What's on in Iquitos, Peru through the year

Peak crowds — Aniversario de Iquitos, Summer / year-end holidays in Peru

• Festival

  Aniversario de Iquitos

  1–6 JanMajor festivalCrowded

  The city marks the founding of its river port on 5 January with a week of run-up events and a twenty-one-gun salute on the day. It is a local affair that lands while the town is still full from New Year. Source ↗

Still on: High water on the rivers (15 Dec – 15 Jun (usually))

Peak crowds — Carnaval Amazónico, Summer / year-end holidays in Peru

• Festival

  Carnaval Amazónico

  1 Feb – 15 Mar · usuallyCarnivalCrowded

  A decorated palm hung with gifts is raised in each neighbourhood and danced round until someone fells it, and everyone else is soaked with water, paint or mud. Less religious than the highland carnivals. Source ↗

Still on: High water on the rivers (15 Dec – 15 Jun (usually))

Peak crowds — Carnaval Amazónico, Summer / year-end holidays in Peru

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Carnaval Amazónico (1 Feb – 15 Mar (usually)), High water on the rivers (15 Dec – 15 Jun (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: High water on the rivers (15 Dec – 15 Jun (usually))

Busy — May break in Peru

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: High water on the rivers (15 Dec – 15 Jun (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Fiesta de San Juan

  20–26 JunMajor festivalClosures

  The Peruvian Amazon's own holiday on 24 June: juane wrapped in bijao leaf eaten everywhere, bonfires jumped for luck, and the city out at the quebradas rather than at work. Source ↗

Still on: High water on the rivers (15 Dec – 15 Jun (usually))

Busy — Mid-year break (Fiestas Patrias) in Peru, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Low water

  15 Jul – 15 Nov · usuallyHigh water

  The water drops, sandbars and river beaches appear, and the forest floor can be walked instead of paddled — better for tracking animals, worse for reaching the smaller channels. Boats take longer routes.

Busy — Mid-year break (Fiestas Patrias) in Peru

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Low water (15 Jul – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Low water (15 Jul – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — October break in Peru

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Low water (15 Jul – 15 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Low water (15 Jul – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — Summer / year-end holidays in Peru, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  High water on the rivers

  15 Dec – 15 Jun · usually

  The rivers climb several metres, Belén's lower streets turn back into canals and the flooded forest is reached by paddling between the crowns rather than walking. Lodge trips are boat trips in these months.