The Amazon rainforest is often dubbed the ‘lungs of the planet’ and while it continues to recycle the very air we breathe, it’s not hard to see why. There are so many reasons to explore this living, breathing sanctuary of biodiversity and Peru is without a doubt one of the best places to do so. But the Peruvian Amazon makes up a vast 60% of the country’s surface area, and knowing where to start is much like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack! Read on for our top recommended regions and ways to visit the Amazon Jungle in Peru…
There is a wealth of different ways to explore South America’s branchy behemoth, so we’re going to split the jungle into three bite-size sections - the northern region, central region, and southern region.
Northern Region
This portion of Peruvian rainforest stretches from the footholds of the north Andean mountains to the borders of Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil. It’s the only region that actually features the true Amazon river, rather than just a tributary, so you might want to bear that in mind when making your decision.
The city of Iquitos in the northeastern Loreto region is the typical entry point for Amazon river cruises, jungle tours, and stays at the high standard jungle lodges in the northern region. Iquitos is the largest city in the world that is only accessible by boat or air
Central Region
The central region may not be the most visited but a small tourist industry is growing here. This is where you’ll find the beautiful Chanchamayo valley, the urban hubs of La Merced and Pucallpa, and numerous protected areas of forest surrounding them for exploration and birdwatching.
The Chanchamayo Valley is perfect if you want to dip into the jungle for a shorter excursion, being the most easily accessed rainforest area from the city of Lima. It is the coffee and citrus region, a gloriously verdant segment of forest stretching east from the foothills of the Andes. Known as the ‘selva alta’ or ‘high jungle’, its slightly higher altitude gives it crystalline rivers and spectacular waterfalls as the rivers tumble down from the mountains
Southern Region
Madre de Dios is the name of the bulk of jungle that can be found in southeastern Peru. A benefit of exploring this area is that it is easily accessed from popular Cusco, from which you can add on trips to the Sacred Valley and walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The downside is that due to illegal gold-mining and logging vast swathes of the forest has been destroyed alongside the rivers and roads. However, there are still many areas to see and explore in this effervescent place.
Tambopata National Park can be found in the Madre de Dios region near the Bolivian border and is thought to be the most biodiverse place in the world. It’s an incredible place for watching wildlife with its clay licks attracting parrots and macaws, giant otters navigating the meandering rivers and oxbow lakes, and sloths and squirrel monkeys peeping out from overhead canopies. Most visitors use the remote town of Puerto Maldonado as a gateway to this reserve, but while it makes a great base for entry to the jungle, the city doesn’t really compare to the cultural hubbub of Iquitos in the north.
There are lots of tour company over there but Tambopata tours is one of the best among them please do contact with them if you want to enjoy your tour, they are the also provide the best affordable Peru jungle tours
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