Private Tour
Belén Tour: Exotic Market, Floating City & Amazonian Life
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Discover the real Amazon life in just a few hours!
This immersive tour combines culture, adventure, and authenticity, perfect for travelers with limited time before a flight or upon arrival in Iquitos.
Explore the famous Belén Market with a local guide who will introduce you to the hidden world of Paquito Passage, known for its natural medicines, Amazonian herbs, tobacco, and ayahuasca preparations.
Then board a traditional canoe to navigate through the floating city of Belén, where houses rest on the water and local families live in harmony with the river.
The experience lasts about 2.5 to 3.5 hours, with small-group or private options, offering personalized attention in English or Spanish.
If weather allows, you can even try piranha fishing as an optional activity.
It’s a short but unforgettable journey into Amazonian life, ideal for travelers seeking authentic experiences, local culture, and safe adventure in the heart of Iquitos.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
Mercado de Belen
Your local guide will take you through the famous Belén Market. You'll see exotic fruits, natural remedies, Amazonian products, and much more. You'll learn about the traditional uses of plants and have the chance to interact with local vendors to understand their way of life.
Itaya River
From the Itaya River, we’ll explore the floating area of Belén in a non-motorized canoe, passing by houses on the water, children paddling in canoes, and entire communities living on the river. A unique visual and cultural experience.
What‘s Included
Private guided tour
For the visit through the floating area, a local canoe is used to explore the neighborhoods. The transportation is private.
Options
Belén: Market and Floating City
Reviews
7 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A great experience
123elisabethm,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were my partner and I with our guide Jose, was great the experience, our guide very attentive, explaining all the details of both the market and the floating city of Bethlehem, we highly recommend hiring this tour to live the immersive experience 100% of the life of Iquitos.
The tour and the tour...
Peter A,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour and the tour guide was awesome. Viator failed us though!! The address and location to meet were so so of base and no support or direction. It was only because we spent 1.5 hours the day before we were able to figure this out. This was the biggest fail Viator has ever given us. The meet location is a joke. The address given does not exist and the company is located by getting over a wall on a lower walkway and climbing down 35 rickety stairs to a half sinking barge. I reached out to Viator the day before to get a zero response and tried the “contact your tour operator” to also get a 0 response. It was only due to a good set of soles from another tour operator “that truly wanted our business” we found the location. When we returned at 9am this morning the crazy stairs were all blocked off. Thankfully a also very confused guide showed up and we figured it out. Shame on you Viator for making this so difficult. You need to explain the complexity of this meeting place far better and you find it on the “Map” is no help what so ever.
Amazing Tour with local guide
DayTrip67049596109,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience with local guide, Nelson. Highly recommended if you have a couple of hours to spare. It’s a tour you have to experience when visiting Iquitos. A reel eye opener! Thanks Nelson.
Great experience if you have only few hours
Samanta J,Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour, full of sensory experiences. It was eye-opening for sure . My tour guide José, has been informative and answered all of my questions related to the area and people's daily lives and explained the many different foods you can find in the market. If you have only a few hours, but dont want to be wondering alone and are keen to understand people's lives a little bit better, I would highly recomend this tour. The history of the place, daily joys and troubles, and daily living have been fascinating and, at times, moving to learn. Great experience Thank you
I had an excellent tour...
Jordyn M,Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00I had an excellent tour today of Belén Market and a short boat ride through Belén Village with José. He was very knowledgeable and gave me detailed explanations that helped me better understand the daily lives of the people in these communities, as well as the cultural importance of the foods and products sold in the market. His insights made what could have been a very busy and overwhelming place feel approachable and interesting. José was also very attentive, always making sure I felt comfortable, and he was happy to answer any questions, which made the experience even more enriching. Thanks to him, I left with a much deeper appreciation of Belén.
in a few horas an authentic experience
ceciliabX9234EY,Aug 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00In June I traveled with my partner to Iquitos. We first took an Amazon tour with Yakumama and enjoyed it so much that we decided to book the Belén tour for the next day. It was perfect for making the most of our morning, since it lasted about three hours and we had our flight in the afternoon. The experience was fascinating. Yes, the place is a bit dirty, but it’s full of exotic things like turtle and alligator meat, which I dared to try… and they were delicious! I think the best way to visit is with a guide, as it allows you to explore with complete safety. Our guide José was very professional and attentive. He took us through the market, explained everything in detail, and then we took a canoe ride to the lower part of Belén, where we could see the daily life of its residents up close. It was like discovering another side of Iquitos — more real and authentic. Highly recommended.
An authentic experience with purpose
lucashB333ZL,Aug 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took the Belén tour with our guide José, and it was an experience that left us with a lot to remember and reflect on. We visited the famous Pasaje Paquito, where we saw a wide variety of exotic reeds, natural medicines, and intriguing herbal drinks. I couldn’t resist buying and trying one that, according to local tradition, is good for love… let’s hope it works! We then headed to the lower part of Belén. It’s a place that truly impacts you — seeing how people live and survive on the river. I truly hope living conditions improve for them soon. José told us that by booking this tour, we’re also supporting Yakumama and its small NGO in Belén, which helps train local residents to work as guides and improve their livelihoods. We’re very happy we chose this company, not only for José’s excellent service and care, but also because we know that part of what we paid goes back to the local community. An authentic, real, and meaningful experience. We highly recommend it.
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Operated by Yakumama Amazon Tours