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Peru (Amazon)
The Peruvian Amazon is a massive, wild jungle filled with incredible wildlife. You can sleep in remote eco-lodges and take small boat rides down winding rivers to spot monkeys and bright birds.
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Summary
Did you know?
Macaw Clay Licks – High riverbanks draw hundreds of colorful parrots and macaws every morning to eat mineral-rich clay that cleans their stomachs.
Overview
Months
April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Vacation type
Couple, Family, Mountains, Rainforest
Expenses
0-50€, <150€, <200€, <100€, Over 200€
Temperature
25-30°C
Rainfall
50-100mm, 100-150mm, 150-200mm
Safety
Safe
Continent
South America
Currency
Peruvian sol
Languages
Spanish
Currency Converter
When to visit
The best time to travel to the Peruvian Amazon depends entirely on how you want to explore the rainforest. The region experiences two distinct seasons: the Low Water (Dry) season and the High Water (Wet) season.
The Low Water season (May to October) is generally considered the best time for hiking. As the rivers recede, jungle trails become accessible for walking, making it easier to spot terrestrial wildlife.
The High Water season (November to April) is the absolute best time for river cruising and canoeing. During these months, the rivers swell up to 40 feet, flooding the forest floor and allowing boats to glide silently directly into the tree canopy, bringing you much closer to monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds.
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Plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Climate Data
Peak Season: May to October (Dry / Low Water Season)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 6 to 8 hours.
Rain Frequency: 8 to 12 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 1 to 2 hours.
Intensity: Short, intense tropical downpours.
Duration: Rains usually hit in the late afternoon and clear up quickly. The humidity is slightly lower, and the exposed riverbanks attract wildlife.
Off-Peak Season: November to April (Wet / High Water Season)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 4 to 6 hours.
Rain Frequency: 15 to 22 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 2 to 5 hours.
Intensity: Heavy, torrential jungle downpours and thunderstorms.
Duration: Rains can last through the night or linger for a few days, causing the rivers to flood vast tracts of the jungle.
Climate Chart
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Data Source: Global Historical Climatology Network
ClimateCharts.net
Weather, Crowds and Costs
Per one person
Tourist Season: May-October (Dry Season)
Budget Vacation ($40-80/day)
Accommodation: $15-25/night (hostels in Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado).
Food: $10-15/day (local markets, street stalls selling juanes).
Activities: $10-25/day (local independent day-trip boat rides, butterfly houses).
Transportation: $5-15/day (mototaxis, public river ferries/lanchas).
Other Costs: $5/day (strong mosquito repellent, bottled water).
Mid-Range Vacation ($150-300/day)
Accommodation & Activities: $120-250/day (standard all-inclusive eco-lodges offering private bungalows, 3 meals, and shared guided jungle excursions).
Food: Included in lodge packages. (If in town: $20-40/day at regional restaurants).
Transportation: $10-20/day (domestic flight baggage fees, motorized canoe transfers).
Other Costs: $10/day (guide tips, travel snacks).
Luxury Vacation ($500-1,200+/day)
Accommodation & Activities: $450-1,000+/day (premium 5-star eco-lodges like Inkaterra, or ultra-luxury boutique river cruise yachts operating out of Iquitos).
Food: Included (gourmet Amazonian-fusion cuisine, premium wines).
Transportation: $50-100/day (private speedboats, airport transfers).
Other Costs: $25+/day (spa treatments using local botanicals, private canopy walks).
Off-Peak Season: November-April (Wet Season)
Budget Vacation ($35-65/day)
Accommodation: $10-20/night (discounted town hostels).
Food: $10-15/day (indoor local eateries).
Activities: $10-20/day (rain-adjusted day tours).
Transportation: $5-10/day (mototaxis).
Other Costs: $5/day (rain ponchos).
Mid-Range Vacation ($120-250/day)
Accommodation & Activities: $100-200/day (discounted standard eco-lodges).
Food: Included in lodge packages.
Transportation: $10-20/day (covered boat transfers).
Other Costs: $10/day (waterproof gear).
Luxury Vacation ($450-1,000+/day)
Accommodation & Activities: $400-900+/day (luxury river cruises operate at full capacity; land lodges may offer slight discounts).
Food: Included.
Transportation: $40-80/day.
Other Costs: $20/day (artisan crafts).
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You can find accomendations that fit your trip and budget on Booking.com, Vrbo and Hotels.com
Best Regions to visit
Cities
1. Iquitos
- The largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road. It is a loud, vibrant jungle metropolis accessible only by air or river, heavily influenced by the 19th-century rubber boom.
2. Puerto Maldonado
- A dusty, bustling frontier town in the south near the Bolivian border, acting as the primary gateway to the Tambopata National Reserve.
3. Nauta
- A small port town south of Iquitos, serving as the main departure point for river cruises heading into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
Iquitos
Did you know?
Floating Jungle Villages – Remote Amazon communities build entire houses on floating logs so they can rise safely with seasonal floodwaters.
Islands
1. Isla de los Monos (Monkey Island)
- A rescue and rehabilitation center located on an island in the Amazon River near Iquitos, where orphaned and trafficked monkeys roam free.
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Find the perfect place to stay in any of these top cities and islands with Booking.com, Hotels.com and Vrbo – offering entire homes and apartments for a comfortable and private experience.
Amazon River
Things to see
Natural Attractions
1. Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
- Known as the "Mirror of the Jungle," this is a massive protected flooded forest near Iquitos, famous for perfectly reflecting the sky and harboring pink river dolphins.
2. Tambopata National Reserve
- A highly accessible biodiversity hotspot near Puerto Maldonado, renowned for oxbow lakes, giant river otters, and massive macaw clay licks.
3. Manu National Park
- One of the most pristine and biodiverse protected areas on Earth. Reaching it requires a multi-day overland and river expedition from Cusco, making it incredibly wild and remote.
Historical and Cultural Sites
1. Belén Floating Market (Iquitos)
- A chaotic, fascinating neighborhood built entirely on stilts and floating rafts, where locals trade exotic jungle fruits, fish, and traditional shamanic medicines.
2. Casa de Fierro (Iron House)
- A historic iron building standing in the main plaza of Iquitos, allegedly designed by Gustave Eiffel, imported piece-by-piece from Europe during the rubber boom.
Unique Experiences
1. Watching Macaw Clay Licks (Collpas)
- Waking up before dawn in Tambopata to watch hundreds of brilliantly colored macaws and parrots gather on vertical riverbanks to eat mineral-rich clay.
2. Spotting Pink River Dolphins
- Taking a small skiff onto the Amazon or its tributaries to watch rare, uniquely pink freshwater dolphins breach the surface.
3. Canopy Walkways
- Walking across narrow suspension bridges strung up to 100 feet in the air between giant Ceiba trees, allowing you to observe the jungle from the perspective of birds and monkeys.
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The best way to explore major cities and must-see attractions is by booking guided tours.* They offer convenience, local insights, and often save time when visiting popular sights.
Pacaya Samiria
Unique Accomondations/Foodspots
Accommodations
Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica
Location: Madre de Dios River, Peru Amazon
A luxurious eco-lodge comprised of cabanas nestled deep within the pristine Peruvian rainforest, featuring an extensive canopy walkway suspended high above the jungle floor and immersive guided wildlife excursions.
Restaurants / Bars
Al Frio y al Fuego
Location: Iquitos, Loreto, Peru Amazon
A unique, floating architectural dining destination anchored on the Amazon River, celebrated for its creative regional dishes featuring fresh river fish like paiche, tropical fruits, and vibrant jungle flavors.
Tours to do
1. The Tambopata Lodge Immersion
- Flying into Puerto Maldonado, taking a motorized canoe up the Madre de Dios River to an off-grid eco-lodge, and spending 3-4 days doing guided night walks, canopy tours, and visiting clay licks.
Best Time: May to October.
Average Cost: $400 – $800 per person
2. The Deep Amazon River Cruise
- Boarding a boutique riverboat in Nauta (near Iquitos) to spend a week navigating the deep flooded forests of Pacaya Samiria, spotting anacondas, sloths, and fishing for piranhas.
Best Time: November to April (High Water).
Average Cost: $2,000 – $5,000+ per person
Puerto Maldonado
How to get around
1. No Roads to Iquitos
- Iquitos is completely isolated from the Peruvian highway system. You absolutely must fly in or take a multi-day cargo ferry from Pucallpa or Yurimaguas.
2. Motorized Canoes (Peki-Pekis)
- The primary mode of transport once you leave the gateway cities. These long, wooden boats are powered by loud, exposed motors and are used to reach all jungle lodges.
3. Mototaxis
- In Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado, traditional cars are rare. The streets are dominated by thousands of loud, three-wheeled motorcycle taxis.
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You can find great car rental deals for your vacation on Expedia *
Did you know?
Walking Palm Roots – Certain local jungle palms use stilt roots to slowly creep across the muddy forest floor over years toward better sunlight.
What to eat
1. Juane
- The ultimate jungle comfort food. A seasoned mixture of rice, pieces of chicken, olives, and hard-boiled eggs wrapped tightly in a bijao leaf and boiled. It looks like a large green tamale and is eaten everywhere.
2. Tacacho con Cecina
- A heavy, savory dish consisting of roasted green plantains mashed with pork fat and salt (tacacho), served alongside a generous slice of thick, dried, and smoky jungle pork (cecina).
3. Paiche
- One of the largest freshwater fish in the world, found in the Amazon basin. Its firm, white, mild meat is served grilled, fried, or wrapped in leaves (patarashca).
4. Camu Camu
- A small, cherry-like jungle fruit that boasts one of the highest vitamin C concentrations of any plant in the world. It is heavily used in the Amazon to make refreshing, tart, pink juices.
Flights
Flight prices are approximate and vary by departure city, airline, and booking time. Check airlines or travel platforms for the latest details.
* Please note: All prices are rough estimates for orientation purposes only and may vary by region.
Main Airport: Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport (IQT) in Iquitos & Padre Aldamiz International Airport (PEM) in Puerto Maldonado
Flight Prices and Seasons (Connecting via Lima into IQT or PEM):
From Europe:
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,000 to $1,600 (Connect via Madrid, Paris, or Amsterdam to Lima, then a 2-hour domestic flight).
- Cheapest Months: February, March, and November.
- Peak Prices: July, August, and late December.
From North America:
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $600 to $1,100 (Frequent flights from Miami, Houston, Atlanta, or Los Angeles into Lima, followed by a domestic leg).
- Cheapest Months: September, October, and April.
- Peak Prices: June, July, and December.
From Asia:
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,400 to $2,300 (Requires two stops via North America or Europe).
- Cheapest Months: May and October.
- Peak Prices: July, August, and Lunar New Year.
From Australia (Domestic/Oceania):
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,600 to $2,500 (Fly via Santiago, Chile, or Los Angeles into Lima, followed by a domestic flight).
- Cheapest Months: May and November.
- Peak Prices: December and January.
From Africa:
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,200 to $1,900 (Connecting via Sao Paulo, Brazil, or European hubs into Lima).
- Cheapest Months: March and November.
- Peak Prices: July and August.
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You can find the best flight deals with Skyscanner or plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Airport Location
Visa
1. Visa Requirement
- Citizens of the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia do not need a visa for stays of up to 183 days for tourism.
2. Visa-Free Entry
- Travelers from many countries can enter visa-free for stays of up to 183 days.
3. Visa Application
- Citizens from countries that require a visa must apply for a Peruvian visa at a Peruvian embassy or consulate before traveling.
4. Types of Visa
- Common visa types include:Tourist Visa: Typically issued for stays of up to 183 days.
5. Processing Time
- Visa processing can take from 3 to 10 business days, so it’s advisable to apply well in advance if required.
6. Duration of Stay
- Visa-free visitors can stay for up to 183 days; visa holders should refer to their specific visa for duration.
7. Health Requirements
- No specific vaccinations are generally required for entry, but travel insurance is recommended.
Important things to know
1. Payments
- The local currency is the Peruvian Sol (PEN). Credit cards are accepted in tourist areas.
2. Tap Water
- Tap water is generally not safe to drink. Bottled water is recommended.
3. Electricity
- The voltage is 220V, and plug types A and C are used.
4. Tipping in Restaurants
- Tipping is customary, usually around 10%.
5. SIM Cards
- Local SIM cards are available from providers like Claro and Movistar.
6. Driving Side
- In Peru, people drive on the right side of the road.
Souveniers
1. Peruvian Textiles
- Known for their intricate weaving, Peruvian textiles like blankets, scarves, and ponchos, made from alpaca or llama wool, are luxurious and represent the rich Andean culture.
2. Silver Jewelry
- Peru is famous for its high-quality silver, often featuring gemstones such as turquoise or lapis lazuli, made into rings, bracelets, and necklaces.
3. Handmade Alpaca Wool Sweaters
- Soft and warm, these sweaters and accessories are made from one of the finest wools in the world, perfect for colder climates.
Peruvian Textiles
Location
Reviews
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