For The Protection and Preservation of Monkeys
Welcome
La Isla de los Monos is a 450 hectare island sanctuary and rescue centre located 30km from Iquitos in the Amazon jungle of Peru.
Our project rescues, rehabilitates and releases New World monkeys.
Since 1997 we have dedicated ourselves to the care of monkeys that have been victims of illegal animal trafficking. We believe in freedom for the animals, that they should not be trapped in cages or victims of illegal trade.
During your visit, you can observe a variety of species in their natural habitat and learn about how we care for young monkeys so they grow strong, healthy and independent.
Founder of Monkey Island Gilberto Guerra
We care for 8 Species of New World Monkey
We are currently rehabilitating 8 species of New World Monkey, living free at our sanctuary.
A few of our monkeys are in cages – the small babies will sleep in cages overnight for their safety and security, and they may also be in cages for mealtimes so their intake can be monitored.
Some larger monkeys are also in cages as we as we prepare them for release.
Capuchin Monkeys
visit us
What to expect
Prepare for your amazing experience
- Walk straight to reception when you arrive.
- Do not touch any wild animal that does not touch you first!
- Wear long pants and shoes.
- Do not wear insect repellant or sunscreen.
Visiting La Isla de los Monos is more than just a trip to a sanctuary – it’s a chance to immerse yourself in the vital work of wildlife conservation.
From the moment you arrive, you’ll gain insight into the challenges of protecting New World monkeys and the ongoing fight against animal trafficking. Our goal is to provide an unforgettable experience that not only connects you with these incredible animals but also inspires action to preserve their natural habitats.
We are open every day except Christmas Day.
Ways to Visit Us
1
Visit Us By Yourself using Public Transport.
(Lowest cost but longer travel time)
You can take a fast boat from Puerto de Productores (Producers Port) in Iquitos to Varadero. The boats leave when they are full and the journey will take around 30 minutes.
Before you depart contact us on Whatsapp +51 987610985 (Lucero) or +51 965841808 (Jair), and let us know the name of the boat you are traveling on.
We will organise our small boat (“peque peque”) to meet you in Varadero and bring you to the island. This will take 30 minutes.
Upon arrival on the island, you will pay for your entrance fee and you will be able to enjoy a tour of approximately 1 hour, where we will tell you all about our rescue and release project and where you will be able to appreciate numerous species of monkeys in their natural habitat.
To return to Iquitos you take our small boat (“peque peque”) from the centre to Indiana and from here take the fast boat back to Iquitos.
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Note: When the water levels are low (between July and November) the fast boat will bring you to the point of the island where there is a 20 minute walk through the jungle to get to the centre. This means you don’t need to take the small boat (“peque peque”) from Varadero, but you’ll take it back to Varadero/Indiana for your trip home.
Costs Per Person
-
Fast Boat S/ 50
S/ 25 each way
-
Small Boat (Peque peque) S/ 30
S/ 15 each way or S/ 20 for a single person
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Island Entrance (Foreigners) S/ 50
Children S/ 20
-
Island Entrance (Peruvians) S/ 30
Children S/ 10
Entrance to Puerto de Productores
Varadero and the peque peque
Entrance to La isla de Los Monos
2
Visit Us By Yourself with a fast boat
(Good for larger groups and faster travel time)
From Puerto Nanay you can hire a private boat that will bring you directly to the entrance of the island and then back to Iquitos. The price depends on the number of passengers and the trip will take ~45 minutes.
Before you depart you can either negotiate with the boat drivers directly or contact us and we can organise a boat for you.
Costs
-
Private Fast Boat S/ 400
Approximately
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Island Entrance (Foreigners) S/ 50
Children S/ 20
-
Island Entrance (Peruvians) S/ 30
Children S/ 10
3
Visit us with a Tour
Most jungle tours from Iquitos will include La Isla de Los Monos as one of their stops along with other areas along the river.
Note: Make sure to confirm with your guide that you are coming to the legitimate Monkey Island, because there is another monkey centre that has been set up close to Iquitos which does not have the same commitment to caring for their animals.
Our office in Iquitos is at Loreto 380, Iquitos
Our island is 30km from Iquitos
Volunteer with us
Come and join us for the experience of a lifetime! No experience required!
There’s always a lot of work to do here at the rescue centre and we’re looking for volunteers that would like to be a member of our team and work hand-in-hand with us.
Our doors are open to receive people who want to come and have a unique experience, working and living together with monkeys in the middle of the amazon jungle.
No previous monkey experience is required, just bring your passion and enthusiasm to care for the animals and get involved with all tasks around the centre.
The requirements are:
- Minimum stay: 1 week
- Older than 18 years (+18)
The volunteering fee is tiered to make it easier to stay longer with us – this includes your accomodation and food that is prepared for you.
“Found my new happy place… As a volunteer you are kept busy prepping food, feeding, cleaning, planting, and most of all, playing with the monkeys. My favourite time of day was first thing in the morning when you would get sleepy monkey cuddles – it was such a serene time.”
TRIP ADVISOR REVIEW
Projects
We’re fundraising for three critical projects that will make a huge difference – not just for the monkeys we care for today, but for every monkey who comes through our doors in the future.
Finish our Kitchen
With our current kitchen falling into the jungle we urgently need to finish our new kitchen project that stalled during the pandemic.
Establish a vet center
A veterinary centre will serve as our first dedicated space for quarantine, medical care, and rehabilitation for monkeys in need.
Upgrade Our Solar
Reducing our reliance on gasoline is a key way to save money as the prices only increase. Our current system needs more capacity so we no longer need to run generators for added power
Education
We have always concentrated on educating our visitors and local communities about the importance of caring for monkeys and the local environment.
With all of our outreach programs we’re always learning from the people we speak with as well as sharing our understanding of the environment we all live in.
Stay Up To Date with the island
Due to the amount of work our staff and volunteers put into running the center we do not send many newsletters, but if you’d like to receive any we do send please sign up below.
Recent Visitor Comments
“A warm recommendation to donate/visit/volunteer.”
“A wonderful place. It seemed completely legit, compared to some other rescue centers I’ve seen in the past. The staff was professional and friendly, and the guidance was of great quality. We had some chats with the volunteers as well, and they all were positive about the way this place is run.
But be prepared, it’s quite heartbreaking to spend time with these lovely & cuddly rescued monkeys — and imagine what they’ve been through.”
vipefi
Helsinki, Finland
“It was a great experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
While I hate to see monkeys in captivity — or in this case semi captivity — I understand and accept that sometimes it is necessary. The founder of this organization truly cares about monkeys. I was able to tell from our conversation at the office in downtown Iquitos; and if anyone knows anything about Iquitos, it’s a prime spot for wildlife trafficking. Almost all the monkeys on the island are rescues.
Yes, they’re habituated to humans, and [some] may likely never be released, but they are well taken care of by someone who has a passion for their well-being. The facility serves a purpose in reminding people just how cruel humans can be to wildlife and it reinforces the need for education so that a place like this doesn’t need to exist in the future.
STWAWK
Baltimore, MD
“We had such a great time there! Very educational as well.”
So happy to see the monkeys running around in the jungle freely and happily!
Most of them are really friendly and social around humans. It’s ongoing battle against those cruel people who hunt monkeys for illegal and greedy purposes and we have sooo much respect for the fighters who work in this rescue center and do their best to keep our furry friends safe and sound until they are ready for the wild again… Our guide was so helpful and we can tell he cares so deeply about all the monkeys. Thank you all so much and plz keep up with this amazing work! 💚🙏🥹
Shi WW
China
