The short answer
- Easiest with Cusco
- Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata
- River cruises
- Iquitos and Pacaya Samiria
- Most remote wildlife
- Manu National Park
- Days needed
- 3 to 4 (Tambopata), 4 to 8 (Manu, Iquitos)
More than half of Peru is Amazon rainforest, and you can reach it far more easily than most travellers expect. The question is which gateway. Puerto Maldonado in the south is a one hour flight from Cusco. Iquitos in the north is the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road, and is the base for Amazon river cruises.
Where they are
Most visitors fly to Puerto Maldonado from Cusco or Lima. Iquitos has flights from Lima, and sometimes Cusco, so it is easier as a separate trip at the start or end of your time in Peru.
Which one suits you?
What do you want from the Amazon?
Choose an answer to see what we recommend.
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- Add it to Cusco easily: Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata
- Fly from Cusco, take a boat to your lodge and spend 3 or 4 days walking trails, visiting oxbow lakes and clay licks. Lake Sandoval and its giant otters are a highlight.
- Big mammals and true wilderness: Manu National Park
- One of the most biodiverse places on Earth, with a real chance of tapirs, monkeys and even jaguars. It takes 5 to 8 days, starting with a long drive from Cusco over the Andes or a light aircraft flight.
- A river cruise: Iquitos and Pacaya Samiria
- Comfortable small ships explore the Amazon and its tributaries, with skiff trips into flooded forest. The best area for pink river dolphins.
- On a budget: Tambopata
- Lodges near Puerto Maldonado cover all budgets, and short stays keep costs down. Flights from Cusco are cheap if booked early.
Compared
| Tambopata (Puerto Maldonado) | Manu | Iquitos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting there | 1 hr flight from Cusco, then boat | Long drive from Cusco or a light aircraft | Flight from Lima, then boat |
| Stay | Jungle lodges | Lodges and tented camps | River cruise ships or lodges |
| Wildlife highlights | Giant otters, macaw clay licks, monkeys | Tapirs, giant otters, jaguars (rare), birds | Pink and grey dolphins, birds, sloths |
| Time needed | 3 to 4 days | 5 to 8 days | 4 to 8 days |
| Best months | May to October | May to October | All year; high water December to May |
Seasons in the Amazon
The southern Amazon has a clear dry season from about June to October, when trails are firmer and animals gather around rivers. Iquitos is wet all year, but the river rises by several metres from December to May, letting boats reach deep into flooded forest.
Swipe sideways to see all 12 months →
| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tambopata and Manusouthern Amazon | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult |
| Iquitos river cruisesnorthern Amazon | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Best |
Tip: Cold fronts called friajes can bring a few chilly days to the southern Amazon between June and August. Pack a fleece.
Average daily high / low and monthly rainfall
| Month | Puerto MaldonadoAmazon, cold snaps from June to August | Iquitosnorthern Amazon, wet all year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31° / 21°300 mm | 31° / 22°260 mm |
| Feb | 31° / 21°300 mm | 31° / 22°255 mm |
| Mar | 31° / 21°280 mm | 31° / 22°300 mm |
| Apr | 31° / 20°190 mm | 31° / 22°280 mm |
| May | 29° / 18°110 mm | 31° / 21°250 mm |
| Jun | 28° / 16°65 mm | 30° / 21°190 mm |
| Jul | 29° / 15°45 mm | 30° / 20°165 mm |
| Aug | 31° / 17°60 mm | 31° / 20°170 mm |
| Sep | 32° / 19°110 mm | 32° / 21°190 mm |
| Oct | 32° / 21°190 mm | 32° / 21°230 mm |
| Nov | 32° / 21°250 mm | 32° / 22°245 mm |
| Dec | 31° / 21°300 mm | 31° / 22°280 mm |
Rounded long term averages. Blue shading marks the wetter months. Individual years can be hotter, colder or wetter.
Health and what to bring
- Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for the Amazon. Ask a travel clinic about malaria advice too, which differs between regions.
- Pack long sleeves, light long trousers, insect repellent, a torch and binoculars. Lodges usually supply rubber boots.
- Luggage limits on small planes and boats are tight. Leave your main bag in Cusco or Lima.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado better?
Puerto Maldonado is better if you are already going to Cusco, because it is a one hour flight. Iquitos is better for river cruises and dolphins.
How many days do you need in the Amazon?
Three days and two nights is the minimum for Tambopata; four days is better. Manu and Iquitos cruises need four to eight days.
Can you combine the Amazon with Machu Picchu?
Yes, easily. Fly from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado for 3 or 4 days, then fly back to Lima. The low altitude is a welcome rest after the Andes.
Peru month by month
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