The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve lies southwest of Iquitos and is the largest protected wetland in Peru, covering an area roughly the size of Switzerland. It is most easily accessed from Iquitos, either by multi-day river expedition or through the lodge-based tours that operate within the reserve. The reserve contains the pink Amazon dolphin (boto), the giant river otter, black caimans, and hundreds of bird species including the hoatzin, the cock-of-the-rock, and the Amazonian umbrella bird.
The typical approach from Iquitos is by speedboat to the reserve entrance (4–6 hours), then by canoe into the flooded forests. Most visitors go with organised tours from Iquitos that include accommodation in floating lodges or at reserve stations. Independent entry is possible but limited by the distance and the need for river transport.