Peruvian Amazon

Why visit the Peruvian Amazon?

For nature lovers there can be no excuse not to visit the Peruvian Amazon. The stunning rainforest and powerful rivers are home to 44% of the country’s birds and 63% of its mammals, amongst an extraordinary variety of wildlife and plant life, including giant otters, pink dolphins, jaguars, tapirs, over 1000 species of birds, 1200 species of butterflies and an astonishing 15,000 different flowering plants. 
Reasons to visit the Peruvian Amazon include: 

• Iquitos; the gateway to the Northern Amazon and the starting point for any wildlife trip. The world’s largest city that can't be reached by road, this is a bustling place with plenty of bars and restaurants. 
• Visit the five-million acre Pacaya Samiria Reserve, home to the pink Amazon dolphin, black caiman and three-toed sloth. 
• Look for the lowland tapir clay lick, and macaw and parrot clay lick, giant otters, jaguars, and 13 species of monkeys in the Manu Biosphere Reserve. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Manu protects more species of animals and plants than any other park on Earth. 
• Explore Tambopata National Reserve and adjacent Bahuaja-Sonene National Park, together home to over 1,300 bird species (including 32 parrot species - 10% of the world's total), 200 mammal species, 90 frog species, 1,200 butterfly species and 10,000 species of higher plants. 
• Stay in Posada Amazonas, a community-owned lodge in 10,000 hectare Ese'eja Native Community, an excellent base from which to explore the jungle.

When to go to the Peruvian Amazon

This area is always humid, and there is rain all year round. There is, however, a ‘dry’ season, from May to October, but it still rains! Hiking is easier in the dry season. It is a little cooler from November to April, and many more waterways become navigable as the water levels rise. The Amazon is at its highest point in May and at its lowest in October.

For more information about when to travel in Peru, see our When to visit Peru page.