Amazon Travelers Recommend

One of the best ways to experience the Amazon basin is to hike right through it, observing the majesty of the towering trees and diversity of wildlife on a very human scale. If you’re planning to get out into the jungle and stretch your legs, here are some of your best options.

Gocta Waterfalls

A popular day trip from Chachapoyas city takes visitors to some of the highest waterfalls in the world. A typical guided excursion includes a moderate 2.5-hour hike through the Amazon with a chance to take a refreshing dip in the pools near the base of the falls.

Tiger River Waterfall

If you’re looking for a short hike, opt for a trek to the Tiger River Waterfall from Oxapampa. This short trail, which only takes about 45 minutes, passes through pine and cypress forests, and across a suspension bridge above the Tiger River.

Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park

This national park protects some of Peru’s most spectacular natural areas—cloud forests, highlands, and deep tropical jungles. Situated about 20 minutes from Oxapampa by car, the park is a popular destination for hikers hoping for a chance to spot orchids, monkeys, and maybe even signs of bears.

Yanamono Reserve

Situated along the Amazon River about 50 miles (80 kilometers) outside of Iquitos City, Yanamono Reserve’s corner of the Amazon jungle possesses a huge diversity of arboreal species. On a 2-hour excursion, hikers can spot the white silk cotton tree and other native plants that make the area so unique.

Lodge Treks

Many of the best hiking trails in the Peruvian Amazon are accessible mainly via jungle lodges. Travelers on multi-day itineraries into the jungle often stay at such accommodations while taking daily guided jungle treks through the surrounding rain forests.

Many travelers come to Iquitos as a jumping off point for Peru’s fine selection of Amazon lodges. Scattered along the region’s rivers (not only the Amazon River itself), these rain forest accommodations offer the opportunity to commune with nature in some of Peru’s most pristine areas. Here are some your best bets for overnight stays.

Heliconia Amazon River Lodge

Named after one of the most stunning flowers of the Amazon, the Heliconia Amazon River Lodge sits within a 99-acre (40-hectare) rain forest reserve in the northern Peruvian Amazon. A typical 3-day stay at the lodge might include a cruise by canoe along the Amazon River to spot monkeys and tropical birds, a visit to a local sugarcane distillery, and guided hikes through the jungle.

Maniti Eco-Lodge

Situated two hours from Iquitos by boat, the Maniti Eco-Lodge comprises several private bungalows set amid secondary growth rainforest. Most overnight visitors to the lodge spend some time exploring the aptly named Monkey Island for the chance to observe several species in the wild. Other activities include fishing for piranha, cruising the Amazon River in search of pink freshwater dolphins, or taking a nocturnal hike to see, and hear, the creatures of the night.

Irapay Amazon Lodge

Located just 30 minutes outside of Iquitos, this luxury lodge offers a convenient base for exploring the Peruvian Amazon, complete with amenities like a refreshing swimming pool. Itineraries from the lodge often include a jungle hike, a piranha fishing excursion on the Momon River, a nocturnal boat ride, and a visit to a local tribe.

Curassow Amazon Lodge

This lodge gets its name from a rare Amazonian bird, a threatened species called the Wattled Curassow that’s sometimes spotted in the area. Situated on the Yanayacu River, the lodge serves as a base for exploring the nearby Tamshiyacu Reserve, home to sloths, pink dolphins, alligators, and numerous birds.

Ceiba Tops Lodge

Set on the banks of the Amazon River, 25 miles (40 kilometers) outside Iquitos, Ceiba Tops Lodge features luxurious digs with amenities including air conditioning, a swimming pool with a water slide, and a hammock house for relaxing outdoors. After a day spent hiking through the nearby rain forest, overnight guests enjoy live music at the lodge.

Peru’s famed “Gateway to the Amazon” was once just a humble Jesuit outpost in the jungle, until the Industrial Age. With that revolution—particularly after the widespread adoption of the automobile—international demand for rubber exploded. Harvested from the Amazon wilderness and sold here in Iquitos for a fraction of its worth on the global market, the sticky sap gave rise to impossibly wealthy rubber barons who indulged in extravagant architectural marvels, still scattered throughout Iquitos like gemstones.

Today, Iquitos is once again thriving thanks to tourism and oil, but remains quite isolated, as the largest city in the world that can’t be reached by road. Hot, humid and replete with the rainforest's intense biodiversity, it is entirely different from Peru’s windswept deserts and Andean highlands. Dress accordingly and give yourself time to acclimate to the heat. Expect rain throughout the year, particularly February through May, when rising waters make for more interesting riverboat excursions, but difficult hiking.

Day 1: Explore the City

Get started early with a canoe tour of Belen, Iquitos’ famous floating barrio. The early morning hours are when this neighborhood is at its freshest and its famous market is at its busiest. After popping into the amazing maze of stalls selling herbs, tinctures, unusual fruits and even weirder fish, enjoy lunch at one of several floating seafood restaurants. 

Back in the city proper, you’ll find dozens of impressive buildings, the finest around the Plaza de Armas and long the Itaya River. The colorfully Gothic Iglesia Matriz and gleaming Casa de Hierro are among the most famous, but there are many more. If Museums are your game, check out the Museo Etnografico, with exhibits about local indigenous culture, or the Natural Science Museum, with information about local flora and fauna. Otherwise, just stroll the Tarapaca River Walk for soothing views, souvenir shopping at the Mercado San Juan, and perhaps an adult beverage in the breeze.

Day 2: The Birth of a River

Book a trip to the beginning of the Amazon, at the confluence of Maranon and Ucayali Rivers, about 183km (114mi) southwest of Iquitos. This is also the gateway to Peru’s largest, most biodiverse protected area, Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samiria. The vast and perpetually flooded rainforest is home to all manner of wildlife, including the region’s famed pink dolphins and more than 500 species of bird. You could make a day of it or arrange to stay overnight in one of several jungle lodges.

Day 3: Enjoy All the Amazon Has to Offer

This is the largest, most biodiverse rainforest in the world, but chances are that the wildlife wasn’t quite as easy to spot as implied. No problem! Head out to amazing Quistacocha Zoological park, a sprawling 425-hectare (1050-acre) park just 6.5km (4mi) from Iquitos, where you’ll find tapirs, big cats, capybaras, manatees, monkeys, anteaters and all sorts of exotic birds in ample displays amidst the rainforest. There’s even a lake with a petite beach, and kayaks. Other excellent wildlife displays include Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm and Animal Orphanage, Isla de los Monos (Monkey Island) and Fundo Pedrito Caiman Sanctuary.

Or, if you’ve been out on the river for far too long and find yourself aching for some civilization, head to the Amazon Golf Course, an nine-hole oasis where “it's not so much birdies and eagles; more like boas in the rough, caimans sunning in the sand traps, and piranhas lurking in the water holes.” It claims to be the only course in the world where golfers are issued a machete to carry in their golf bag.

For many travelers, the country of Peru serves as a main entry point to the Amazon rain forest. Time-crunched adventurers may head straight for the bush, but spending the night at one of Puerto Maldonado’s Amazon lodges is the perfect way to prepare for (or recover from) a trek into the jungle.

Corto Maltés Amazonia Lodge

This collection of wooden bungalows offers amenities such as private terraces with hammocks, a swimming pool, and a bar offering tropical cocktails. When they’re not relaxing at the lodge, guests are often out exploring the surrounding forests, where it’s possible to spot colorful parrots, caimans, monkeys, snakes, and occasionally the illusive jaguar.

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica

This luxury eco-lodge is accessible from the Madre de Dios River via a motorized canoe. Elegant thatch-roofed cabanas, canopy walkways through the treetops, and wooden footbridges over natural wetlands offer travelers an up-close look at Amazon basin wildlife. Common guest activities include canoeing on Lake Sandoval or trekking through the jungle in search of river otters and red-bellied macaws.

Posada Amazonas Lodge

Kerosene lamps and flickering candles lend a rustic feel to this all-natural eco-lodge situated along the Tambopata National Reserve. Windowless verandas overlook the tropical rain forest and allow guests to glimpse wild monkeys and colorful birds without leaving the comfort of their rooms.

Refugio Amazonas

Refugio Amazonas is the headquarters for the Wired Amazon citizen science program, making it an excellent option for curious visitors who want to learn more about local ecosystems. The lodge sits within the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve, an area guests often explore via boat ride or jungle trek.

Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion

Located 45 minutes from Puerto Maldonado by motorized canoe, this rustic accommodation is popular among jungle-trekking travelers. Scenic nature trails along secluded Lake Sandoval and wildlife viewing aboard traditional dugout canoes are just a couple of the relaxing options for visitors looking to get in touch with nature while staying in the lap of luxury.

The town of Iquitos is Peru’s “Gateway to the Amazon”—an isolated outpost accessible only by boat or plane. The city sits right on the banks of the Amazon River, offering easy access for river cruises on this famous South American waterway. Here’s what you need to know about cruising the Amazon River in Peru.

Day Cruises

A day cruise only gives you a tiny glimpse of the mighty Amazon River, but it’s a worthwhile excursion, especially for travelers in a time crunch. A typical boat tour will navigate the waters of Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve for the chance to spot pink and gray river dolphins, as well as spider monkeys and colorful macaws in the surrounding jungle. Depending on the itinerary, you might also have time for a stop in Nauta to explore the local market.

Multi-Day Cruises

Multi-day cruises through the Amazon rain forest can last anywhere from three days to a week. Sleep in jungle lodges or aboard a luxury river vessel. Different itineraries explore different parts of the region, but almost always include wildlife excursions in search of sloths, monkeys, tropical birds, and local flora (like the giant water lily); night walks; and visits to indigenous villages.

Things to Know

• Day cruises on the Amazon from Iquitos last up to 10 hours, while multi-day itineraries range from three to eight days.

• Cruise boats can access more tributaries of the river during the wet season, but the dry season is better for hiking excursions through the jungle.

• Don’t forget to pack insect protection in the form of repellant and protective clothing.

• Most travelers arrive in Iquitos via a connecting flight from Lima.

• Cruises on the Peruvian Amazon either depart from Iquitos or Nauta, about 90 minutes away.

More than 600 species of birds from some 60 families have been spotted in Peru’s Amazon Basin, and the area around Iquitos is an avian hotspot. Birdwatchers come from around the world for the opportunity to see species found nowhere else on earth. Here’s what you need to know.

When to Go Many bird species in the Amazon are permanent residents, so every season offers an opportunity for sightings. The best time of year to visit depends on whether you plan to cruise or stay at eco-lodges. For the former, plan to visit during the wet season (November to April), when smaller waterways are accessible by boat. For the latter, visit during the dry season (May to October). January and February are typically the wettest months.

Where to Go Each biome in the Peruvian rainforests serves as a habitat for its own diverse birds. The Manu Biosphere Reserve is believed to have the highest concentration of avian life anywhere on the planet. Tambopata and Pacaya-Samiria National Reserves, both home to more than 500 species, are much more easily accessible than Manu. Multi-day tours through the Amazon region pass through multiple biomes in an effort to maximize bird-watching opportunities.

What You’ll See There are well over 1,700 registered bird species in Peru—hundreds of them in the Amazon rainforest—and new species are discovered each year. Among the many colorful species on display are macaws, toucans, cotingas, hummingbirds, tanagers, and honeycreepers. Meanwhile, the Amazon River and its tributaries are home to kingfishers, herons, ibis, storks, and sunbitterns.

The brightly colored macaws of the Amazon basin in Peru display an unusual behavior: They gather in the hundreds on steep walls of red clay for a salty snack. It’s one of the most dazzling sights, especially for bird lovers. Here’s what you need to know about experiencing this natural phenomenon.

What Is a Clay Lick?

Clay licks are typically steep walls of red clay exposed by erosion along the riverbanks of the western Amazon basin. In what is one of science’s great mysteries, hundreds of parrots and parakeets flock to these to gather and eat the clay. Some researchers theorize that the birds use the mineral-rich clay to augment a diet low in sodium, which is lacking in this area of the Amazon. Others think the clay helps to neutralize toxins absorbed from eating certain plants.

Where to Go

The southern and western Amazon rain forests have the highest concentrations of clay licks anywhere in the region. One of the largest, the Chuncho clay lick, sits in the heart of the Tambopata National Reserve. Others can be found near the Manu Wildlife Center, the Heath River Wildlife Center, Refugio Amazonas Lodge, and the Posada Amazonas Lodge.

How to Go

The most convenient way to see this colorful spectacle is to take a day trip or overnight tour from Puerto Maldonado. In as little as half a day, visit a clay lick within Tambopata National Reserve and stop at a small lake to fish for piranhas. Guests with more time can opt for a 2-, 3-, or 4-day tour for the chance to visit macaw licks, hike through the jungle, soak up the views of Sandoval Lake, and possibly spot monkeys, peccaries, capybaras, tapirs, and plenty of tropical birds.