PeruNorth.
Jumping into the Ucayali River from the Observation Deck of the Delfin II cruise ship.