Is there a direct flight from Spain to Iquitos?
No, and it's best to know this from the start to plan properly: Iquitos has no direct international flights from Europe. Furthermore, Iquitos is the largest city in the world without road connections: you can only get there by plane or by navigating the river. For a traveler from Spain, the route is always the same: Spain → Lima → Iquitos, with two connected flights.
The good news is that the route is very well-established. Every year, many Spanish travelers arrive in the Amazonian region of Loreto on their way to lodges, cruises, and retreats. The path is proven; here we tell you how to travel it without any surprises.
First leg: from Madrid or Barcelona to Lima
From Madrid, there are direct flights to Lima year-round. Iberia, LATAM, and Air Europa operate the route, with a flight time of about 12 hours. It's the most convenient option: you leave Barajas in the afternoon and land in Lima at night (local time), which fits well with connecting to Iquitos the next morning.
From Barcelona, there is no direct flight to Lima, so you will have to connect: the most common way is via Madrid, although there are also combinations through other European hubs like Amsterdam or Paris. If you live in another Spanish city, the simplest move is almost always a domestic flight to Madrid and then the transoceanic flight from there.
Regarding prices, they vary greatly depending on the season and how far in advance you book. As a general guide, booking two or three months ahead makes it reasonable to find a round trip Madrid–Lima in a mid-range price; in July, August, and Christmas, prices rise significantly. If your dates are flexible, avoid these peak times.
Second leg: from Lima to Iquitos
The Lima–Iquitos flight takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. It departs from Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) and lands at Iquitos Airport (IQT). There are between 6 and 10 daily flights depending on the season, operated mainly by LATAM and Sky Airline, with fares that reward early booking.
We explain this leg in detail (airlines, prices in soles, schedules, and what the Iquitos airport is like) in our guide How to get to Iquitos from Lima. If you only remember one thing, let it be this: book the domestic leg as soon as you have the international one, because morning flights fill up first.
The connection in Lima: straight through or overnight?
Here lies the most important decision of the trip, and where most mistakes are made. You have two options:
Option 1: same-day connection. If your flight from Spain lands in Lima in the early hours, you can connect to a morning flight to Iquitos. It works, but it leaves little margin: if the transoceanic flight is delayed, you miss the connection, and after 12 hours of flying, boarding another flight can be exhausting.
Option 2: overnight in Lima and flight to Iquitos the next day. This is the option we recommend to most of our Spanish guests. You sleep, recover from the long flight, and take the Lima–Iquitos flight in the morning at a relaxed pace. Jet lag works in your favor on the outbound trip, but your body will appreciate the break anyway.
Whatever you choose, apply the golden rule of the Amazon: arrive in Iquitos at least one day before any tour, lodge, or cruise you have booked. Jungle operators pick up their passengers early in the morning and wait for no one; a delayed flight shouldn't cost you the start of your excursion.
Documentation: passport and visa
For Spanish citizens, Peru does not require a tourist visa. Upon arrival, your passport is stamped with a tourist permit (usually 90 days, more than enough for any jungle trip). The only practical requirements are:
Passport with at least 6 months of validity from your date of entry into the country, and it's advisable to be able to show your return flight if asked at immigration. No prior paperwork is needed from Spain.
Health and vaccines for the Amazon
To visit Iquitos and the low Peruvian jungle, the yellow fever vaccine is recommended, administered at least 10 days before the trip. It is not an entry requirement for the country, but international vaccination centers in Spain advise it for this region. Take advantage of the appointment to ask about malaria prophylaxis if you are doing long expeditions in remote areas; for stays in the city and typical tourist lodges, most travelers simply use a good repellent.
Bring the repellent from Spain or buy it in Iquitos, wear long sleeves at dawn and dusk, and always drink bottled water. With those three habits, most problems are avoided.
Money, time, and plugs: practical info
Currency: in Peru, you pay in soles (S/). Bring euros and exchange them in Lima or at exchange houses in downtown Iquitos, or withdraw soles directly from the ATM. Cards are accepted in hotels and restaurants in the city, but in markets, mototaxis, and riverside towns, only cash is used.
Time zone: Peru is 6 hours behind Spain in winter and 7 in the European summer time. The outbound jet lag is mild (your day gets longer); the return trip is a bit harder.
Electricity: Peru runs on 220 volts, just like Spain, so you don't need a transformer. Plugs are American-style (flat prongs) and also two round European-style prongs; a basic universal adapter solves any doubts.
Best time to travel from Spain
Iquitos can be visited year-round: the difference isn't rain or sun, but the river level. The high-water season (December to May) allows navigating through spectacular flooded areas; the low-water season (June to October) reveals river beaches and jungle trails. Spanish holidays in July and August coincide with the dry season, one of the most comfortable times to walk through the jungle, although also when flights are most expensive.
We have a complete month-by-month analysis in our guide on the best time to visit Iquitos.
Your first night in Iquitos before the lodge or cruise
The vast majority of Spanish travelers arriving in Iquitos come with something already booked: a jungle lodge, an Amazon cruise, or a retreat. All these plans share the same logistical pattern: they start early in the morning in Iquitos, with a pickup at the hotel or a central point in the city.
That is why the first night in the city is not a mere formality, but part of the plan. It allows you to absorb any flight delays, rest from the 15 or 16 hours of accumulated travel from Spain, and start the excursion refreshed. And along the way, discover Iquitos: the boardwalk at sunset, the Plaza de Armas, and a first Amazonian dinner are the best possible introduction to the jungle. If you want ideas for those hours, our complete guide to Iquitos summarizes them well.
Why Bora Hotel as a base in Iquitos
At Bora Hotel Iquitos, every season we welcome Spanish travelers heading to lodges, cruises, and expeditions, and we have the logistics designed exactly for that trip:
Free 24-hour airport transfer: send us your itinerary a day in advance, and our driver will wait for you at the exit with a sign with your name. After two flights and an ocean in between, not having to negotiate a taxi is much appreciated.
Central location: we are just minutes from the Plaza de Armas and the boardwalk, the area where tour and cruise operators do their morning pickups.
Breakfast included and early departures: we know that jungle pickups are early, and our reception is open 24 hours.
Free luggage storage: if you go to the lodge or cruise for several days and don't want to carry all your luggage, we'll store it for you until you return.
If you are organizing your trip from Spain and have questions about flights, dates, or how to fit in your first night, write to us on WhatsApp: we reply quickly and in your language.