The Amazon jungle in a nutshell
The Amazon rainforest crosses several borders, and the country you pick decides almost everything: how you arrive, what a stay costs, which entry and health rules apply and when the water suits your plans. This guide covers the four countries where most trips start: Peru (Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado with Tambopata, and Manu), Brazil (Manaus), Ecuador (Cuyabeno and Yasuní) and Bolivia (Rurrenabaque and Madidi).
This is an independent site. It is not run by a government, a park authority, a lodge, a cruise line or a tour company, and it gives no medical advice. Prices are in US dollars unless noted, as listed by the operators in 2026, and they change.
Where trips start
Each gateway has its own route into the forest. These are the chains described for the main areas.
| Country and gateway | How you get into the forest | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Peru, Iquitos | Fly to Iquitos, drive to Nauta, continue by river | Pacaya-Samiria |
| Peru, Puerto Maldonado | Fly in, then boat and walking routes of different lengths | Tambopata |
| Peru, Cusco | Road to Atalaya, then boat to the tourist river sector | Manu |
| Brazil, Manaus | Expedition ships on the Rio Negro and the Amazon | Rio Negro and Amazon |
| Ecuador, Coca | Boat on the Napo, then a paddled canoe to the lodge | Yasuní |
| Bolivia, Rurrenabaque | Boat transfer on the Beni and Tuichi rivers | Madidi |
No source supports a ranking of the best country, the best sighting rate or the cheapest route. Pick by what you want to do, how much time you have and which entry and health rules suit you. The page on where to go compares the four countries.
Our picks: jungle tours
Lodge stays in Peru, Brazil and Ecuador, with the number of nights and what is included spelled out.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tambopata lodge stay, 3 days and 2 nights
Two lodge nights with two breakfasts, lunches and dinners, pickup from the airport or bus station, transport between activities, equipment and entry fees. Flights or buses to and from Puerto Maldonado are not included.
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3-day jungle camp tour from Iquitos
Two nights at a jungle camp with meals, excursions and an English- and Spanish-speaking guide, plus hotel or airport pickup. Snacks, water and the transfer back to the airport are not included.
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Anaconda Lodge stay, 2 to 4 days
One, two or three nights depending on the option, in a private cabin with fan or air conditioning. Meals, water, fruit, an English-speaking guide and Manaus hotel transfers are included; the return airport transfer, tips, beer, soft drinks, dolphin swimming and the Meeting of the Waters are extra.
Check availability →Amazon jungle tours and lodge stays
Lodge stays, river trips and guided jungle tours in Peru, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Amazon trip
Start with the country comparison, then open the pages for the places and topics you need.
Where to go
Peru, Brazil, Ecuador or Bolivia: how the gateways and routes differ.
Amazon tours compared
Lodge stays, cruises and day trips, with what the price covers.
The Peruvian Amazon
Iquitos, Tambopata and Manu side by side, with park fees.
Iquitos and Pacaya-Samiria
Getting there by air, the route to Nauta and the reserve rules.
Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata
Flight times, boat sectors and what a lodge transfer looks like.
Manu National Park
Zones, access and why the official pages disagree.
Manaus
The meeting of the waters, the opera house and boat trips.
The Ecuadorian Amazon
Cuyabeno and Yasuní lodges, transfers and the current situation.
Rurrenabaque and Madidi
Flights, the Chalalán transfer and safety notes for Bolivia.
Amazon river cruises
Routes, 2026 cabin prices and the conditions that matter.
Jungle lodges
What is included, what is extra and how to choose.
Best time to visit
Monthly rain, regional seasons and the low water of 2023 and 2024.
Travel tips
Vaccines, packing, safety and respectful wildlife viewing.
Good to know before you book
Where older guides are out of date.
US passport and Brazil
The visa exemption is gone. Brazil has required a visa for US citizens again since 10 April 2025, and the US travel information asks for one approved before you travel. Check with the Brazilian embassy.
Manaus →US passport and Bolivia
Bolivia dropped the visa for US tourists on 1 December 2025. The current US travel notice confirms visa-free tourist stays of less than 90 days a year. Old visa fees no longer apply.
Bolivia →Ecuador and yellow fever
New proof rules for arrivals from neighboring countries have applied since 12 May 2025, and the agencies word them differently. Do not assume an exemption because of your route. Ask the embassy and a travel-medicine clinic.
Health and travel tips →The 2023 and 2024 drought is history
Record low water hit rivers in 2023 and 2024. The WMO reports normal Rio Negro levels at Manaus in the second half of 2025. That is no promise for every route in 2026, so ask your operator.
Best time to visit →Manu is not a go-alone park
The official Spanish and English pages disagree about who may enter without a licensed operator. Plan with an operator unless the park authority confirms otherwise for your sector.
Manu guide →Lodge prices are not door-to-door
The 2026 rate sheet of one Ecuador lodge excludes land transfers and a $10 fee for the Siona community visit. Many packages leave out flights, transfers and community fees.
Lodges →Trip price examples in 2026
Each row is one operator's published price per person. They are examples, not market ranges.
| Trip | Length | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyabeno lodge, dormitory | 3 days, 2 nights | $239 |
| Cuyabeno lodge, standard room | 3 days, 2 nights | $299 |
| Posada Amazonas, Peru | 3 days, 2 nights | From $1,266 (double room) |
| M/Y Tucano, Brazil, green cabin | 4 nights | $2,750 |
| Delfín II suite, Peru | 3 nights | $3,800 |
The lodge rows cover the stay, not the journey to it. The Cuyabeno rate sheet of 2026 shows $299 for the standard room, while an older overview shows $320, so confirm the price before you book. The Delfín II product description has changed over time, so confirm which programs are on sale. See lodges and river cruises for the conditions.
Amazon jungle: frequently asked questions
Which country is best for an Amazon trip?
There is no sourced ranking. Peru offers several gateways, Brazil centers on Manaus and its river routes, Ecuador on the lodges of Cuyabeno and Yasuní, and Bolivia on Rurrenabaque and Madidi. Compare the routes on the page about where to go and decide by travel time, budget and season.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
The US CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination from 9 months of age for the relevant Amazon areas of Peru, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia. Entry rules are a separate question, and Ecuador and Bolivia have proof requirements for some arrivals. The agencies do not always agree, so talk to a travel-medicine clinic well before departure. This site gives no medical advice and no medication doses.
Is there malaria in the Amazon?
The CDC lists malaria transmission in the areas covered here, including Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado in Peru, the state of Amazonas in Brazil, parts of Ecuador's Amazon provinces and Bolivian areas below 2,500 m. Whether and how to protect yourself is a question for a doctor who knows your route. See the travel tips.
Do I need a visa?
Rules depend on your passport. US citizens need a visa for Brazil but not for Peru, Ecuador or Bolivia on short tourist stays. German citizens can enter all four countries visa-free for up to 90 days, with the day count differing by country. Austrian citizens need no visa for any of the four, with up to 90 days in Peru, Brazil and Ecuador. Swiss citizens should confirm the current rules for Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia with the embassy. Several countries ask for a passport valid for at least six months. Check with the embassy before you book.
When is the best time to go?
It depends on the region. Park authorities recommend May to September for Pacaya-Samiria, May to October for Tambopata and April to November for Manu. Rio Negro operators describe a drier time from about August to November. The best time page sets these out by region and shows monthly rainfall for Manaus.
Is visitamazonjungle.com an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to any government, park authority, lodge, cruise line or tour operator in Peru, Brazil, Ecuador or Bolivia.