Things to see in the Amazon of Peru
The Peruvian Amazon is, other than Cusco or Machu Picchu, not crowded at all. Two to four days in an Amazon lodge will give you enough time. Do a jungle walking tour, go birdwatching, spot sloths, pink dolphins, and other animals, visit a local tribe and the monkey island. We did our Amazon tour via Exploor – it was 2 nights, but we wished we did 3 instead!
Amazon Peru Jungle walk
One of the experiences in the Amazon of Peru is a guided walk through the jungle. Your lodge provides rubber boots for you to conquer the muddy terrain.
On a 2-hour hike through the magical rainforest, you will find many unique plant species, spiders, the world’s biggest ant, and many more. It’s like walking in a museum where you learn something every few minutes. An absolute must-do in Peru.
Tip: Your lodge will most-likely provide rubber boots. Please do not touch any animals or trees during your walk.
Birdwatching
With over 1,800 varieties of birds, birdwatching in the early morning is one of the best things to do in the Amazon of Peru. During your boat ride on the Amazon River, you can spot Macaw, Toucans, and many more!
Get a flight to Iquitos, your starting point for the Amazon.
Visit a village in the Amazon, Peru
Experience how the locals live in remote communities inside the Amazon jungle. Learn about their traditional way of living, where they demonstrate the hunting method and dance. The original tribes are protected, and no tourist is allowed to visit them.
Must-read: Complete 3-week Peru Travel Guide
The kids in the villages keep animals that they would like you to hold too. Please do not support this and never hold an animal that shouldn’t be in contact with humans.
Monkey Island
La Isla De Los Monos (Monkey Island) is a rescue center for monkeys who were taken away as babies from their mothers and sold at the market as pets or to eat. The center in the Amazon of Peru rescues them, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild.
The recovering monkies are caged most of the day, after the recovery, they can roam free around the island living a cage-free life in the jungle. Once it is skilled enough, it will be set free.
Also: Discover the surprising capital Lima, Peru.
Getting to Iquitos
Iquitos is the gateway into the Amazon of Peru. It is the largest city in the world without connecting roads because it’s surrounded by water and jungle. The only option by 2-hour flight from Lima or Cusco. From Iquitos, take a boat into the Amazon to your lodge, which takes 1-2 hours, depending on the location of your lodge.
There are daily flights to Iquitos from Lima and a couple of times a week from Cusco.
Staying in an Amazon Lodge
The majority of the lodges offer two or three-day packages that include accommodation, transportation, activities, and meals. Escape the outside world and have a few days without a phone signal and with limited electricity. Make sure to bring mosquito repellent and long-sleeve shirts, as right after each rain shower, mosquitos get extra active. We stayed at Heliconia via Exploor.
Do your research and choose a lodge wisely that does not feed animals or lets you touch wild animals—an important part of responsible wildlife tourism.
When to visit the Peruvian Amazon
The Amazon jungle is one of the wettest places on earth. From January to March, it is pretty much impossible to visit due to the rain and mud. Visit the Amazon in Peru between April and December, where it’s an average temperature of 30°C and just one rain cloud a day.
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Is it better to book a tour when you get to Cuzco or to book before you leave for the trip?
It depends on the season, but I would prebook tours if you want to be sure about it!