Overview
The Amazonian rainforest occupies 60% of Peru. The northern region, accessible from Iquitos, has flood plains and wide tributaries, a great environment for Amazonian river cruises. In the more closely forested south, with its faster flowing streams and ox-bow lakes, you are more likely to be based at a friendly jungle lodge, from where you can discover the forest magic, its abundance of exotic birds, monkeys, caiman and flowering tropical plants, with the opportunity to visit indigenous communities.
The southern region of the Peruvian Amazon has as its gateway the busy, rapidly expanding river port Puerto Maldonado, situated on the banks of the river Tambopata where it has confluence with the river Madre de Dios, tributaries of what will, downstream, become the Amazon. A century-old market town, which has seen rubber, logging and gold prospecting booms, it is where visitors arrive on a flight from Cusco of just one hour, making the Peruvian Amazon very accessible for those visiting the Inca capital and Machu Picchu in the Andes.
There, eco-friendly jungle lodges of all standards, discreetly positioned amid the exuberant jungle foliage are accessible by motor boat in 2-5 hours. A little further afield is Manu, a biosphere reserve and national park reached by air or a spectacular, sinuous road descending from Cusco, where the jungle canopy is untouched: it takes longer to get there but you are rewarded with a real wilderness experience.
Holidays The Peruvian Amazon (south)
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

Group - Discovery
Peru / Lake Titicaca / Bolivia
Condor: Peru in depth
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Private Journeys
Peru / The Amazon
Peru Birdlife: Machu Picchu to Pristine Amazon
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Private Journeys
Peru
Peru Odyssey – 21 Days of Discovery
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Private Journeys
Peru
Signature Peru: The Inca heartland and Amazon Rainforest
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Things to do
Explore the plethora of things to do in the Peruvian Amazon, on foot, by bicycle or by boat. Book your tour of Peru with Journey Latin America now.
Accommodation
Examine hotels, lodges and other first class places to stay in the Peruvian Amazon. Book your accommodation in Peru with Journey Latin America now.
Where to go when - our guide to The Peruvian Amazon (south)
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The weather in The Peruvian Amazon (south) is wide and varied
The Peruvian selva enjoys a hot (30°C), humid tropical climate all year round, though there may be cold snaps. The high water, rainy season is December to May, a few degrees cooler than the rest of the year. At this time all waterways are navigable including small creeks, so opportunities to spot mammals are more frequent than during the sunnier dry season. From June to November the low water reveals many jungle trails, where you can get close to the vegetation, and this is a good time to spot migratory birds in flight.
View our The Peruvian Amazon (south) weather guidePapagaio
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