The Peruvian Amazon at a glance
Most trips to the Amazon jungle in Peru start in one of three places. Iquitos leads to the Pacaya-Samiria reserve. Puerto Maldonado leads to Tambopata. Cusco leads, by a long road and then a river, to Manu. Each has a different journey, a different feel and its own rules at the park entrance.
This is an independent guide, not run by the park authority, a lodge or a tour company. Fees are the ones shown on the park authority's web pages without a dated 2026 decision, so treat them as a guide and confirm them at the control post or with your operator.
Iquitos, Tambopata and Manu compared
Journey times are the ones given for each area. Check them against your own flights and boats.
| Iquitos and Pacaya-Samiria | Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata | Manu | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Flight to Iquitos | Flight to Puerto Maldonado, or road from Cusco (465 km, about 10 hours) | Cusco |
| From there | Road to Nauta (about 2 hours), then boat: 3 hours by motorboat or 1 hour by speedboat to Yanayacu | Sandoval: about 30 minutes by boat plus 3 km on foot. Medio Tambopata: about 3 hours by boat plus a walk. Alto Tambopata: about 5.5 hours by boat | Road to Atalaya (about 9 hours), then about 7 hours by boat to Limonal |
| Recommended season | May to September | May to October | April to November |
| Rainy season | October to April | December to March | December to March |
| Entry | Authorized operators and local groups, registration at a control post | Authorized operators, registration at a control post | Operator advised; the official pages disagree on solo entry |
The seasons are the park authority's recommendations, not exact water-level curves. Manu covers highlands and lowlands, so there is no single temperature profile. More detail is on the best time page.
Our picks: Peruvian Amazon tours
Jungle camps near Iquitos and lodge stays in Tambopata, all starting at the airport or in town.
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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3-day Tambopata National Reserve tour
Two nights, a guide, airport or bus station transfers, and two breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Reserve entry and the zipline can be added at extra cost; tips are not included.
Check availability →Peruvian Amazon tours and lodge stays
Lodge stays, river trips and guided jungle tours around Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata, with live prices and availability.
Park fees in Peru
General rates for visitors, in Peruvian soles, as shown on the park authority's pages.
| Protected area | 1 day | 2 to 3 days | 4 to 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacaya-Samiria | PEN 30 | PEN 60 | PEN 150 |
| Tambopata | PEN 30 | PEN 60 | PEN 150 |
| Manu | PEN 30 | PEN 60 | PEN 150 |
Lower rates exist for Peruvian nationals and for local residents, and they require a Peruvian ID (DNI). The pages list a minors category for ages 5 to 16 and free entry under 5. For foreign children beyond that, confirm the rate with your operator. The Spanish and English pages for Manu show different figures for some categories, and operators often include the fee in a package, so ask what your price covers. See also Manu.
The three areas
A short guide to each, with a page for more detail.
Iquitos and Pacaya-Samiria
Reached by air or river. The reserve asks for registration at a control post and the use of life jackets.
Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata
A short flight from Lima, then boats of 30 minutes to 5.5 hours depending on the sector.
Manu National Park
A long road and river journey from Cusco, with sectors that need an operator.
One lodge example from Peru is Posada Amazonas, which describes its site as the community reserve of the Ese Eja of Infierno, directly connected to Tambopata. It advertises 3 days and 2 nights from $1,266 per person in a double room, in 2026. Staying in a region does not automatically mean staying inside the national reserve, so ask where a lodge sits. See lodges for more.
Entry, health and safety for Peru
Rules change. Check with the embassy and a travel-medicine clinic before you go.
Entry
US citizens can visit visa-free for tourist stays up to 90 days. German citizens can stay up to 90 days per half-year. Austrian citizens can stay 90 days, though the granted time can be shorter. Passports should be valid for at least 6 months. Swiss citizens should confirm the current rule with the embassy.
Yellow fever
The US CDC recommends vaccination from 9 months of age for areas east of the Andes below 2,300 m, including Loreto and Madre de Dios, and states that proof is not required to enter Peru (page of 12 February 2026). Ask a travel-medicine clinic whether it applies to you.
Malaria
The CDC lists transmission east of the Andes below 2,500 m, explicitly including Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado (23 April 2025). Prevention is a decision for a doctor who knows your route.
Border area in Loreto
The US travel advisory of 20 August 2026 marks the Colombia-Peru border area in Loreto as Do not travel. Iquitos is not the same as that border zone. Read the current advice for your passport.
Ayahuasca and San Pedro
The German Foreign Office (24 August 2026) documents serious illness and deaths linked to ayahuasca and San Pedro rituals in the Peruvian jungle. This site lists no providers.
This is not medical advice and it gives no medication doses. The page of travel tips covers packing and wildlife manners, and where to go compares Peru with Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Peruvian Amazon: frequently asked questions
Which Peruvian gateway should I choose?
It depends on time and appetite for travel. Puerto Maldonado is a short flight from Lima, and the nearest Tambopata sector is about 30 minutes by boat. Iquitos adds a drive to Nauta and a boat. Manu needs a long journey from Cusco. The table above puts the times side by side.
Can I reach Iquitos by road?
Iquitos is reached by air or by river. The road from Iquitos to Nauta takes about 2 hours and is the first step toward Pacaya-Samiria. See the Iquitos page.
How much is the park fee?
The general fee on the park authority's web pages is PEN 30 for one day, PEN 60 for 2 to 3 days and PEN 150 for 4 to 30 days, in Pacaya-Samiria, Tambopata and Manu. Rates can differ by category, and a lodge package may include the fee.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination for Peru?
The CDC recommends it for the Amazon areas of Peru but says proof is not required to enter the country. Rules for your next country can differ, for example Ecuador. Ask a travel-medicine clinic well before you leave.
When is the best time to go?
Park authorities recommend May to September for Pacaya-Samiria, May to October for Tambopata and April to November for Manu. Rainy seasons run October to April, and December to March in the south. See the best time to visit.
Is this the official site for Peru's parks?
No. This is an independent guide with no link to the park authority, lodges or tour operators.