Amazon Jungle

Peruvian Amazon River Cruising

In Peru, cruise through the lush Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and search for manatees, pink dolphins, the white lipped, peccary, red faced spider monkey, capybara and many more reptiles, fish and birds. With so much wildlife and fantastic ship options, you can cruise from 4 to 8 days on the Amazon and its subsidiary rivers in this area of Peru.

Arrival Details: From Lima or Cuzco, take a direct 2 hour flight to Iquitos in north east Peru. Connectivity is easy for travellers already visiting Peru.

Ecuadorian Amazon

The Ecuadorian amazon provides adventure observing the spectacular wildlife living in Yasuní National Park, a sacred land known as one of the most diverse regions on the planet.

Ecuador Amazon River Cruises or lodge based programs explore the Napo River that winds through the UNESCO listed Yasuni National Park. The park is home to giant otters, pygmy marmosets, pink dolphins, red howlers, parrots, macaws, and more.

Arrival Details: From Quito, take a direct 45 min flight to Coca in the east. Connectivity to the Amazon is easy for those already in the country.

Colombian Amazon

Exploring the Colombian Amazon starts by flying south into the city of Leticia which is on the border with Peru and Brazil. Here you will spend one night in town before your journey up the river to the beautiful area of Puerto Nariño where you will be based. Your stay is at a jungle lodge that will provide your meals and expert guides to lead you on jungle excursions. Leticia is located on one of the banks of the Amazon River in the heart of the most resplendent and exuberant forest on earth. An imaginary line is drawn here creating a frontier between three countries: Colombia, Brazil and Peru.

Numerous indigenous communities live in these areas including the Huitotos, Yaguas and Ticunas. All of these indigenous communities have protected their cultures and traditions passing down their practices through generations such as their knowledge of medicinal plants, magic, ceremonies and jungle survival.

Brazilian Amazon

Brazil contains more of the Amazon Jungle than any other country, by far. The river here is much wider and stronger than in Peru or Ecuador which have smaller tributaries. Here lodges and cruises explore the main Amazon River, the Rio Negro, or both for longer itineraries. In the Anavilhanas National Park, see wildlife ranging from giant anteaters and giant armadillos to margays (also known as tree ocelots) and river dolphins. A major draw here is seeing merging of the brown Amazon and the black Rio Negro.

Arrival Details: Exploring the Amazon in Brazil requires a 4.5 hour flight from Rio or 4 hour flight from Sao Paulo to Manaus in the far north of Brazil. The flight and transit time makes exploring the Amazon in Brazil less attractive than in Peru or Ecuador. This is a great option for travellers exploring Brazil.

Peruvian Amazon Lodges

Peruvian jungle stays are available in the North near Iquitos (where Peruvian Amazon Cruises depart) or in the south near Puerto Maldonado with access to the nearby Tambopata National Reserve.

There are a range of eco-lodges perfect for your first taste of the Peruvian Amazon’s natural wonders. Despite being relatively close to Puerto Maldonado, many lodges on the Madre de Dios river offer ample opportunities to see wildlife such as squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, parrots, macaws and giant river otters among others.