Amazon Yanayacu Lodge — Hotel in Punchana

We spent a night here the other day and the experience felt very natural. We were the only two at the lodge at the time and we had a English speaking guide called Timo who came and met us in Iquitos town. We were transferred to the dock by motor taxi first. Then the trip took about 1hr 30 min by boat. ||||The rooms have great mosquito netting set up all around and I didn't see or hear one mosquito in our room. Beds were single and fairly comfortable.||||The facilities are very basic, there is no power at all and the water you use in the bathroom is from the river in front of the lodge. The water is dark brown so we gave the shower a miss for one night! They do supply water there but it is boiled and tastes stale after a while. ||||The food was excellent throughout, we both had stomach problems before reaching the lodge and the owner had us some special local tea made up and we felt a whole lot better after. ||||We did Piranha fishing, pink dolphin spotting, bird watching, a night excursion looking for Cayman and a hike through some of the jungle surrounding the lodge. We hiked for an hour but you can hike for up to three hours if you wish.||||Apart from the activities there is not much else to do around the lodge, the first day we were waiting around doing nothing for a few hours when we got there. We finally went Piranha fishing at 3:30pm after arriving at around 11am. We did go to Monkey Island before we reached the lodge for about 20 minutes, but no-one seemed to give us any info about what time we would be doing activities. ||||Once we were finished all the activities the next day we left at around 1pm to return to Iquitos. They did mention about trying to find more dolphins on the way back but we didn't stop anywhere. The mood seemed to feel like they had finished with us and didn't have to bother anymore. ||||When we booked this from our hotel (Hotel Acosta), the tour guy (Clever Sinarahua Tulumba) told us that all the transport was included. When we got back to the dock Timo found us a moto taxi and said that Clever would be waiting to speak with us at the hotel. I though this was because when we paid for the trip I had let Clever owe me 10 soles (which isn't much) as he didn't have change the day we paid him and said he would return it to me. We arrived at the hotel and the taxi driver wanted money for the ride, and there was no sign of Clever either! We paid the taxi driver 2 soles and never saw Clever again. ||||This soured the trip slightly and I am unsure whether Timo knew Clever wouldn't be there as well. ||||The lodge was fine and you won't find any much cheaper. There may be better options out there for a bit more money though. We paid $120 each for this trip. I think you can only book this trip through Clever anyway. We did check this place on here before we booked and the the ranking is about right for...

I travel a lot and never write reviews. I decided to share my experience this time round because our stay at the lodge was so disappointing that I hope other tourists don't waste their time and money as we did on this tourist trap. It is not so much about the lodge which is indeed basic (borderline run down) but expected, although would be nice if there were at least decent nets as there were flies and mosquitos in the bedroom/bathroom and so on. What I am fuming about is the tour/program itself. The waste of time/hanging around waiting for the next "activity". The lack of communication which resulted in some confusion all around (wasn't clear when we booked that it was a package; 1 night + tour). We were not aware either that we had to pay some guy up front and before we got on the boat as opposed to paying @ the lodge. Day 1: We got the boat to the lodge (great fun), got there at 12 for lunch and the only activity that took place that day is the "trek" in the Amazon @ 4pm which is not a trek but a short walk around the block, 20ms and you are done - Day 2: In the morning the fishing will last 1hr max if you are into fishing that is - After lunch you will stop to visit the local community and that really is a total RIP OFF, to make you buy the local stuff, the community members will also ask you for a tip, we lasted 15ms there, it was that bad - The pink dolphins? rubbish! you will be lucky if you see them! - As for the Monkey Island we decided not to go, by then we had enough of the whole experience + had already seen monkeys the night before at the lodge. In between those short not to say insignificant activities you wait for hours and hours and hours and you can't even lounge around cos the lodge doesn't have the facilities for it. The 2-day felt like a tourist trap, we even asked to leave earlier. I had never wasted so much time and money on a 2-day excursion before. The "Trekking, Fishing, Pink Dolphins, Local Community, Monkey Island" sound only amazing on paper but are so disappointing and definitely won't fill up your days. It is such a shame as the lodge has the potential to be great by its location and food (amazing lady in the kitchen) but has a long way to go in terms of everything else...

Both me and my husband over ( 60 yrs ) stayed for a night here ! But being first time jungle travellers we were not prepared for the rough stay or the hard programme.also we were the only two in the place and it was quite eery !! So do find out about occupancy levels !! Hence we moved out to an easier place of the same management - the sinchicuy lodge which we most enjoyed !!||The yanayacu lodge is not advised by us for mature couples or those with children ! Or anybody who has the slightest scare of insects !, or those with any health problems !, Those seeking adventure will of course love it !! ||The cottages are very basic -no electricity and no hot water in bathrooms - lanterns at night only !! Imagine you are camping and then you will be happy at whatever comes your way !!||The food of course was lovely and typically Peruvian - great fish too !! Wish though that the lodge could have some music since after dark there is absolutely nothing to do !! Cant read a book as there is no electricity !! Maybe some television with documentaries on the amazon would be a good idea . Of course since there is no electricity the management will have to increase genset capacity !! The gensets provide electricity for a few hrs for dinner in the common dining room and allow you to charge your cameras ! Mobiles don't work and there is no communication except for some intercom between the two lodges of the management !! ||The programmes were not attended by us so we can't really comment but I think they would be good for the young adventurous !, ||A true jungle experience !! The management must communicate better so people like us don't go there but go to their easier sinchicuy lodge as first time jungle travellers just there for an...