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Amazon Rainforest Tours
Amazon Rainforest Tours in Peru: Manu, Tambopata and Pacaya Samiria
Three ways into the Peruvian Amazon: Tambopata from Puerto Maldonado, Manu from Cusco and Pacaya Samiria from Iquitos. Tours of 3 to 8 days with guides and meals, from US$350.
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4.7 8 Days / 7 Nights Peru Amazon tours: three gateways, three different jungles
The Peruvian Amazon is reached through three gateways, and each one leads to a different protected area: the town of Puerto Maldonado for the Tambopata National Reserve, the road from Cusco for Manu National Park, and the city of Iquitos for the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. We run 11 Amazon tours of 3 to 8 days across the three, from US$350 per person for 3 days in Tambopata. The quick rule: with 3 to 5 days and coming from Cusco, choose Tambopata or Manu’s Cultural Zone; with 6 to 8 days and wildlife as your priority, Manu’s Reserved Zone; for a river expedition camping in flooded forest, Pacaya Samiria from Iquitos.
- US$350Our lowest price: Tambopata 3 days / 2 nights, with the round-trip overnight bus from Cusco, the lodge, a bilingual guide and the entrances.
- 11 tours3 to 8 days: three in Tambopata, six in Manu and two in Pacaya Samiria.
- 3 gatewaysPuerto Maldonado and Manu start from Cusco; Pacaya Samiria starts in Iquitos, reached by plane via Lima.
All our Amazon tours, compared
We are a tour operator based in Cusco, and these are all the Amazon trips we run. Each name opens the full itinerary. Prices are per person, from the lowest rate we publish.
| Tour | Area and gateway | Days | Where you sleep | Itinerary highlights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tambopata 3D/2N | Tambopata, from Puerto Maldonado | 3 | Lodge, private room (2 nights) | Lake Sandoval, canopy walkway, Monkey Island, night caiman boat ride | US$350 |
| Tambopata 4D/3N | Tambopata, from Puerto Maldonado | 4 | Lodge, private room (3 nights) | Everything in the 3-day tour plus piranha fishing, zip-lining and early birdwatching | US$430 |
| Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick 5D/4N | Tambopata, from Puerto Maldonado | 5 | Lodge, private room (4 nights) | Lake Sandoval by canoe, the Chuncho macaw clay lick, a peccary clay lick | US$700 |
| Manu Jungle Trip 3D/2N | Manu Cultural Zone, by road from Cusco | 3 | 1 hotel night in Pilcopata, 1 lodge night | Cock-of-the-rock in the cloud forest, Machuwasi Lake, a parrot clay lick | US$375 |
| Manu Jungle Expedition 4D/3N | Manu Cultural Zone, by road from Cusco | 4 | 1 hotel night, 2 lodge nights | Ninamarca burial towers, a wildlife rescue center, a night walk | US$400 |
| Manu Jungle Expedition 5D/4N | Manu Cultural Zone, by road from Cusco | 5 | 1 hotel night, 3 lodge nights | The 4-day tour plus a forest hike, hummingbirds and the Atalaya hot springs | US$650 |
| Manu Reserved Zone 6D/5N | Manu Reserved Zone, by road and river from Cusco | 6 | Lodges, a night at a tapir clay lick, Casa Matsiguenka | Cocha Salvador by catamaran, giant otters, caimans, tapirs at night | US$1,360 |
| Manu Reserved Zone 7D/6N | Manu Reserved Zone, by road and river from Cusco | 7 | Lodges, Casa Matsiguenka, a hide at the Tapir Sanctuary | A hummingbird garden, a macaw clay lick, giant otters | US$1,440 |
| Manu Reserved Zone 8D/7N | Manu Reserved Zone, by road and river from Cusco | 8 | Bamboo Lodge, Tapir Lodge, 2 nights at Casa Matsiguenka | A large macaw clay lick, two full days at the oxbow lakes | US$1,500 |
| Pacaya Samiria 4D/3N | Pacaya Samiria, from Iquitos | 4 | Tents inside the reserve (3 nights) | The Marañón River, Shansho Cocha lake, Yanaquillo Creek, a night canoe outing | US$820 |
| Pacaya Samiria 6D/5N | Pacaya Samiria, from Iquitos | 6 | Tents inside the reserve (5 nights) | The 4-day route plus the Yanayacu River, Japón Creek and Yanta Lake | US$1,370 |
Each area has its own page with more detail: Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata tours, Manu tours, with the Cultural Zone and the Reserved Zone explained, and Iquitos and Pacaya Samiria tours.
Tambopata, Manu or Pacaya Samiria: which one fits your trip
The decision usually comes down to your days and where you start:
- Tambopata if you have 3 to 5 days and are already in Cusco. It is the shortest way into the rainforest: the bus or a short flight to Puerto Maldonado, then one hour by boat to the lodge. Every tour spends a day at Lake Sandoval, and the 5-day tour adds the Chuncho macaw clay lick.
- Manu if you want the overland journey from the Andes down to the rainforest. With 3 to 5 days you stay in the Cultural Zone, around the cloud forest and the Alto Madre de Dios River. With 6 to 8 days you reach the Reserved Zone on the Manu River, inside the national park, for oxbow lakes and giant otters.
- Pacaya Samiria if you want a river expedition: 4 or 6 days by boat in a flooded-forest reserve, sleeping in tents inside it. It is the farthest from Cusco and needs a flight via Lima.
For a side-by-side look at the wildlife, the seasons and what each place feels like, read Tambopata vs Manu vs Pacaya Samiria.
How to get to the Peruvian Amazon from Cusco and Lima
| Gateway | From Cusco | From Lima | On our tours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Maldonado (Tambopata) | A short flight, or 465 km and about 10 hours by bus | Flight of about 1 h 20 min | The round-trip overnight bus from Cusco is included; a flight instead is quoted on request |
| Cusco by road (Manu) | Departure from Cusco at 5:00–6:00 a.m.; 224 km and about 9 hours to the river port of Atalaya, then by boat | Fly to Cusco first | Bus and boat included, from Cusco and back |
| Iquitos (Pacaya Samiria) | Flight via Lima; there is no road to Iquitos | Flight of about 1 h 45 min | Flights not included; private airport transfers, the car to Nauta (104 km) and the motorboat are included |
Distances and flight times are those published by SERNANP, Peru’s protected-areas service. If you are flying in from the United States, you land in Lima first: see Lima to Cusco: flight or bus. For Pacaya Samiria, day 1 starts early in the morning and your hotel in Iquitos is not included, so plan to arrive the day before.
Adding the Amazon to your Machu Picchu trip
Tambopata and Manu start and finish in Cusco, so they fit before or after your Machu Picchu tours. With Tambopata, count the overnight bus as one extra night on the road at each end, or ask us to quote the flight. Our Tambopata lodge sits at about 400 m, far below Cusco’s roughly 3,400 m, while the Manu road climbs to about 4,000 m before descending to the rainforest. Pacaya Samiria needs a flight from Cusco via Lima to Iquitos, so it works best at the start or the end of your trip.
If you prefer one booking for the whole trip, our Inca Trail and Amazon package, 10 days / 9 nights, from US$1,635, combines the 4-day Inca Trail with Puerto Maldonado and includes the flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado and on to Lima. The Inca Trail part depends on permit availability. Our Salkantay trek and jungle package, 9 days / 8 nights, adds a 4-day Puerto Maldonado tour with flights from and back to Cusco; its price is quoted on request. To see how the Amazon fits into a full route, read our Peru itinerary.
Before you book: season, entrance fees and health
Season. SERNANP gives a different recommended window for each area. Rain is possible in any month, so pack light rain gear.
| Area | Recommended season (SERNANP) | Rainy months (SERNANP) |
|---|---|---|
| Tambopata | May to October | December to March |
| Manu | April to November | December to March |
| Pacaya Samiria | May to September | October to April |
Entrance fees. SERNANP charges foreign visitors by length of stay, the same way in all three areas: S/30 for 1 day, S/60 for 2 or 3 days and S/150 for 4 to 30 days. The entrance is included in all our Amazon tours; on the 3-day Manu tour, the entrance tickets to its attractions are included. SERNANP requires visitors to enter Tambopata, Pacaya Samiria and Manu’s Reserved Zone with an authorized tour operator.
Health. The US CDC recommends the yellow fever vaccine for travelers aged 9 months or older going to areas below 2,300 m in the Cusco and Madre de Dios regions, where Manu and Tambopata lie, and to all of Loreto, the region of Iquitos and Pacaya Samiria. Peru does not require it for entry, and the CDC does not recommend it for a trip limited to Cusco, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. The CDC also reports malaria below 2,500 m east of the Andes and recommends preventive medication. See a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before you go and tell them your full itinerary.
What our Amazon tours include
All our Amazon tours include a bilingual guide (English and Spanish), the transport listed in the itinerary (bus and boat for Tambopata and Manu; a private car to Nauta and a private motorboat for Pacaya Samiria), lodging (lodges in Tambopata and Manu, plus a hotel night in Pilcopata on the Cultural Zone tours; tents and camping gear in Pacaya Samiria), the meals listed on each tour page, drinking water, rubber boots and the entrance fees.
What is usually not included: flights to Iquitos and airport taxes, your hotel in Iquitos, breakfast on day 1 and some meals on the last day of most Tambopata and Manu tours, alcoholic drinks and tips. Check the includes list on each tour page. Bring light long-sleeved clothes, insect repellent, a headlamp for the night outings, rain gear and one warm layer for the cooler nights.
Useful guides before you travel
- Tambopata vs Manu vs Pacaya Samiria
- Tambopata National Reserve tours
- Manu National Park tours
- Pacaya Samiria tours from Iquitos
- Peru itinerary: 7, 10 and 14 days
- Lima to Cusco: flight or bus
Frequently asked questions
Which Amazon tour in Peru is best for a first trip?
From Cusco, most first-time visitors choose Tambopata for 3 or 4 days, or Manu’s Cultural Zone for 4 days. Both start in Cusco. If you have a week and wildlife is your priority, choose Manu’s Reserved Zone (6 to 8 days). Compare them in Tambopata vs Manu vs Pacaya Samiria.
How many days do I need for the Peruvian Amazon?
At least 3 days for Tambopata or Manu’s Cultural Zone, 4 days for Pacaya Samiria and 6 days for Manu’s Reserved Zone. Our tours run from 3 to 8 days.
What is the cheapest Amazon tour from Cusco?
Our Tambopata 3 days / 2 nights, from US$350 per person, with the round-trip overnight bus from Cusco, the lodge, a bilingual guide and the entrances. The Manu Jungle Trip 3 days / 2 nights starts at US$375.
Can I visit the Amazon from Cusco?
Yes. Tambopata is reached from Cusco by bus or a short flight to Puerto Maldonado, and Manu by road from Cusco. Iquitos and Pacaya Samiria need a flight via Lima.
Are flights included in your Amazon tours?
Our Tambopata tours include the round-trip overnight bus from Cusco, and we quote a flight instead on request. Manu tours travel by road and boat. For Pacaya Samiria, flights to Iquitos are not included, but we can help you arrange them; the airport transfers in Iquitos are included.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccine for the Amazon in Peru?
The CDC recommends it for travelers aged 9 months or older going below 2,300 m in Cusco and Madre de Dios, and for all of Loreto. Peru does not require it for entry. The CDC also reports malaria in the Amazon lowlands: ask a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before you go.
When is the best time to visit the Peruvian Amazon?
SERNANP recommends May to October for Tambopata, April to November for Manu and May to September for Pacaya Samiria. The rainy season runs from December to March in Tambopata and Manu, and from October to April in Pacaya Samiria. You can visit all year, but rain is possible in any month.
Can I visit the Amazon without a tour?
Not in the protected areas we visit: SERNANP requires an authorized tour operator to enter Tambopata, Pacaya Samiria and the Manu River sector, sold as Manu’s Reserved Zone. Manu’s Cultural Zone, the buffer zone outside the park, is open to everyone.