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The Peruvian Amazon (south) holidays

Rainforest, rivers and ox-bow lakes make the southern Peruvian Amazon one of the most biodiverse corners of the planet, and one of the best Peruvian Amazon holidays you can build into a wider Peru trip. Monkeys, macaws and caiman turn up on foot, by boat and even by bicycle, all within easy reach of Cusco.
Overview

The Peruvian Amazon (south) holidays at a glance

Not to be missed
Exploring the rainforest from an eco-lodge deep within the jungle.
Top Experience
Spotting wildlife on guided jungle excursions by boat and on foot.
Best For
Wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, birdwatchers, families and nature lovers.
Areas to Explore
Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, Manu National Park and Madre de Dios.
Don't leave without trying
A sunrise wildlife excursion on the Amazon waterways.
Loved by travellers
Map Peru including the Peruvian Amazon
Peruvian Amazon
Golden Morning Sunrise
What to expect from your Peruvian Amazon holiday

The Amazon rainforest covers around 60% of Peru, and the Peru Amazon rainforest splits fairly neatly into two different experiences. The north, reached from Iquitos, spreads into wide flood plains and broad tributaries built for river cruising. Down south, the rivers run faster and the ox-bow lakes come thicker, so most visitors base themselves at a jungle lodge instead, working out from there on foot and by boat.

foggy forest at sunset. South America
Foggy forest at sunset

Puerto Maldonado is the gateway, a busy river port sitting where the Tambopata and the Madre de Dios rivers meet. It’s a century-old market town that has lived through rubber, logging and gold rushes, and these days it’s just an hour’s flight from Cusco, which makes the whole region remarkably accessible for anyone also taking in Machu Picchu and the Andes.

From Puerto Maldonado, eco-lodges sit tucked along the Tambopata rainforest, reached by motorboat in two to five hours. Further out again is Manu National Park, a biosphere reserve reached by air or by a winding road down from Cusco. It takes longer to get there, but the jungle canopy is untouched, and it’s the closest thing the region has to true wilderness.

The latin america specialists

Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to The Peruvian Amazon (south)

We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.

Expert advice for your holidays to The Peruvian Amazon (south)
Sophie Barber
Sophie Barber
Travel Expert

The southern Peruvian Amazon offers the perfect introduction. It’s accessible from Cusco, yet within hours you’re in a world of wildlife, rivers and jungle sounds.

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best time to go

When to visit The Peruvian Amazon (south)

The Amazon can be visited throughout the year, with changing river levels creating different opportunities depending on the season. 

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As at all times of the year, temperatures are very hot. You’ll find high levels of humidity and plenty of showers which mostly begin in the late afternoon and can continue throughout the night. Water levels in the river are high.

Puerto Maldonado
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Expect high temperatures (they vary little throughout the year), humidity and plenty of showers, often late in the afternoon and potentially lasting all night. High water levels aid river navigation and afford opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Tambopata
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This is the start of the drier season, although at least some rain should always be expected; temperatures increase; water levels peak before beginning to recede and jungle trails become increasingly accessible.

Puerto Maldonado
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You can expect hot days, which are often dry, although some rain is always a possibility. River levels continue to drop, making some waterways inaccessible, while clay licks become increasingly active and aquatic wildlife may be easier to spot as water levels recede. Occasional cold snaps from the south can lower temperatures dramatically but briefly between June and September.

Puerto Mladonado
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Days are very hot and will often be dry, although you can never rule out precipitation in the rainforest. Some waterways are inaccessible as water levels in the river continue to drop. There is increased activity in clay licks and you may find it easier to spot aquatic wildlife in the low waters. In September you may experience occasional cold snaps from the south.

Parrot Clay Lick
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Once the rainy season starts in the Andes, the water levels in Amazonia begin to rise again; temperatures cool slightly, but humidity levels increase; rain showers tend to be more likely

Tambopata
We can tailor-make your perfect The Peruvian Amazon (south) trip whatever time of year you choose
Design your holiday
What to do

Top Things to do in The Peruvian Amazon (south)

The southern Peruvian Amazon is all about exploration and discovery. From wildlife watching and canoe trips to jungle walks and encounters with indigenous communities, every day offers the chance to experience a different side of the rainforest.

Monkey

Keep your eyes peeled for magical glimpses of jungle wildlife while exploring the Amazon on land and water.

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See more things to do in The Peruvian Amazon (south)
Where to stay

Accommodation in The Peruvian Amazon (south)

Accommodation focuses on carefully designed eco-lodges positioned within the rainforest itself. These lodges combine comfort with exceptional access to wildlife-rich habitats and expert-guided excursions.
Options range from accessible lodges around Puerto Maldonado to more remote properties bordering protected rainforest reserves. Regardless of the style chosen, staying within the forest allows visitors to experience the Amazon’s sounds, wildlife and atmosphere from dawn until dusk.

Remote, rustic lodge in an extraordinarily beautiful cloud-forest setting, offering wildlife trails in a pristine natural environment and great chances of spotting the rare cock of the rock bird.

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Simple jungle lodge in a spectacular setting, offering a flexible and varied programme of excursions.

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Stylish riverside jungle lodge offering an adventurous jungle experience in relative luxury.

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First-class jungle lodge offering romance and elegance in the midst of the wilderness, with an excellent restaurant, its own canopy walkway and even a treehouse for two.

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Sustainable and authentic lodge in one of the world’s most pristine and biodiverse areas of rainforest: an ideal base for serious wildlife lovers.

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A friendly and comfortable thatched wildlife eco-lodge on the banks of a rainforest-fringed river in the Peruvian Amazon. 

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Well-run and stylishly decorated wildlife lodge, offering a particularly varied range of excursions and an award-winning family programme.

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Atmospheric jungle lodge combining simplicity with relative comfort in a remote wilderness setting.

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Smart and comfortable new eco lodge comprising well-appointed cabins of polished wood, on the banks of the Manú river in an area of remarkable biodiversity.

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Remote and extraordinary lodge, far from signs of civilisation, with access to pristine rainforest and the world’s largest macaw clay lick.

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See more places to stay in The Peruvian Amazon (south)
Something special in mind?
Our specialists know the best and most unusual places to stay across Latin America.
Sally Dodge
Travel Expert

A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

Sally Dodge
EXPERTLY CRAFTED TAILOR-MADE JOURNEYS

Holidays to The Peruvian Amazon (south)

Group The Peruvian Amazon (south) Tours

Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.

Sun over Machu Picchu in Peru
Group Tour
essential

Condor: Peru in depth

Places visited: Lima · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · The Peruvian Amazon (south)

20 days from £3,851

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Based on two people sharing & excluding flights
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Tailor-Made The Peruvian Amazon (south) Tours

Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.

Colourful Macaws flying over the Amazon
Trips to Tailor

Peru Birdlife: Machu Picchu to Pristine Amazon

Places visited: Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · The Peruvian Amazon (south)

12 days from £2,450

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Based on two people sharing & excluding flights
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Trips to Tailor

Peru Odyssey – 21 Days of Discovery

Places visited: Lima · Paracas, Ica and Nazca · Arequipa and Colca Canyon · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · The Peruvian Amazon (south)

21 days from £6,230

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Based on two people sharing & excluding flights
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Trips to Tailor

Signature Peru: The Inca heartland and Amazon Rainforest

Places visited: Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Cusco · The Peruvian Amazon (south)

10 days from £2,510

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Based on two people sharing & excluding flights
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Plan your trip

FAQs about visiting The Peruvian Amazon (south)

The Peruvian Amazon (south) is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.

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Still more questions? Our specialists have all the answers
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