Amazon Rainforest Packing List for Peru: Manu & Tambopata
For a Manu or Tambopata tour, pack light long-sleeved shirts and long pants, a rain jacket, a warm layer, insect repellent, a headlamp, sandals and a small daypack. You do not need to bring rubber boots, towels or bottled water: on our tours we provide rubber boots, drinking water, and lodges with towels and mosquito nets. Below is the full list, what each tour already includes, and the few things that change between Manu and Tambopata.
What our tours already provide
| Item | Manu tours (3 to 8 days) | Tambopata tour (3 days) |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber boots | Yes, on every tour | Yes |
| Drinking water | Yes, unlimited | Yes |
| Towels and mosquito nets | Yes, at the lodges | Yes, at the lodge |
| Rain poncho | On the 5-day tour with hot springs | Yes |
| Binoculars | Your guide carries a spotting scope and binoculars; one pair for every two travelers on the 5-day hot springs tour and 10×50 binoculars on the 8-day tour | Your guide carries a spotting scope and binoculars |
| Phone chargers | At Top Manu Avatar Lodge |
Each tour page lists exactly what is included. If you book the Pusharo tour, which has three nights of camping, ask us what to add for the camp.
Clothes: what to wear in the Amazon rainforest
- Light, quick-dry long-sleeved shirts and long pants (two or three sets). They protect you from mosquitoes and sun; the CDC recommends loose long sleeves and long pants, and clothing treated with permethrin gives extra protection.
- A rain jacket and a hat or cap. Showers come quickly, even in the dry season.
- A warm layer (fleece or light jacket). The road from Cusco to Manu crosses the Andes, where early mornings are cold, and mornings on the river can be misty and cool.
- A swimsuit for the hot springs on the 5-day Manu tour or a swim in the stream on the Tambopata tour, and a small towel for it (the lodges give you bath towels).
- Sleepwear and socks, including long socks to wear over your pants on the trails.
Is it cold in the Amazon? Usually not, but Peru gets 16 to 18 friajes a year, cold air masses from the south that can drop temperatures in the southern Amazon to about 15 °C (59 °F) for a few days, according to Peru’s weather service, SENAMHI. They are most common between May and September. More in Is it cold in the Amazon?
Shoes
- Rubber boots: provided on our tours, for muddy trails and getting in and out of the boat.
- Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers for the drive, the stops in the cloud forest and around the lodge.
- Sandals for the lodge and the boat.
Insect protection and health
- Insect repellent. The CDC recommends EPA-registered repellents with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD or 2-undecanone. We suggest one with 30–50% DEET for the rainforest.
- After-bite cream and sunscreen.
- Your personal medicines and a small first-aid kit. Our guides carry a first-aid kit.
- Vaccines: the CDC recommends the yellow fever vaccine for Manu’s lowlands and Tambopata. Read our yellow fever and malaria guide and see a travel clinic before you go.
- Biodegradable shampoo and soap, if you can: water from the lodges ends up in the rivers.
Gear, camera and electronics
- A headlamp or flashlight with spare batteries, for night walks.
- A camera with spare batteries. Many animals are seen at a distance, so a 400 mm telephoto lens is ideal.
- Binoculars (10×50 recommended) if your tour does not include them.
- A power bank. Electricity at rainforest lodges can be limited to certain hours.
- Dry bags or plastic bags to protect your camera and phone on the boat.
- A reusable water bottle. Drinking water is included, so there is no need to buy bottled water in Cusco.
- A daypack for walks and boat rides.
Documents, money and luggage
- Your passport. We need its details for the park permits.
- Some cash in soles or US dollars for drinks, souvenirs and tips.
- Pack a soft bag, not a big suitcase. You can leave your main luggage at our office in Cusco or at your hotel, free of charge (see luggage storage).
Manu or Tambopata: what changes
| Manu | Tambopata | |
|---|---|---|
| How you get there | Overland from Cusco across the Andes, then by boat | Flight or bus to Puerto Maldonado, then by car and boat |
| Extra to pack | A warm layer for the Andes and misty mornings; binoculars on longer tours | A light bag for the flight |
| Rain gear | Bring a rain jacket (a poncho is included on the 5-day hot springs tour) | Poncho included; a rain jacket is still useful |
Still choosing? Read Manu vs Tambopata, or see our Manu tours and the Tambopata tour.
Sources, checked on 19 October 2026: CDC – Preventing mosquito bites; Andina, citing SENAMHI – tenth friaje of 2025. What each tour includes and recommends, as published on our tour pages.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear in the Amazon rainforest?
Light, quick-dry long-sleeved shirts and long pants, a rain jacket, a hat and a warm layer for cool mornings. Long sleeves protect you from mosquitoes and sun. Add a swimsuit and sandals for the lodge.
Do I need to bring rubber boots?
No. We provide rubber boots on all our Manu and Tambopata tours. Bring comfortable walking shoes for the drive and the lodge, and sandals.
Is it cold in the Peruvian Amazon?
Usually it is warm, but cold fronts called friajes can drop temperatures to about 15 °C (59 °F) for a few days, mostly between May and September. The drive from Cusco to Manu also crosses the cold Andes, so bring a fleece or light jacket.
What insect repellent should I bring?
An EPA-registered repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD or 2-undecanone, as the CDC recommends. For the rainforest we suggest 30–50% DEET, plus after-bite cream.
Can I charge my phone and camera at the lodge?
Top Manu Avatar Lodge has phone chargers. Electricity at rainforest lodges can be limited to certain hours, so bring a power bank and spare camera batteries.
Where do I leave my big suitcase?
At our office in Cusco or at your hotel, free of charge. Take only a soft bag and a daypack to the rainforest.
