Peru’s jungle is teeming with hidden gems. Some of the best destinations in the jungle await eager explorers. Each offers a unique, unforgettable experience.
From lush greenery to vibrant wildlife, the scenery is captivating. For those seeking adventure and nature, Peru is a must-visit. Dive into these top 5 spots in our list
1. Tambopata:
Tambopata is one of the provinces of the Amazonian state of Madre de Dios. Most people know Tambopata because of the Tambopata River and the huge Tambopata National Reserve that protects it. It is one of the renowned destinations in Peruvian Jungle.
The Tambopata National Reserve is 274,690 hectares (1,061 square miles) of preserved land in Southeastern Peru. The Reserve has many diverse habitats, including lowland Amazon rainforest, riverine forest, and oxbow lakes, like the Sandoval lake. It is crossed by three rivers: the Malinowski, the Tambopata, and the Madre de Dios rivers.
Why Tambopata?
Tambopata is ideal for amateurs of nature and the biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest; tourism for scientific purposes, bird watchers, flora and fauna; interested in mysticism and native communities and for those who are passionate about navigating the rivers of the Amazon.
Because of the Reserve’s protected status and secluded location, it’s incredibly biodiverse. The Reserve plays host to over 1,000 species of butterflies, 100 species of mammals, around 600 species of birds, and hundreds of species of trees and plants. In fact, this reserve and surrounding region is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet!
Excellent scenarios for bird watching. Also, for those who wish a first foray into pristine forests of the Amazon rainforest.
2. Iquitos:
Iquitos is another preferred destinations in Peruvian Jungle for lovers of nature and biodiversity tourism and for those who want to feel an intimate contact with the unspoilt nature of the Amazonian forests and the Amazon River.
From the city of Iquitos you can take a cruise on the Amazon River. You can also stay in lodges and lodges in the middle of the jungle to explore the jungle and the most daring and adventurous can reach the protected natural areas. Highlighting the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and Allpahuayo Mishana, with exuberant fauna and flora, ideal for bird watching. You can also make contact with the aborigines of the Amazon or know the rites of ayahuasca.
Why Iquitos?
In the city of Iquitos you can find handicrafts of the jungle natives. You can also enjoy excellent regional cuisine, typical drinks, hectic city life and great nightlife, or sessions with shamans that use ayahuasca. There is great diffusion of folk medicine and quackery based on the large number of medicinal plants that exist.
This destination, in the heart of the jungle of Peru. It has different ways of being visited, a program with accommodation in a jungle lodge, a cruise in the Amazon, staying in the city of Iquitos with excursions, or a combination of them. In any of the cases, the minimum recommended for a basic visit in the Northern Amazon of Peru is 4 days
3. Manu:
The Manu National Park is one of the wilderness destinations in Peruvian Jungle and most acclaimed by national and foreign tourists.
This National Park of almost 2 million hectares was created in 1973. It is located in the southeast of Peru, specifically in the departments of Madre de Dios and Cuzco. The biodiversity that houses this place is one of the highest in the planet.
One of the main attractions of the Park are the collpas, habitat of flocks of macaws.As well as other species of fauna, that come in search of food. The park is home to some 221 species of mammals, such as the otorongo, black tiger, sachavaca, sajino, deer, ronsoco, jaguar, black maquisapa, among others. As for birds, the harpy eagle, jabiru, pink spatula, jungle goose and cock of the rocks stand out.
Inside the park there is a metal tower 18 meters high and a raised path with platform that facilitates the best bird watching tour and the immensity of the forest from the treetops.
We Recommend:
For a spectacular view it is recommended to get to the Tres Cruces viewpoint and appreciate the sunrise, as well as two opposite landscapes: the Andean mountain range and the cloud forest. It is better to go between May and August, when the sky is clear and allows to see the appearance of the sun twice during the same dawn, due to a phenomenon of nature.
Manu has one of the most renowned research centers for the Amazon: the biological station of Cocha Cashu, as well as an interpretation center in the Limonal surveillance post.
Much of the park is indigenous territory. Here live 30 peasant communities that maintain the Quechua language as their mother tongue and several native Amazonian populations such as the Matsiguenka, Amahuaca, Yine, Amarakaeri, Huashipaire and Nahua peoples. In addition there are indigenous populations in voluntary isolation called uncontacted. The cultural richness of the place is also evident in archaeological sites that have not yet been studied.
4. Pucallpa:
Pucallpa is a busy Amazon frontier town in Peru which sits on the banks of the Ucayali River, a major tributary which feeds the Amazon River.
In its territory are preserved many areas of virgin forest with a rich Amazonian flora and fauna, and is sparsely populated by native communities, normally located to the shores of rivers or lagoons. Normally matriarchal organizations engaged in fishing, hunting and agriculture. Communities near the city of Pucallpa also involved in the production of handicrafts and shamanism.
Very near to Pucallpa, tourists can get nature encounter in Yarinacocha, a large lagoon formed by an old meander of the Ucayali River, and around which are located several Shipibo villages like San Francisco, and abundant flora and fauna of an Amazonian lake, ideal for bird watching, fishing, water sports and relaxation.
The capital of the department of Ucayali is one of the best options to visit the jungle with the whole family. Both in the city and in the surroundings you will find outdoor activities.
5. Tarapoto:
Located in the department of San Martín.
From Tarapoto you can enjoy many of its lagoons and waterfalls where contact with nature and relaxation will make your visit a great experience. The lagoon “El Sauce”, also called the blue lagoon, is located only 51 km south of the city and is itself a destination of landscapes of lush vegetation and calm waters, around which are located lodges offering various programs visiting.
Around Tarapoto you can see the Ahuashiyacu waterfalls and the Cordillera Escalera reserved area, the waterfalls of Huacamillo, the lagoon El Sauce and Lago Lindo are places for recommended views of not less than 2 days, Chazuta potters village and its zones archaeological sites, the petroglyphs of Polish, are some of the most visited tourist attractions that are located near the city of Tarapoto, easily accessible by paved roads, places to meet nature. Also Lamas, Rioja and Moyobamba the capital of the orchids.
The contact with nature offers unique alternatives for the observation of orchids and birds as well as a rich flora and fauna of the high jungle area. For adventurers, boating on the Mayo River or hiking in forests is a good alternative.
