The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most spectacular places on the planet. Large, slow rivers wind between tall trees. Tropical birds fly through the air, and all kinds of critters run across the forest floor. No trip would be complete without a Peruvian Amazon adventure.
The two main Amazon rainforest hubs in Peru are Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado. Iquitos lies north of Lima, on the main Amazon River, while the Rio Madre de Dios runs through Puerto Maldonado in the southwest, less than 500 km from Cusco. From these rivers, you can reach the depths of the jungle, and come face to face with its creatures.
Book yourself into an ecolodge in one of Peru's Amazon nature reserves — Pacaya Samiria and Tambopata are two of the best — and experience a different world.
#1: Iquitos
Venture deep in the dense jungles of Northern Peru and you'll come across jaguars stalking the riverbanks, tarantulas hiding in the forest, and half a million people hiding in plain sight in Peru's 6th largest city. The Amazonian city of Iquitos is quite the marvel in our modern society. Only accessible by plane or by boat, it is surrounded on all sides by the seemingly impenetrable Amazon Rainforest.
Travel to Iquitos and enjoy all the travel luxuries you could ask for, and then escape it all in a remote ecolodge far from the city lights. As a base for Amazon expeditions, you couldn't ask for much more. The Amazon River runs through the city and protected rainforest reserves like Pacaya Samiria and Tamshiyacu Tahuayo are just a boat ride away.
Iquitos is lucky enough to experience good weather year-round, with sunny mornings and stormy afternoons as standard, making it a great option for an Amazon nature adventure any time.
