Museum of Historic Boats
Museum of Historic Boats
4.5
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
About
The museum is in the historic steamboat "Ayapua" and exhibits Amazon navigation, discovery of the Amazon, missionary outposts, old Iquitos, explorers of the Amazon, rubber industry, atrocities of the Putomayo, and making of the Fitzcarraldo film. The museum is open daily from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingWhat is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
153 within 5 kms
Attractions
26 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
149 reviews
Excellent
72
Very good
61
Average
16
Poor
0
Terrible
0
melissassm
Sault Ste. Marie, Canada3,184 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
It was amazing to learn about the history of the rubber trade and the city of Iquitos ON one of the historic ships that was part of that history. The museum is organized over 3 floors, and, blissfully has air conditioning. Definitely worth 30 mins of your time while in Iquitos. This museum is also called "Historic Ship Museum Ayapua" and on Google maps shows up as "Boat Museum"
Written 23 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nina
Puerto Villamil, Galapagos, Ecuador25 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
In June of 2015, a friend and I successfully travelled from Iquitos, Peru to Coca, Ecuador by boat on the Rio Napo, here is how we did it:
1) If you ask around at hotels or tourist operations, you can find a place to buy a speed boat ticket from the town of Mazan to Santa Clotilde, they leave nearly every day of the week early in the morning (people will be more than willing to help).
2) The first leg is to take a boat from Iquitos to Indiana (make sure you go to the right dock), then take a bike taxi from there to the other side of the islet, a little town called Mazan to cut a loop of river and time from your trip. At Mazan there are a couple of cheap places to stay the night. The boat will leave in the morning and tak
3) The boat will leave in the morning and take a good portion of the day to reach Santa Clotilde. From here we had a hard time, we had missed the cargo boat that only goes once a month to Ecuador, and also apparently missed a speed boat that goes once a week (although I am not sure if this really exists). After hours wandering the docks and talking to boat owners, getting some pretty crazy offers that we could not afford, we heard about Geofilio. There is a pretty nice hostel right on the dock of this very small town, that I would recommend. We found him (well, he found us really) the next morning and offered to bring us down in his peke-peke. This is a canoe like boat run by the equivalent of a lawn mower motor. He offered to take us to Coca (where he has some family) for a reasonable price, and we assented. Geofilio Rivadenegro Maldonado and his partner Doris Imunido Eraes (sp?) brought us to Coca over the course of three days. We stayed the nights in huts along the river, and were offered some food but a lot of generosity by the people we met. Geofilio and Doris slept in the peke-peke. I would suggest bringing a book or several and maybe cards for this trip, there is a lotting of sitting around without being able to talk much over the noise of the motor.
4) We stopped in the Peruvian border town of Pantoja, where we got our exit stamps with the guidance of Geofilio, and crossed into Ecuador. In Nueva Rocafuerte (where the daughter of Geofilio lives) we got our entrance stamps from a place that you can tell doesn’t get a lot of traffic (I suggest double checking your stamp before you leave) also with the help of our friends. We stayed that night with his daughter and their friends, happy to once again be in a larger town.
5) From Nueva Rocafuerte, a boat to Coca leave every day in the early morning, and was easy to find and get tickets to. Again, the trip took most of the day. But we had made it back to a land with ATMs (which was a relief as we spent our last pennies on the boats).
In short, the trip was incredibly rewarding, but very long, I would not suggest it unless you have plenty of time, a flexible schedule, and patience. I promised Geofilio I would put his number on a couple of sites for him, he would like to increase his income by helping people like me out.
For a boat from Santa Clotilde to Nueva Rocafuerte or vice versa CALL (+51) 950955593 for Geofilio. And tell him the two girls from Colorado say hi .
1) If you ask around at hotels or tourist operations, you can find a place to buy a speed boat ticket from the town of Mazan to Santa Clotilde, they leave nearly every day of the week early in the morning (people will be more than willing to help).
2) The first leg is to take a boat from Iquitos to Indiana (make sure you go to the right dock), then take a bike taxi from there to the other side of the islet, a little town called Mazan to cut a loop of river and time from your trip. At Mazan there are a couple of cheap places to stay the night. The boat will leave in the morning and tak
3) The boat will leave in the morning and take a good portion of the day to reach Santa Clotilde. From here we had a hard time, we had missed the cargo boat that only goes once a month to Ecuador, and also apparently missed a speed boat that goes once a week (although I am not sure if this really exists). After hours wandering the docks and talking to boat owners, getting some pretty crazy offers that we could not afford, we heard about Geofilio. There is a pretty nice hostel right on the dock of this very small town, that I would recommend. We found him (well, he found us really) the next morning and offered to bring us down in his peke-peke. This is a canoe like boat run by the equivalent of a lawn mower motor. He offered to take us to Coca (where he has some family) for a reasonable price, and we assented. Geofilio Rivadenegro Maldonado and his partner Doris Imunido Eraes (sp?) brought us to Coca over the course of three days. We stayed the nights in huts along the river, and were offered some food but a lot of generosity by the people we met. Geofilio and Doris slept in the peke-peke. I would suggest bringing a book or several and maybe cards for this trip, there is a lotting of sitting around without being able to talk much over the noise of the motor.
4) We stopped in the Peruvian border town of Pantoja, where we got our exit stamps with the guidance of Geofilio, and crossed into Ecuador. In Nueva Rocafuerte (where the daughter of Geofilio lives) we got our entrance stamps from a place that you can tell doesn’t get a lot of traffic (I suggest double checking your stamp before you leave) also with the help of our friends. We stayed that night with his daughter and their friends, happy to once again be in a larger town.
5) From Nueva Rocafuerte, a boat to Coca leave every day in the early morning, and was easy to find and get tickets to. Again, the trip took most of the day. But we had made it back to a land with ATMs (which was a relief as we spent our last pennies on the boats).
In short, the trip was incredibly rewarding, but very long, I would not suggest it unless you have plenty of time, a flexible schedule, and patience. I promised Geofilio I would put his number on a couple of sites for him, he would like to increase his income by helping people like me out.
For a boat from Santa Clotilde to Nueva Rocafuerte or vice versa CALL (+51) 950955593 for Geofilio. And tell him the two girls from Colorado say hi .
Written 6 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James g
Brisbane, Australia19 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
Iquitos was a boom/bust rubber town in the late 19th/early 20th century. The arrival of steamships opened up the opportunity for commercial export and trade, and one of the few remaining boats, the Ayapua, now houses a brilliant little museum about Iquitos and the rubber trade in particular. The Ayapua itself has been meticulously restored and the collection of original maps, books and articles going back to the first explorers is as fascinating as it is unexpected. You don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy this - my teenage sons loved it - and for the price of entry you also get a 30 minute trip out on to the Amazon on an old wooden launch for a totally different view of Iquitos, new and old.
If you stop over in Iquitos for more than just a night, don’t miss this gem - it’s easy to find, cheap to go in and you’ll come away awed by the history.
If you stop over in Iquitos for more than just a night, don’t miss this gem - it’s easy to find, cheap to go in and you’ll come away awed by the history.
Written 3 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AgnesBlanche2014
Little Cayman133 contributions
Jan 2022
Do not miss the visit. You will learn about the history of Iquitos and the Rubber boom and why it declined... The visit of the boat itself is as well recommended
Written 7 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
periplanomeni
Athens, Greece28 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
Looks a bit dilapidated but isn't! Fascinating and interesting facts about the rubber industry in Iquitos and more!
Written 14 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Xime377
Wageningen, The Netherlands33 contributions
Dec 2017 • Business
It is located near to the boulevard. The ticket included a trip in an old boat in the Itaya river which was very nice. It has a small bar at the top of the boat.
Written 6 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheFriedmans
Skokie, Illinois USA88 contributions
Nov 2017
This museum gives a great review of the rubber industry in Peru in the early 1900's. The boat is from that era and is full of exhibits from that era.
Written 18 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maureen C
Armidale, Australia18 contributions
Mar 2020
My interest was initially curiosity as I spent time on the Ayapua years ago as a research volunteer with Earthwatch. While the ship herself has lost some of the original sumptuous shine I remember, the exhibits were very interesting - so much history here! The views from the top of course are lovely - very glad I visited her again!
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cammerayguy
Sydney, Australia430 contributions
Aug 2019
We weren't expecting much from a local museum on a boat - but the exhibits in the (airconditioned) cabins were fascinating and a gave a real i8nsight into early navigation on the Amazon. Lots of original documents on display, and of course there is the old boat to explore. Worth the small admission charge.
Written 1 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pilbeam
Burnley, England141 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
It doesn't take long to see all the boat but it is an eye opener. The rooms contain displays of what it would have been like in the rubber heydays and plaques contain interesting information on the historic detail of the boat. If you've never been on such a boat pay a trip, it's a great way to get a bit of peace and quiet away from the bustle of Iquitos.
Written 14 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing