Travel guide

The Top 10 Amazon Tours in Peru

You can enjoy excellent Amazon Tours in Peru. Imagine an adventure where vibrant parrots paint the skies and playful monkeys orchestrate the day. Passing lush vegetation, you navigate their steamy jungle home led by some of the rainforest’s top guides enjoying award-winning Amazon tours. These include the Amazon’s top river cruises and rainforest lodges (see below).

Ash
Updated: Dec. 5, 2024, 1:45 p.m.
17 min read

Peru, the land of the Incas, is one of the best countries to tour the Amazon Rainforest. Home to the second largest section of Amazon after Brazil, this side of the forest is also the most wildlife-rich area of Amazonia.

The wildlife-rich rainforest is what makes Peru one of the best places for Amazon Rainforest tours.

Below is a detailed guide to these exclusive Peruvian Amazon Tours – complete with captivating video previews, insightful summaries, and a glimpse into the unique tapestry of experiences on offer. We will also cover an introduction to the main Amazon regions of Peru.

Jump straight to intros for Peru Amazon tours

Guide To Amazon Tours - An Introduction

Peru is fortunate to offer one of the Amazon's richest regions for animals and plants. After Brazil, which is over 6 times larger than Peru, this is where you find the second highest amount of rainforest.

An incredible 60% of Peru is covered by dense rainforest.

There are some fantastic Amazon lodges and cruises in Peru. These offer knowledgeable, friendly guides, comfortable accommodation and delicious meals — all included. And with the diverse wildlife, it makes Peru a top choice for Amazon Rainforest tours.

Amazon Gateways - Where to go?

To experience the Amazon, you will arrive at Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado. These are both a short flight from Lima (Peru's capital) and Cusco. And they are the two main areas to experience the Amazon in Peru.

When you first arrive in these rainforest towns, you will know you are somewhere special. On your flight, you will have spent time looking over the rainforest.

From the plane's window, you would have seen the vast carpet of lush green rainforest. And you may have even seen the Amazon River and her tributaries snaking their way through the jungle.

Iquitos & Puerto Maldonado
On arrival in Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado, you will be greeted by tropical air, sunshine and humidity. The sun's energy is what feeds this incredible forest. Your guide will meet you from one of the below Amazon tours. And you will be escorted into Amazonia to begin your adventure. You can read about the fantastic Amazon tours from Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado further down.

Cusco Amazon Tours
Because Cusco is on the Andes, you need to fly down the Andes to these Amazon gateway towns to experience the Amazon Rainforest. But don't worry, this is where many visitors arrive from.

Each of the recommended tours can help recommend flights after you send your Amazon tour request (using the convenient tour bubbles in this page).

However, we will also include Machu Picchu combination programs to make things a little easier.

10 days

The Cusco & Amazon Tour – 10 Days

This journey combines the history and scenery of the Andes with the wildlife-rich Amazon Rainforest. The Cusco & Amazon 10 Day tour is an expertly...

Combines Machu Picchu & Amazon

From $ 2,560

/ person

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Includes: cusco, sacred valley & amazon accommodations, 2-day inca trail, guide service, meals in itinerary, ground transportation, train ticket, entrance tickets, airport transfers

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With the recommended package tours to combine Machu Picchu and Amazon Rainforest (as well other fantastic attractions) you can enjoy both of these incredible must-visit attractions. On these 3 recommended tours, the Amazon portion of your experience will be at the excellent Tambopata Ecolodge.

The 10 and 12 day tours include Cusco, the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and Amazon Rainforest. They differ just by the length of the Inca Trail you will enjoy. The 10-day option includes the 2-day Inca Trail (Short Inca Trail) and the 12-day tour includes the 4-day Inca Trail (Classic Inca Trail). The 15-day tour in addition to these attractions also includes a fantastic visit to Lake Titicaca..

Selection Criteria

The below tours have been selected to give you the best experience of the Amazon. They offer you the most wildlife-rich regions of rainforest, comfortable accommodation and professionally guided tours. They also include your meals and transfers from either Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado.

On the package options including Machu Picchu, you will still need to book your short connecting flight down the Andes. You will be helped with this after your request.

We have experienced the below tours ourselves to provide our top recommendations - comparing these with other tours in the Amazon. And the selection criteria includes:

Wildlife-rich rainforest
Comfortable accommodation
Professional and experienced Amazon guides
Environmentally & socially responsible tours

The Amazon tours in Peru for the best wildlife

Peru's rainforest is home to an incredible diversity of animals and plants.

For example, the Tambopata Research Center, in the middle of Tambopata Reserve, even offers a 20% chance of spotting wild jaguar.

Click the short video below for an introduction to the Tambopata Research Center.

Jaguar are not only the most sought after wildlife sighting in Amazonia, they are also symbols of a healthy ecosystem. This means where you can find jaguar, you find abundant wildlife.

Camera traps have also recorded jaguar from a small number of other Peru Amazon lodges. One of these is the Rainforest Alliance certified Tahuayo Lodge. This is found deep in the rainforest of Iquitos.
Of course, you can then find a seemingly infinite variety of other species, sights and sounds.

For an introduction to the Tahuayo Lodge, which offers a bit more adventure, private guide and custom itinerary, see the short video below.

Amazon tours - A River Cruise or Expedition Lodge?

The best way to see the forest and make the most of your time in Amazonia is on a cruise or by staying at an expedition lodge. We will mention some of the top Amazon lodges in Peru further down.

Amazon Lodges in Peru

Many of Peru's Amazon lodges are among the best lodges in the entire Amazon Rainforest.

These fantastic bases for Amazon tours have been carefully positioned. And this is usually after months or years of forest exploration. The locations are chosen for the top places to maximize wildlife viewing. Even the cruises we will list mirror this placement. And their routes are designed to offer the best places to see monkeys, birds and other Amazon life.

Amazon Cruises in Peru

A cruise can offer a more comfortable experience. This is because you have a more contained and hotel-like base to return to after exploration. The recommended Amazon cruises provide air-conditioning keeping you comfortable in the tropical rainforest. Cruises also visit different areas of rainforest. This means you visit a larger area for wider exploration.

Lodges, on the other hand, can offer more connection to the rainforest. The trails have been carefully chosen to lead you through areas for the best wildlife. And even from the lodge you can spot wildlife. See monkeys and birds from the comfort of the lodge itself. You will also hear the sounds of the Amazon when relaxing in your suite or social areas.

Ultimately, your choice will depend on your personality and what you would like from your Amazon experience.

Amazon Tours from Iquitos

Iquitos is in the northern Peruvian Amazon. This is one of the two Peruvian choices to base yourself for an Amazon tour.

Iquitos is a reasonably large city in the Amazon. And you will have to travel quite far from the city before you find forest untouched by human hands. However, when you do, you will be rewarded with incredible wildlife spectacles.

This means Iquitos is best for a deep rainforest lodge or a cruise. Prepare to spend 6-days or more in the jungle at a lodge to make the most of your time. You will be far from the city where you can find the best wildlife.

The top example of a rainforest lodge from Iquitos is the Tahuayo Lodge mentioned further up.

Iquitos is also your choice for an Amazon River Cruise, such as the Delfin vessels mentioned below. As cruises move deeper in the Amazon, you can enjoy a good experience with only 4 or 5 days available. All the Amazon cruises in Peru will depart from Iquitos and usually from the port of Nauta. This is because the city is a port of the Amazon River.

Amazon Tours from Puerto Maldonado

If you’re after a shorter experience of a few days at a lodge, Puerto Maldonado is your choice.

The nearby wildlife-rich Tambopata Reserve is only a short boat ride from the town. Puerto Maldonado is also smaller than Iquitos. This means the rainforest is less disturbed.

Tambopata is also where you will find many macaw clay licks. Clay licks are areas of riverbank where large, bright and beautiful macaws feed from medicinal clay.

The Tambopata region is fortunate to have the most clay licks in the Amazon Rainforest. And a few lodges are close to all the action, as they know this is a main attraction.

Puerto Maldonado is also a great option for a deep rainforest lodge. And our recommendation is the Tambopata Research Center mentioned further up. This is where you can maximize wildlife experiences.

Within the Tambopata rainforest, you can find many large towering Brazil nut trees. You can even visit a working Brazil nut concession from the Refugio Amazonas Lodge.

Brazil nut trees are a fantastic metaphor for Amazon Rainforest tours. They require the surrounding forest in order to produce their famous nuts. With a disturbed forest, the trees will not produce their crop. In order to make money from Brazil nuts, therefore, people need to take care of the forest.

Our selection for a shorter Amazon visit includes:

The community-owned Posada Amazonas Lodge
The family inspired Refugio Amazonas Lodge

We will mention more about these further down.

Introductions to Top Peruvian Amazon Tours

Let's get started with individual introductions to the top Amazon tours in Peru.

The Tambopata Research Center - 4 or 5-day+ Amazon Tour

The Tambopata Research Center is one of the deepest lodges in the Amazon. And you can enjoy fantastic wildlife-rich tours from a comfortable base.

For accommodation, choose from different suites options. These range from the Standard Suites to the spacious and luxurious Deluxe Suites.

This lodge is also used as a research base and is next to one of the Amazon’s largest macaw clay licks. From the Tambopata Research Center, enjoy spotting many different animals. See spider monkeys, howler monkeys, capybara and peccary. You will also observe the many different parrots, including the iconic macaws.

Impressively, the Tambopata Research Center reports a 20% chance of spotting wild jaguar. This is one of the Amazon's most sought after wildlife sightings.

Other animals rarely seen at other lodges but often seen here include the spider monkeys and peccary. Like jaguar, spiders monkeys are symbols of a healthy forest.

The Tambopata Research Center is one of the most comfortable lodges for deep jungle experiences. And it's one of our favorites because of the expert guides, friendly staff and incredible wildlife.

To check availability for your travel dates, you can send the lodge a request using the button below.

The Delfin Amazon Cruises - 4 or 5 day Amazon Tour

The Delfin I, Delfin II and Delfin III are luxurious sister vessels. And they each provide an incredible Amazon Rainforest cruise.

Although they are all luxury-class cruises, the Delfin I offers only 4 over-sized suites. This means more space and exclusivity for your time in Amazonia. In fact, the Delfin I more closely resembles a luxury boutique floating hotel than a cruise.

As one of the Amazon’s most luxurious tours, the cruise has been featured in many publications. These have included CNN Money, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler and Travel+Leisure.

Two of the suites include a private cold-water whirlpool. And with only 4 suites in total, space aboard the Delfin I books up quickly. Because of this, we recommend sending your request with the links below at least 3 to 6 months in advance.

However, there is also the Delfin II. This offers the same high standard of luxury and service but with more suites available. And you can also choose the Delfin III, again offering the same standard of service, delicious cuisine and excursions.

Click the video below for a short introduction to the Delfin I.

And here you can learn more about the Delfin III.

The Delfin III is composed of Lower and Upper Suites throughout the vessel. There are also the two Corner Suites on the lower deck at the front of the Delfin III. And there is also the Owner Suite as the premium accommodation option.

These front-facing suites provide some of the best views. However, the regular suites are fitted with large picture windows. These keep you connected to this incredible region.

Click the video below to learn more about the Delfin III.

Aboard these vessels, you can relax in your luxurious suite watching the rainforest pass by. You can also enjoy the elegant observation deck with a cocktail, tea or coffee. In the dining room, you will then be served delicious gourmet cuisine.

Enjoy delicious cuisine and attentive, friendly service.

You will head out each day to explore the rainforest. With your expert guide, spot a wide variety of animals and plants. See monkeys moving through the canopy, hundreds of different birds and impressive Amazonian trees. You may also see pink river dolphins playing in the water, which are a favorite sighting.

The Delfin cruises visit the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. This is one of the most pristine protected areas of Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. The reserve is home to an abundance of tropical plants and animals. And you can find tropical toucans, colorful parrots, giant rainforest trees and many different monkeys.

Check availability for your travel dates and receive your itinerary by sending your request direct to the cruises using the buttons below.

4, 5 days

The Delfin I

Offering an on-board experience second to none, the Delfin I Luxury Cruise begins in Iquitos, north Peru, and takes you on a cruise of the flooded tro...

Luxury Cruise, Pacaya Samiria

From $ 4,600

/ person

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Includes: all meals, accommodation, all excursions, alcoholic beverages, juices, house wines, luxury transfers from & to iquitos airport

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Stephen

First class operation. Top to bottom! Loved the attention to detail.

4, 5 days

The Delfin III

The Delfin III provides a luxury cruise of the Amazon River. The vessel features hardwood floors, designer furniture and is dotted with handmade P...

Luxury Cruise, Pacaya Samiria

From $ 3,700

/ person

Book now

Includes: all meals, accommodation, all excursions, select alcoholic beverages, juices, house wines with meals, luxury transfers from & to iquitos airport.

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The Tahuayo Lodge - 6-day+ Amazon Tour

This is a favorite lodge in northern Peru and is accessed from Iquitos. It's a destination well known among Amazon wildlife-lovers. And it's called the Tahuayo Lodge and Amazon Research Center.

The Tahuayo Lodge is one of the only lodges that provides a private guide and custom itinerary as standard. It's a top choice for visitors serious about making the most of their time in the Amazon.

The Tahuayo Lodge is also certified by Rainforest Alliance. This makes it the only Rainforest Alliance certified lodge from Iquitos. This should give you peace of mind that you're choosing a responsible tour.

The lodge was founded by a biologist with a passion for wildlife. And it's perfectly positioned for many different activities. These include guided treks to find poison dart frogs and canoeing the forest. You can also explore the largest primate research grid in the Amazon. And there is fantastic birdwatching to enjoy as well as many different lakes to explore.

Note that for an extra fee, you can choose a dedicated birding guide. And you will have a birding itinerary to see many of the reserve's 600 different species.

You can try whizzing down the Amazon’s longest canopy zipline system. And you can visit local villages. However, the main activity is guided walks through the Amazon searching for incredible wildlife.

The Tahuayo Lodge is also one of the only lodges where the tour is customized to your interests. With its excellent service, friendly staff and impressive diversity, the Tahuayo Lodge is one of our favorites.

Note that the minimum stay at the Tahuayo Lodge is 4-days. But to combine both the main Tahuayo Lodge and Amazon Research Center, you will need 6-days in the rainforest. And the recommended time to make the most of your Amazon Rainforest experience is 8-days.

To contact the lodge directly for a detailed itinerary and availability for your travel dates, use the tour bubble below.

The Refugio Amazonas Lodge - 4-day Amazon Tour

Nestled in the buffer zone of Tambopata National Reserve, the Refugio Amazonas is a great option for a 4-day Amazon tour.

The lodge is within its own 200-hectare private reserve and is a little deeper in the rainforest than the Posada Amazonas below. This means you can see a little more wildlife. You can also visit a large macaw clay lick to see many macaw parrots feeding from the medicinal clay.

To learn more, click the short video below.

Explore the different trails with your expert Amazon guide. And you will find a diversity of forest life. See several different monkeys, such as capuchins, squirrel monkeys and howler monkeys. You can also find many different birds.

Visit Lake Condenado to find hoatzins, caiman, cormorants and other lake-living life. You can walk a medicinal plant trail and visit an organic jungle farm. And there is also a tall canopy tower for impressive views over the rainforest.

Your can choose from different suite options, such as the Comfort Suites. Or you can pick the premium suite options for a very comfortable Amazon experience.

The Posada Amazonas Lodge - 3-day Amazon Tour

This lodge offers a fantastic experience of 3 or 4 days in the Amazon. Because the lodge is close to Puerto Maldonado, it’s the best choice for a shorter tour. The Posada Amazonas is a community-owned lodge in the Ese Eja private rainforest reserve.

Nestled by Lake Tres Chimbabas, you will have a high chance of spotting giant river otters. These are a favorite sighting in the Amazon. And you can watch the endangered otters hunting, playing and feeding in the lake.

You will then explore the rainforest with your skilled guide. And you can find many different animals and plants. Spot troops of monkeys, giant rainforest trees and colorful birds.

Click the short video below for an introduction.

The Posada Amazonas offers a balanced Amazon experience of culture and nature. Learn more about the Ese Eja community, walk the ethnobotanical trail for medicinal plants and visit a working jungle farm.

Enjoy delicious cuisine in the dining room. And choose from a variety of suite options. There is also a rainforest spa to enjoy a massage surrounded by the sounds of Amazonia.

Machu Picchu & Amazon Packages

Now we have some package tours if you’re interested in creating a more streamlined experience of Machu Picchu and the Amazon Rainforest. Note, you can easily book your Machu Picchu experience, such as the short luxury Inca Trail and then send a request to the other Amazon tours on this list.

But if you want to make this even easier, we recommend the following experiences. You have a choice of the 10, 12 or 15 day combination tours.

On these, you will step into a realm where history whispers through the Andes and every step is a story untold. The 10-day tour is a swift dance through time, offering the 2-day Inca Trail's condensed magic, a glimpse of Machu Picchu's splendor, Rainbow Mountain's kaleidoscopic wonders, and the Amazon's wildlife-filled forest.

10 days

The Cusco & Amazon Tour – 10 Days

This journey combines the history and scenery of the Andes with the wildlife-rich Amazon Rainforest. The Cusco & Amazon 10 Day tour is an expertly...

Combines Machu Picchu & Amazon