Traveling from Peru to Ecuador is for you if you’re down for a five-day river adventure where you’re stopping in remote jungle towns, probably the only non-local on the boat, and spending 10-17 hours riding on a little river boat.
In exchange, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the Amazon, gorgeous sunsets over the Napo river (a tributary to the Amazon), and a great story to tell over an Ecuadorian beer. I made this trip in the winter of 2023 and wrote this guide because it was very difficult to find any information about the trip. So, without further ado, here’s a step-by-step guide, including costs, travel times, and tips to make your journey smooth.
Important Note: The boat from Santa Clotilda to Pantoja departs only once a week, making it the main timing consideration for your journey. As of last year, the boat departed on Wednesday.
Please note that the prices might be higher than listed.
Why Take the Boat from Peru to Ecuador?
Traveling by boat from Peru to Ecuador is a bold, but budget-friendly alternative to flying. Although it takes about five days and involves around 35 hours on the river, the entire journey costs around $100. Compare that to a $300 flight, and you’ll find that this route offers savings alongside earning yourself a badass story to tell.
If you’re a traveler who enjoys the journey as much as the destination, and doesn’t mind ditching WiFi for extended periods (you will have zero service or WiFi for the entire trip), this river adventure is for you.
Step-by-Step Guide to Traveling by Boat from Peru to Ecuador
Below you will find a step by step guide to traveling from Iquitos, Peru to Coca, Ecuador.
1. Iquitos to Mazan
- Cost: 15 Soles
- Travel Time: 1.5 hours
- Departure: Frequent departures; boats leave when filled
Start your journey in Iquitos, where boats depart frequently from the port for Mazan. This leg of the trip takes about an hour and a half. Be prepared to wait for the boat to fill, as it departs only once it reaches capacity. You’ll leave from Puerto Lao in Iquitos. This is the fun part.
Mazan: Where to Stay
Once you arrive in Mazan, you’ll need to take a short tuk tuk into town. You’ll likely need to stay overnight since the next boat only leaves in the morning. There isn’t much to see in the town, but there are a few restaurants and a nice view of the river. When I stayed here, it started raining so so so so hard.
For accommodation in Mazan, I recommend:
- This spot: a place in Mazan with a balcony overlooking the town costs 26 soles per night, though it can be a bit noisy due to late-night music. They are all private rooms and were clean.
- Alternatively, a quieter but less comfortable option to sleep is available for 25 soles.
2. Mazan to Santa Clotilda
- Cost: 250 Soles (includes travel to Pantoja)
- Travel Time: 6 hours
- Departure: Daily at 9 am from the Mazan dock
From Mazan, head to Santa Clotilda on a boat that departs daily at 9 am. Arrive 30 minutes early to secure a good seat (and by God, you’re going to want a good spot). Some travelers prefer getting on the schedule the day before, but arriving the morning of departure works too. The boat departs from the docks on the east side of town.
Santa Clotilda: A Quiet Stopover
Santa Clotilda is a small town with limited activities, although you can climb the water tower for a great view! Stay in a local guesthouse for around 20 soles per night. Good food is a bit hard to find, so prepare yourself from chicken, plantains, and rice!
3. Santa Clotilda to Pantoja
- Cost: 250 Soles (included with Mazan to Pantoja fare)
- Travel Time: 15 hours
- Departure: Once a week, at 4 am (typically Wednesdays)
This is the longest and most challenging stretch of the journey. Boats to Pantoja leave only once a week at 4 am. We recommend arriving at 3:30 am to get a comfortable spot. Get ready for a long day. This trip took us 15 hours, albeit with a brief maintenance break and 15 minutes pushing the boat off a sandbank. They do pass out a meal in the morning — chicken and rice and a water bottle — and they stop at a village for lunch as well. But I would recommend bringing more food and water. The boat leaves at 4am — it’s advisable to get there at 3:30 in order to get a decent seat.
Bring a book. Bring something to keep you from going crazy!
It’s honestly an incredible journey. You’ll stop alongside sandbars where locals will be waiting to get picked up by the boat. And you’ll squeeze onboard with merchandise being sent down river (like a fridge). You might even get to join in with the locals in a booze fest, as was happening opposite us.
Pantoja: Border and Accommodation
Welcome to Ecuador! Upon arrival in Pantoja, be sure to get an exit stamp for your passport. We had no issues with this, as the authorities met us at the dock, but some say that it wasn’t clear that they had to do this, and that caused them major issues when they tried to leave Ecuador. Get your passport stamped! The town offers basic accommodation for 25 soles per person. It seemed a bit steep given there wasn’t electricity or running water, but we weren’t in a position to bargain.
4. Pantoja to Nuevo Rocafuerte
- Cost: $15
- Travel Time: 3 hours
- Departure: 6 am
This leg involves a small private motorboat from Pantoja to Nuevo Rocafuerte in Ecuador. Once you arrive, you’ll need to get your passport stamped at the office near the docks (open 8 am – 12 pm, 1 pm – 5 pm). In Nuevo Rocafuerte, you’ll find a few hostels and restaurants around the hospital. We stayed at a hostel near the docks for $8 per person, which offered Wi-Fi. If you want, you can also spend the night on the boat that you’ll take in the morning.
This town was a bit bigger and finally had some decent food to eat. Cheer up, you’re almost at the end.
5. Nuevo Rocafuerte to Coca
- Cost: $22 (slow boat) or ~$40 (fast boat)
- Travel Time: 11 hours (slow boat) or 7 hours (fast boat)
- Departure: 6 am for slow boat; check for fast boat availability
From Nuevo Rocafuerte, take a boat to Coca. The slower boat, costing $22, leaves at 6 am and takes about 11 hours, with a coffee stop and a riverside lunch break. The faster boat, available for around $40, reduces travel time to approximately 7 hours but may leave closer to 11 am. We took the slow boat. There’s coffee on board and along the way, they stop for lunch at a riverside village.
Coca: Your Final Destination in Ecuador
Congratulations—you’ve made it to Coca! From here, you can continue exploring Ecuador or travel to Tena by bys, which takes about 4 hours. Coca offers a great starting point for further travel in Ecuador.
A funny story from our journey to Tena. We caught a night bus after we arrived, post spending 5 days without internet or media on the river. We found seats in the back of the bus and laid down to try to get some sleep. First, the road to Tena was mountainous and like riding on a roller coaster. I highly recommend NOT sitting in the back of the bus! Next, the screens popped out and they began playing a movie. What movie did they play? Ouija. At full blast. Screams and demon sounds and everything. After five days of silence in nature. And there were little kids on that bus.
Additional Tips for Your Peru to Ecuador Boat Journey
- Timing: Plan for a flexible schedule, as boat departures can vary, especially from Santa Clotilda.
- Snacks: Bring some snacks along. There is only junk food, chicken, plantains, and rice to purchase along the way. There are no vegetables as veggies are very hard to grow in the jungle.
- Connectivity: If you need connectivity, consider purchasing a SIM card from Movistar. Apparently, they’re the best for the region. However, reception may still be patchy or none existent.
- Download Spanish on Google translate.
Conclusion: An Adventurous Way to Travel from Peru to Ecuador
If you’re down for a crazy adventure, complete with alligators, trees as tall as skyscrapers, remote villages, chicken and rice, sweet locals, and a chance to practice your Spanish, then this adventure is for you. I hope these tips helped. Please reach out if you have any specific questions.
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