Maniti Expeditions Eco-Lodge

Our guide Segundo was wonderful, calm and friendly, and knew so much about the plants and animals. The organization worked fine too, and the food was good and enough for the day. We saw the dolphins, and plenty of monkeys could be heard and seen. The nature is amazing and deserves 5 stars. The wildlife expectations need to be realistic. Don’t count on seeing big animals like caimans, Capybara or tapir. There are too many people in this area for shy animals, and I worry some may still be hunted. Monkey Island was a bit disappointing. There was one large monkey near the village, and a local man pulled it out of a tree so tourists could take pictures with it sitting on their heads. I don’t think that monkey is fully free, and maybe someone feeds them. Never touch a wild animal! The lodge naturally didn’t have the comfort we’re used to, and we expected that, but for the price I think the rooms, floors and beds could be made a little nicer. We spent a bit too much time at local villages rather than going deeper into the jungle. Going further in is only for the “brave”, though, since unfamiliar insects, spiders and mosquitoes are a real challenge. Camping overnight was an amazing adventure, but sensitive people should skip it. That’s not the agency’s fault. One problem was the taxi back to the airport. The ride was already paid for, but the driver wanted extra money on top of a fair tip. When he didn’t get it, he got a little angry. I’ve read that this happens quite often. For me, a major negative was keeping wild sloths for tourists. Please stop doing this. The company should show more respect for wild animals. It’s hard to give a fair recommendation. I’d say 4 days / 3 nights is probably a good length. We booked 5 days, and that was one day too many.

I booked the 3-day/2-night sport fishing trip from Iquitos for December 2025, mainly hoping to catch peacock bass. The fishing outcome itself isn’t my complaint, since that depends on nature, water levels and luck. The trip just fell short of what was advertised and what I’d expect at this price. The guide told us on day one that the season and water levels weren’t suitable, and kept saying the high water would make fishing very difficult. I wish that had been made clearer before the trip was sold. He also recommended deep fishing as the better approach in those conditions, but we had no deep fishing equipment and couldn’t arrange any locally. There were problems with the gear and safety. The guide had forgotten some fishing equipment on the first day, so we lost a lot of time going back to get it. Later, the propeller broke in a remote lagoon after we’d gone through very dense vegetation. There was no spare propeller, satellite phone or reliable backup communication. It felt unnecessarily risky, and we had to head back slowly, cutting the fishing day short. The guide did his best, but it seemed the setup depended on what the operator had arranged. One guide handled the boat, navigation, fishing and camp logistics. I expected a more robust crew and setup for something sold as a “sport fishing expedition” at this price. The lodge seemed focused more on ayahuasca and general jungle trips than fishing, and the boats and overall arrangements didn’t match the impression from the pre-trip materials. The company did give a partial refund of 200 USD on a trip costing about 1000 USD, which I appreciate. Still, the experience was well below what I expected of a dedicated sport fishing expedition. Based on what happened, I’d ask very detailed questions about equipment, safety arrangements and seasonal conditions before booking.

Edwin and the team at Maniti Expeditions made us feel welcome right away. They were accommodating and knew a lot about the jungle, its wildlife and plants, the culture and the ecosystem. I had an incredible time visiting the Amazon with them. The sunrise boat trip was breathtaking, watching the Amazon wake up. At Monkey Island we got close to playful creatures in their natural habitat, and the animal rescue centre was inspiring. We learned about conservation and saw animals being rehabilitated. The food was fresh, homemade and full of local flavors, and the guide shared fascinating details about the flora and fauna throughout the trip. Thanks to Edwin and the Maniti team. I’d highly recommend Maniti Expeditions for a real Amazon adventure, whether you love nature or just want a unique experience.

I’d only planned to stay for 3 days, but enjoyed it so much that I added a fourth. Edwin was a great guide and taught me a lot about how plants and insects help with survival and daily life in the jungle. We went on different hikes, visited a welcoming local tribe, held some amazing animals and swam in the Amazon. I saw and even held loads of animals during my stay. It was magical, and I’d love to do it again. Thank you so much.