The Amazon Rainforest in Peru: Where It Is and How to Visit
About 60% of Peru is Amazon rainforest: the lowlands east of the Andes cover 77.5 million hectares (about 300,000 sq mi), 60.3% of the country, according to Peru’s Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), and hold 94% of Peru’s forests. There are three main ways to visit it: overland from Cusco to Manu National Park, by flight or bus to Puerto Maldonado for the Tambopata National Reserve, or by flight from Lima to Iquitos, on the Amazon River, for the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Below is how each one works, the best time to go and how to choose.
Where is the Amazon in Peru?
The Peruvian Amazon begins where the eastern slopes of the Andes drop into the lowlands and covers the whole east of the country. Its largest regions are Loreto in the north, Ucayali in the center and Madre de Dios in the south, and it also takes in the eastern parts of Andean regions such as Cusco. Between the high Andes and the lowland rainforest lies the cloud forest, which you cross on the road from Cusco to Manu.
Three ways to visit the Peruvian Amazon
| Manu | Tambopata | Iquitos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway | Cusco | Puerto Maldonado | Iquitos |
| How you get there | Overland from Cusco across the Andes, a full day, then by boat | Flight from Cusco or Lima, or bus from Cusco, then by car and boat | Flight from Lima (1 h 45 min); the city has no road connection to the rest of Peru, and boats go into the reserve from Nauta |
| Protected area | Manu National Park, 1,716,295 ha (6,627 sq mi), a UNESCO World Heritage site | Tambopata National Reserve, 274,690 ha (1,060 sq mi) | Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, 2,080,000 ha (8,031 sq mi) |
| Season recommended by SERNANP | April to November | May to October | May to September |
| Best for | The journey from the Andes to the lowlands: cloud forest, cock-of-the-rock, clay licks and, on longer tours, giant otters in the Reserved Zone | Short trips with short transfers, the Chuncho macaw clay lick and Sandoval Lake | The Amazon River and its flooded forest |
| Our tours | 3 to 8 days | 3 days or 4 days | We do not operate here |
To compare the two southern options in detail, read Manu vs Tambopata.
Can you visit the Amazon from Cusco?
Yes, and it is the easiest way to combine the rainforest with Machu Picchu. Manu starts in Cusco itself: our tours leave at 6:00 a.m. and reach the lowland rainforest the same afternoon after crossing the Andes and the cloud forest. Tambopata starts in Puerto Maldonado, which you reach by flight or bus from Cusco. See how to get from Cusco to the Amazon and our Peru itineraries with the Amazon and Machu Picchu.
When is the best time to visit?
SERNANP, Peru’s protected areas service, recommends the drier months: April to November for Manu, May to October for Tambopata and May to September for Pacaya-Samiria. The rest of the year it rains more often, rivers rise and some trails flood, but the forest is open all year. Between May and September, cold fronts called friajes can bring a few cool days to the southern Amazon; see Is it cold in the Amazon? For Manu’s temperatures and rain by altitude, see Manu National Park weather.
Is the Peruvian Amazon safe to visit?
- Go with an authorized operator. SERNANP requires one for the Manu Reserved Zone, the Pusharo sector and Pacaya-Samiria.
- Check vaccines before you go. The CDC recommends the yellow fever vaccine for travelers to Manu and Tambopata; read our yellow fever and malaria guide.
- Follow your guide. Walk only on marked trails with your guide and do not swim in rivers and oxbow lakes.
- Pack for rain and insects. See our Amazon packing list.
For the animals you can see, read wildlife in Manu, or see all our Amazon tours from Cusco.
Sources, checked on 21 October 2026: MINAM – Mapa de Deforestación de la Amazonía Peruana 2000 (surface of the Peruvian Amazon); Instituto del Bien Común (2024), Resiliencia Amazónica (share of Peru’s forests); SERNANP visitor pages for Manu National Park, Tambopata National Reserve and Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve; UNESCO – Manú National Park; Guinness World Records – Largest city with no major road connection (Iquitos).
Frequently asked questions
How much of Peru is Amazon rainforest?
About 60%. Peru's Ministry of the Environment measured 77.5 million hectares of Amazon rainforest, 60.3% of the country, and the Amazon holds 94% of Peru's forests.
Where is the Amazon in Peru?
In the east of the country, below the eastern slopes of the Andes. Its largest regions are Loreto, Ucayali and Madre de Dios, and the main gateways for travelers are Cusco (for Manu), Puerto Maldonado (for Tambopata) and Iquitos.
Can you visit the Amazon from Cusco?
Yes. Manu National Park is reached overland from Cusco in one day, and Tambopata by flight or bus from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado. Both combine easily with Machu Picchu.
Can you drive to Iquitos?
No. Iquitos has no road connection to the rest of Peru: you arrive by air, about 1 h 45 min from Lima, or by river. Its only road goes to the town of Nauta, around 100 km (62 mi) to the south.
When is the best time to visit the Peruvian Amazon?
In the drier months recommended by SERNANP: April to November for Manu, May to October for Tambopata and May to September for Pacaya-Samiria. The rainforest is open all year.
Do I need a vaccine to visit the Amazon in Peru?
It is not required to enter Peru, but the CDC recommends the yellow fever vaccine for Manu and Tambopata. Check with a travel clinic and read our yellow fever and malaria guide.
