Peruvian Amazon

A rainforest world covering over half of Peru: river cruises from Iquitos on the Amazon, the Tambopata macaw clay lick and the pristine forests of Manu.

This region follows the Peruvian travel convention of the "Amazon" and, taken by whole regions, includes four: Loreto, Ucayali, Madre de Dios and San Martín, which together make up more than half of Peru's territory. Puerto Maldonado is mostly reached by air from Cusco but belongs administratively to Madre de Dios, so it is included here. Highlights: Iquitos is the largest city in the world not connected to the road network, reachable only by plane or boat. From here you can take a boat onto the main Amazon River, visit the Belén floating market, or join a multi-day riverboat cruise through the "mirror forest" of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in search of pink river dolphins. In the south, Puerto Maldonado is the gateway to the Tambopata National Reserve, where you stay in rainforest eco-lodges to watch macaws feeding on clay licks, take night walks in the forest and paddle oxbow lakes to see giant otters. Manu National Park (a World Heritage Site) has extremely high biodiversity and is usually entered overland and by boat from Cusco, on trips of 5–8 days. Tarapoto, in the San Martín region, is a highland rainforest area with waterfalls and a mild climate. Rainforest lodge trips typically last 3–4 days, and riverboat cruises 3–7 days. Access is mainly by flights from Lima and Cusco to Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, Tarapoto and Pucallpa. Before traveling, get a yellow fever vaccination and consult a doctor about malaria prevention, bring long-sleeved clothing and insect repellent, and always book rainforest activities through reputable operators.

Destinations

Itineraries