Visiting the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest is a travel experience that will last a lifetime. At Atelier we care deeply about the cultural connection local people have with this Eden-like land, as much as the rich—yet under threat—biodiversity and wildlife. As such, every opportunity to visit and admire the world’s largest rainforest is one to remember, though which of the three main entry points of Iquitos, Tambopata and Manu, is best for you and your Amazon experience?
In many ways there is no “best” Amazon destination, as any immersion into the Peruvian rainforest will provide the same endless fascination, iconic species, endemic flora and fauna, and as much intrigue as excitement throughout your journey. Generally speaking, the best time to visit the Amazon is May to September, the dry season, though weather is unpredictable throughout the year—this is the rainforest after all! Rain patterns do impact cruise routes and accessibility of certain nature trails, as well as the abundance of different wildlife species, depending on the time of year, so speak to an Atelier specialist before planning your journey.
From luxury river cruises to boutique or eco-lodges, expert guides and conservation projects to visit, the variety of experiences in the Peruvian Amazon is as varied as the jungle itself. There are differences between Iquitos, Tambopata and Manu however, so we’ve looked at where to go in the Peruvian Amazon to make sure your journey with Atelier is the one you’ve been dreaming of.
Great for: Amazon river cruises, visiting local communities, short and long stays of 5+ days.
Accessible via daily flights from Lima, Iquitos is a wonderful entry point for Amazon cruises and the capital of Loreto, one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet with nearly 900 species of freshwater fish alone, plus primates and plenty more besides. This riverside city, a designated Cultural Heritage Site, is big and bustling with local restaurants and markets as well as well-maintained buildings that date to the 19th century rubber boom. Some are adorned with the original roof tiles imported from Portugal and Spain, and the city’s Casa de Fierro was designed by the architect of Paris’s famous Eiffel tower, Gustave Eiffel! You may want to spend a day exploring Iquitos, if nothing else but the fascination of a sprawling city deep within the Amazon Rainforest.
From here you have incredible Amazon River cruises to choose from, such as the Delfin II and Aqua Nera, which will float you through the waterways and channels of Peru’s Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Sprawling over 8,000sq miles, Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is one of the Peru’s biggest protected areas at roughly the same size as El Salvador! This stunning region is among the best in Peru’s northern Amazon for wildlife spotting and outdoor activities, all in the comfort of a boutique cruise vessel and with expert guides on hand at all times.
If you’re looking to fully immerse yourself into the wonders of the Amazon, a cruise to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve gives you the chance to do just that. Ranging from 3–7 days in length, these intimate cruises are a great opportunity to see iconic species like pink river dolphins, howler monkeys, sloths, and endless native plant life too.
There are also a handful of excellent Amazon lodges near Iquitos. You can reach these remote spots by boat and enjoy the wonders of the rainforest from a single location, spending your days on wildlife trails, incredible hanging bridges, birdwatching walks and night safaris, with locally sourced cuisine and comfortable cabins to come home to.
Along the way, if journeying into the Amazon from Iquitos you have many opportunities to visit local indigenous communities, seeing the traditional forest way of life first-hand and giving an altogether different glimpse of how Peruvian people have lived and thrived in such an untamed landscape.
Great for: Rainforest lodges, short stays, huge biodiversity.
Puerto Maldonado, capital of the Madre de Dios Region in southern Peru, is much smaller than Iquitos and known for its pretty plazas and buildings that evoke the city’s early 20th century origins. Madre de Dios is especially known for its abundant biodiversity, home to more than 750 bird species, 2,500 plant varieties and nearly 1,600 different types of butterflies. You can also access the magnificent Tambopata National Reserve from here, a wonderland of towering trees, mangroves, and the Amazon’s unmistakable Macaw clay licks.
The waterways that stretch out from Puerto Maldonado are well explored on day trips from bases like the awarded Tambopata Research Center or boutique Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. Both of these eco-conscious lodges are perfectly placed to see the best of the Peruvian Amazon with abundant and diverse wildlife all around, easily admired from tree-line canopy towers, suspended bridges, nature safaris or intimate boat rides down untouched channels.
However, beyond the Research Center and Inkaterra, unique or high-end hotels in Puerto Maldonado itself are somewhat limited, making the city more of a gateway or stop off as opposed to a multi-day destination on your journey.
With that in mind, Puerto Maldonado and the Tambopata National Reserve are fantastic options if exploring the highlights of southern Peru, such as Cusco and the Sacred Valley, or even when crossing the border from Bolivia to the east.
Great for: Birdwatching, cloud forest, off-the-beaten track explorations.
Manu National Park is a pristine wilderness accessible from Cusco and Puerto Maldonado in the south of Peru. This area offers gorgeous habitat types such as the High Andes, cloud forest and lowland rainforests, thanks to its varied elevation—ranging from 150–4,200m above sea level.
That range in topography means a huge range of flora and fauna too, with the 5-million-acre Manu National Park sprawling across highlands and lowlands, thick forest and undulating hills, snaking estuaries and mirror-like lagoons. It adds up to a spectacular adventure full of endemic species and off-the-beaten-path travel experiences in the Amazon.
From South American tapirs to howler and spider monkeys, spectacled caiman, giant river otters and even ocelots and jaguars, plus thousands of bird and plant species, the wildlife experiences, lookout points and guiding in Manu National Park are superb. And with lodges being more rustic than other Amazonian destinations, it’s all about an authentic delve into the natural world here.
Overall, there are pros to every entry point to the Peruvian Amazon, with Tambopata and Manu National Park easily fitting into a journey through Peru’s southern highlights, while Iquitos is easier to get to from Lima and provides some of the best Amazon cruises in South America.
Here’s our snapshot comparison chart to help get your ideas going:
Whatever your interests or group size, speak to the travel specialists at Atelier and they will craft your dream tailormade tour to Peru and the Peruvian Amazon.
Alvaro Del Campo
Forestry Engineer & Naturalists
Daniela Lainez
Conservationist / Documentarian
