Iquitos: The largest city in the world with no roads
Iquitos sits in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon and can only be reached by air or river. From France, the journey is done in two stages: a long-haul flight to Lima, then a domestic flight to Iquitos. The great advantage for French travelers: Air France operates a daily direct flight from Paris to Lima.
Stage 1: Paris → Lima (direct Air France flight)
Air France operates a daily nonstop flight from Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG, Terminal 2E) to Lima (Jorge Chávez – LIM). The flight takes about 12 hours 30 minutes on a Boeing 777. Flights AF500 and AF504 depart between 10:20 AM and 1:30 PM. It's the most comfortable and fastest option for French travelers.
Other flight options
Via Madrid (Iberia), via Amsterdam (KLM), or from Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse or Nice with connections through Paris-CDG, Madrid or Amsterdam. Round-trip Paris–Lima: between €850 and €1,100.
Stage 2: Lima → Iquitos
The domestic flight takes just 1 hour 45 minutes. LATAM operates 4–6 daily flights. A one-way ticket costs between S/ 150 and S/ 500 (roughly €35–115). Allow at least 3 hours for your connection in Lima. Every detail of this leg is covered in our guide on how to get to Iquitos from Lima.
Requirements for French citizens
French citizens don't need a visa for Peru (stays up to 183 days). You only need a passport valid for at least 6 months. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended. Time difference: 6 hours behind Paris in winter (7 in summer). To pick the month that suits you, see our guide to the best time to visit Iquitos.
Free transfer and budget
Book at Bora Hotel Iquitos and we pick you up from the airport for free, 24/7. Total budget for one week: from €1,500, flights included. Flights from €950, hotel from €360/week, tours from €15, meals from €3. What awaits you on landing is described in our Iquitos airport guide, and the full cost breakdown is in our guide to budgeting a trip to Iquitos.