08 Mar 2023
We stayed at the Heliconia Lodge near Iquitos for three days. It was a unique and truly magnificent experience. The tour operators really know how to efficiently schedule the various activities, so on day one I was immediately surprised by how much we were able to get done and still not feel dead-drop tired.
Our guide, Freddie, deserves special recognition for his spirit of service and immense knowledge of the region. I could not think of a single time where I had a question that he could not answer. He also made the tour feel very personal, as if we were visiting an old friend. He went out of his way to play his guitar everytime we had a meal and that was truly memorable!
Some of the activities included a magical nighttime boat ride in the Amazon, a fun excursion to La Isla La Des Los Monos, a stroll through the Amazon (safe and with boots provided), and a visit to a local village.
Obviously, the quality of the lodge and service will not change the fact that you are in the Amazon, so be ready for limited (but in my opinion enough) WiFi time mosquitoes when leaving the lodge. Electricity is also provided most of the day, but with breaks. I did not feel like that affected my experience in a negative way. The boat ride from Iquitos to the lodge is around two hours, but chances are you'll fall asleep for most of the ride.
Overall I'm very satisfied with the experience and would definitely recommend it.