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Which is the best country to visit the Amazon Rainforest?

Incredibly, the Amazon Rainforest crosses nine nations. And it covers 40% of the South American continent.

Given its vast size, choosing the best country to visit the Amazon Rainforest is an important decision for your experience.

The majority of this impressive forest is found within Brazil and Peru. But significant amounts are also found in Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia.

When planning your Amazon Rainforest tour, the most important thing is your choice of lodge or cruise. It’s the level of service, comfort and your guide’s knowledge and skill that will create the best experience. And there are even some fantastic luxury Amazon cruises to choose from.

With this in mind, there are some very good lodges and cruises that employ the region’s best guides. You can enjoy fantastic tours in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. Although any of these can offer a fantastic experience, there are differences between regions.

Let’s have a look at the main countries to visit the Amazon Rainforest.

The Amazon Rainforest of Peru

Peru offers the most claylicks of anywhere in South America. A variety of birds and mammals visit these to obtain different salts and medicines. They offer almost guaranteed sightings of iconic Amazon Rainforest wildlife.

Animals that visit claylicks include colorful macaws, tapir, monkeys, different parrots, capybara and even large cats that wait for prey.

Puerto Maldonado, Peru

The best area for claylicks is the area of Amazon Rainforest near Puerto Maldonado. Here you can see hundreds of colorful macaws and other wildlife. Read more about this incredible area in our Puerto Maldonado travel guide .

From Puerto Maldonado, a fantastic protected area is the Tambopata National Reserve.

The reserve is home to an incredible level of animals and plants. As an example of the wildlife, visitors to the Tambopata Research Center enjoy a 20% chance of seeing wild jaguar.

For more information, have a look at the video below.

Nearby, you will also have a good chance of spotting harpy eagles at the Refugio Amazonas Lodge . And at the community-owned Posada Amazonas Lodge , you have a high chance of seeing giant river otters.

The wildlife, service, comfort and knowledgeable, friendly staff make these some of the top Amazon Rainforest tours in Peru

The Tambopata Research Center

The Tambopata Research Center is one of the deepest tourist lodges in the Amazon Rainforest.

The lodge is nestled near the middle of the incredible Tambopata National Reserve. The wildlife around the lodge is at carrying capacity for the environment. This means incredible wildlife for a fantastic Amazon experience.

See several different monkeys. These include the larger species of howler monkeys (often seen relaxing near the lodge) and spider monkeys. The presence of spider monkeys is one of the tell-tale signs of a healthy forest. Not only this, but visitors to the lodge have a 20% chance of spotting wild jaguar near the river.

The lodge started as a research center to study the macaws. And now the Tambopata Research Center offers a way for you to enjoy this incredible region. The lodge is near one of the largest macaw claylicks in Amazonia. As a main attraction, you can visit the claylicks to see hundreds of colorful macaws. Their smaller parrot cousins also visit the clay.

You will also enjoy guided trail walks to find fantastic wildlife. See monkeys, peccary, giant trees, different reptiles, amphibians and much more.

The lodge offers a choice of suite options. These provide en-suite bathrooms, comfortable beds and a connection to the rainforest. Enjoy delicious meals in the dining room and relax in your suite or the common area when not exploring Amazonia.

Click the tour bubble below for more information and to check availability for your travel dates.

Positioned in the middle of the wildlife-rich Tambopata National Reserve, near one of the largest macaw clay licks in the ...

Includes: all meals, accommodation, selection of guided tours, transfers from and to Puerto Maldonado airport. | 4, 5, 6 days+

The Refugio Amazonas Lodge

The Refugio Amazonas Lodge is located in the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve.

The Refugio Amazonas Lodge is great choice if you only have 3-days available.

This is because the Refugio Amazonas is located a little closer to the base town of Puerto Maldonado.

You have your choice from different suite options. Each suite offers a connection to the rainforest and en-suite bathroom.

From the lodge, you will head out to explore the Tambopata Amazon on guided trail walks. You will also explore an Amazon Rainforest lake to find a range of lake-living animals and plants.

On the forest trails, your guide will help you spot different wildlife. Enjoy spotting monkeys, interesting birds, tall emergent trees and various plants and flowers.

You will then return to the lodge to enjoy delicious meals and the comfortable relaxation areas before your next excursion.

The best end to a fantastic intrepid trip in Peru…!! Wish we had of spent more time there… Staff were ...

Includes: all meals, accommodation, selection of guided tours, transfers from and to Puerto Maldonado airport. | 3, 4, 5 days+

Iquitos, Peru

The city of Iquitos is the other main gateway to Peru’s Amazon.

Iquitos found in Peru’s northern Amazon Rainforest and is a port of the Amazon River.

This is a fantastic place for an Amazon cruise. Iquitos offers more choices of cruises with luxury cruises.

These include the Delfin I , Delfin II and Delfin III .

See the Delfin III video below as an example.

From these cruises, you will explore to the incredible protected area of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.

The reserve is home to fantastic wildlife. See several different monkeys, colorful parrots and toucans. You can also find two different types of sloth, giant rainforest trees and many attractive flowers.

The scenery of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is spectacular. Known as the Forest of Mirrors, the sky and trees are perfectly reflected in the still nutrient-rich waters. This offers some fantastic photography opportunities complemented by bright blue sky.

The Delfin I

Offering an on-board experience second to none, the Delfin I Luxury Cruise begins in Iquitos, north Peru, and takes you ...

Includes: all meals, accommodation, all excursions, alcoholic beverages, juices, house wines, luxury transfers from & to Iquitos airport | 4, 5 days

The Delfin III

The Delfin III provides a luxury cruise of the Amazon River. The vessel features hardwood floors, designer furniture and is ...

Includes: all meals, accommodation, all excursions, select alcoholic beverages, juices, house wines with meals, luxury transfers from & to Iquitos airport | 4, 5 days

The Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Reserve

Iquitos is also a fantastic place for a deep rainforest lodge.

Located in connected rainforest near the Pacaya Samiria, is the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Reserve.

This contains a larger fraction of accessible higher ground forest. This means you can enjoy more hikes and walks in the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo region.

The reserve contains a high diversity of different monkeys. See capuchins, pygmy marmosets, howlery monkeys, squirrel monkeys, titi monkeys and sakis.

Within the reserve, birders and researchers have also found over 600 different birds. These include cotingas, tanagers, macaw parrots, hoatzins and many more.

The Tahuayo Lodge

From the Tahuayo Lodge, explore the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Reserve. You will enjoy fantastic wildlife watching opportunities. You will be assigned a private guide and have a custom itinerary to focus on your interests.

On tours of 6-days or more, you will combine the main Tahuayo Lodge and the Tahuayo River Amazon Research Center. Known as the ARC, the research center offers a comfortable stay and allows an even deeper experience of the Amazon Rainforest.

Enjoy the 1,000 acre primate research grid to see several different monkeys. This is an excellent area to find many Amazon animals and plants. The grid is frequently used by researchers and tourists alike. This means you can observe animals displaying normal behavior as they are used to visitors.

See the video below for an introduction.

Explore the reserve in variety of ways, such as traditional canoeing, walks, deeper forest hikes and by motorized boat.

There are many different things to do at the Tahuayo Lodge.

A favorite area is a visit to Frog Valley where conservationists have set up artificial homes for poison dart frogs. This has attracted a few varieties of these colorful frogs, which you are sure to see on your adventure.

Click the tour bubble below to learn more.

From the Tahuayo Lodge, you will explore the Amazon Rainforest’s wildlife-rich Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Reserve with a private guide on a ...

Includes: all meals, accommodation at 2 rainforest lodges, private guide, custom activities, transfers from and to Iquitos airport. | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 days+

The Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador

Ecuador’s Amazon offers some fantastic experiences of the rainforest.

The gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon is called El Coca. From here, you enjoy enjoy Amazon River cruises and different rainforest lodges.

The main protected area in Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest is the Yasuni National Park. The Yasuni rainforest includes a fantastic assemblage of iconic animals and plants.

This region has broken world records for biodiversity.

If you’re interested in a cruise, there are two different options. For an introduction, see the Manatee Cruise video below.

Taking you from El Coca deep into Yasuni National Park for guided expeditions, you have a choice from the only two Amazon river cruises in Ecuador:

Send your request direct to the cruises using the tour bubbles below:

The Manatee Amazon Cruise

The Manatee Amazon River Cruise is a fantastic cruise for adventures into the wonderful Yasuni National Park, one of the ...

Includes: all meals, accommodation, guided tours, transfers from and to Coca airport, private assistance at Quito airport. | 4, 5, 8 days

The Anakonda Amazon Cruise

The Anakonda Amazon Cruise provides an immersive and unique experience of the Amazon Rainforest. Enjoy large and comfortable beds, a ...

There are some fantastic rainforest lodges located inside and on the edge of Yasuni. These include the Sacha Lodge and La Selva Lodge.

Both of these provide a fantastic experience, but there are some differences we will mention below.

The Sacha Lodge

The Sacha Lodge offers a fantastic experience of Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest. This is nestled within a private rainforest reserve right at the edge of the Yasuni National Park. The lodge offers comfortable accommodation and guided rainforest tours.

One of the most popular features of the Sacha Lodge is the canopy walkway. This stretches 940 feet (275 meters) through the rainforest and stands 94 feet (30 meters) above the forest floor.

For an introduction, see the video below.

Not only providing an excellent view to observe the rainforest canopy, the walkway is a great place for birdwatching. So far, 587 different birds have been spotted around the Sacha Lodge. This is about 37% of Ecuador’s entire avifauna.

The Sacha Lodge sits on the beautiful Pilchicocha Lake. Enjoy guided expeditions on the lake itself to find lake-living animals. You can even spot different monkeys that visit the lake edges.

You will also head out on guided walks along the many rainforest trails. Find many fascinating animals and plants. See different monkeys, colorful birds, reptiles, emergent trees, orchids and more.

The lodge offers 26 rooms in total, which include single, double and triple accommodation (upon request). Each accommodation option includes a private bathroom.

Located in a 5000 acre private ecological reserve, Sacha Lodge provides a safe and comfortable base for you and your ...

Includes: all meals, accommodation, selection of guided tours, transfers from and to Coca airport. | 4, 5 days+

La Selva Lodge

This is one of the most luxurious rainforest lodges in Ecuador.

From La Selva Lodge & Spa, enjoy expertly guided tours into surrounding rainforest. Your guide will help you find colorful birds, monkeys, reptiles and interesting plants.

The lodge offers different ways to explore the Amazon Rainforest. A main attraction is climbing the tall canopy tower for rainforest views and watching birds flying over the trees. Explore Amazonia on guided forest walks and canoeing tours. You will also visit the Yasuni claylick to see the colorful parakeets gathered at the clay.

The trails have been carefully planned to show off the best bits of Amazonia. Enjoy walking past giant rainforest trees, such as kapoks and strangler figs. There are also trails for fantastic lake views.

Your accommodation then features luxury amenities. This includes fine linen, king beds, private bathrooms, private balconies and rainforest showers.

Between excursions, you will enjoy delicious meals, relax in your suite or enjoy the spa. Choose from a range of massages and relaxation treatments to fully enjoy this incredible environment.

The lodge is dedicated to responsible tourism and is Rainforest Alliance verified.

I wanted to let you know that we had an amazing experience at Le Selva! The service, accommodations, guides, tours, ...

Includes: all meals, accommodation, guided tours, transfers from and to Coca airport. | 4, 5 days+

The Amazon Rainforest of Brazil

Brazil contains the largest section of Amazon Rainforest. And the country offers some fantastic Amazon experiences.

Given its vast size, there are a few different areas to enter the rainforest. Our recommendations are Manaus, Tefe and Alta Floresta. And there are a few fantastic tours from these areas.

For an Amazon River cruise, our recommendation is to visit Manaus.

Manaus is the largest city in the Amazon Rainforest and a main gateway for the Brazilian Amazon. This is also a major port of the Amazon River.

The city of Manaus is positioned right at the meeting point of the Rio Negro and Amazon River. The Rio Negro is the largest tributary of the Amazon River and one of the world’s largest rivers in its own right.

The Meeting of the Water is also a main attraction for a short trip from the city. This is where the dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the lighter water of the Amazon. Due to differences in speed and density, the rivers flow next to each for many miles without mixing. The dramatic difference in color creates a fascinating visual spectacle.

There are other attractions of Manaus, such as the incredible Amazon Theatre and botanic gardens.

However, the best thing to do from Manaus is to enjoy a tour of the Amazon Rainforest.

Because Manaus is a large city, to access the most untouched forest we recommend an Amazon River cruise. This will take you deeper into Amazonia.

Expedition cruises don’t simply confine you to a vessel. But they offer guided exploration aboard motorized skiffs and forest walks.

One of the favorites is the Tucano Expedition Cruise.

The Tucano Expedition Cruise

Styled as a 19th Century steamship, the Tucano Amazon Cruise is from Manaus in northern Brazil. From here, we will explore the rainforest of the Rio Negro to find fascinating animals and plants.

Because of the Tucano’s design, we can explore areas out of reach for other cruises to get deeper into Amazonia.

The Tucano Cruise offers a choice of either 7-day or 5-day expeditions. On your itinerary, you will visit different areas of rainforest.

Enjoy guided expeditions on forest walks and aboard motorized skiffs. You can find some fantastic forest wildlife. See different monkeys, rainforest birds, tall emergent trees and Amazonian flowers.

When not on rainforest expeditions, enjoy fresh meals aboard the cruise and relax on the observation deck. Of a night, this is a great place to observe the Milky Way in stunning detail.

The Tucano Amazon Cruise

Aboard the Tucano Amazon Cruise, you will explore the Amazon Rainforest from Manaus. And you will travel down the magnificent ...

Alta Floresta

Alta Floresta sits in Brazil’s southern Amazon and offers a fantastic experience of the Rainforest. This is because the region sits at the meeting of Amazonia and the Pantanal, which is another of South America’s wildlife-rich ecosystems. Because of this unique position, you can see animals and plants found nowhere else on Earth.

This is also the most well studied area of southern Brazilian rainforest. You can find an impressive diversity of different birds, including Amazon icons. You will also see many different monkeys, fascinating reptiles, delicate amphibians, tall rainforest trees and attractive flowers.

The recommended rainforest lodge and tour from Alta Floresta is called the Cristalino Lodge.

The Cristalino Lodge

The lodge offers a very comfortable experience of the Amazon Rainforest.

The Cristalino Lodge is nestled in the rainforest of the Cristalino Reserve. The reserve backs onto a giant protected area mosaic. Wildlife is free to cross between different areas, which means a high chance of incredible wildlife experiences.

In addition to the comfortable accommodation, you will enjoy expertly guided tours of the rainforest. Spot many different monkeys, toucans, parrots and interesting plants with the help of your naturalist guide.

There are many different trails around the lodge. These have been carefully placed to show off the best bits of the rainforest. Walk past tall emergent trees and visit the best areas for wildlife viewing.

In addition to walking the trails, this is also a great place for canoe exploration to find animals and plants of the different waterways.

One of the favorite features of the Cristalino Lodge is the canopy tower. There are two giant canopy towers you can visit. And these rank as some of the tallest towers in the Amazon to provide incredible views over the rainforest canopy. This is also a favorite place to spot the many different birds.

At the lodge itself, you can rest in your choice of suite or, when not on expeditions, spend time in the different relaxation areas. The lodge offers a floating deck with rocking chairs, low tables, loungers, hammocks and parasols. This is a great place to enjoy a drink while absorbing the sights and sounds of Amazonia.

Currently, TourTheTropics.com cannot help you book this experience. However, you can visit the tour operator's website for more information.

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5 Best Places To Visit The Amazon Jungle To See Wildlife

One simply runs out of superlatives describing the rainforest of the Amazon Basin (the so-called “Amazon jungle” of popular conception). About the size of the conterminous United States, this biggest river basin in the world – drained by the most voluminous (and, arguably, the longest) river on Earth – hosts the largest swath of tropical rainforest anywhere and unexcelled terrestrial biodiversity. Covering some three million square miles in total, the vast biogeographic region known as Amazonia harbors 10% or more of the world’s described lifeforms, and there’s thought to be a staggering amount of biological richness here yet uncatalogued by science.

Visiting this ecological wonder, which covers a major chunk of Brazil as well as smaller portions of Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador, is a legitimate pilgrimage for nature enthusiasts of all stripes. From the dizzying variety of butterflies, snakes, and frogs to such large, ultra-charismatic beasts as jaguars, harpy eagles, manatees, and pink river dolphins (or botus), sightings of animals, large and small, invariably enliven an Amazonian river cruise or guided trek. Here, in no particular order, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to visit in the Amazon jungle for spotting some of its iconic wildlife!

Jau National Park, Brazil

1. Jau National Park (Brazil)

One of the biggest national parks in Amazonia at more than 5.6 million acres, Jau protects the entirety of the Rio Jau watershed, its borders running north to the Unini and Paunini rivers and south to the Caribinani River, and including the Jau’s confluence with the mighty Rio Negro (the blackwater river serving as one of the Amazon’s greatest tributaries). Established in 1980, Jau is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the enormous Central Amazon Conservation Complex , bigger than Switzerland and considered the world’s largest expanse of protected tropical rainforest.

Jau National Park’s mosaic of caminarana upland forest and scrub, terra firme rainforest, and extensive igapó flooded blackwater forest supports an impressive diversity of wildlife. The roster’s made up of some 120 mammal species, 455 birds, 150 reptiles, and more than 280 kinds of fish. Those who visit the park by boat (the only way to access it) can keep their eyes peeled for Amazonian manatees, pink river dolphins, giant otters, and no fewer than four species of caimans (including the great black caiman) in the flow. Bush and short-eared dogs, jaguars, giant anteaters, giant armadillos, and other terrestrial mammals reside here, while the canopy shakes and rustles with rare primates such as the white-bellied spider monkey and the golden-backed black uakari, rubbing shoulders with Amazon parrots and the kingly harpy eagle.

Jau’s about 125 miles northwest of Manaus, the main jumping-off point for river cruises to the park and host to such hotels and lodges as Juna Opera, Amazon Ecopark, and Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge.

2. Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve (Brazil)

Bordering Jau National Park and also part of the Central Amazon Conservation Complex, the Amaña Sustainable Development Reserve is a less well-known, roughly 5.8-million-acre parcel also open to river-bound exploration. Stretching between the Rio Japurá and the headwaters of the Unini and Paunini rivers, this reserve is notable for cradling one of the biggest Amazonian lakes, Lake Amanã. Terra firme forest blankets most of its acreage, though there are swaths of both várzea whitewater and igapó blackwater flooded communities.

Sharing much of the same wildlife lineup as Jau National Park, Amanã’s a good place to scan for the massive arapaima or pirarucu, one of the world’s heftiest freshwater fish, and supports perhaps the biggest population of Amazonian manatees anywhere. These gentle, whiskered hulks mass in the waters of Lake Amanã during the dry season, drifting their way during the wet season into the várzea backwaters of the adjoining Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve: another worthy destination within the Central Amazon Conservation Complex, and safeguarding what may be the largest expanse of whitewater flooded forest anywhere.

Manu National Park, Peru

3. Manu National Park (Peru)

Another huge protected area that folds into an even bigger complex of preserves, Peru’s Manu National Park an absolutely world-class ecotourism destination and definitely a shortlist contender for the best place to see Amazon wildlife. The variety here is spectacular, on account of the 1.5-million-acre park drops from the puna grasslands and cloud forests of the Andean highlands down into the steaming Amazonian rainforests far below. The ecological spectrum is vast and the biodiversity head-spinning; the fact that far-flung Manu is also so pristine takes the place into the truly sublime territory.

Need more evidence why, as a wildlife enthusiast, you should put Manu on your bucket list? Well, just consider that, in 2016, the Tropical Ecology Assessment & Monitoring Network declared this Andean-Amazonian mashup of a park the all-out global hotspot for terrestrial species diversity .

A who’s-who of Amazon Basin wildlife populates the lowlands. You’ve got as decent a chance of spotting a jaguar here as anywhere in the Amazon, not to mention its smaller relatives the puma (which essentially ranges the breadth of the park), the ocelot, and the jaguarundi. Agile tayras forage in the trees and on the ground, capybaras lounge along the waterways, South American tapirs and giant armadillos thump over the leaf litter. The aquatic food chain comes topped by the black caiman and the green anaconda. Manu’s got a rich cast of primates, which—along with the numerous three-toed sloths—do their best to stay out of the sightlines of the harpy eagle. That’s only the most formidable of more than 1,000 species of birds – yes, 1,000-plus –  recorded in Manu, including a number of macaws (which congregate in brilliant spectacle at the park’s clay licks ) and the striking rufescent tiger-heron.

(Manu’s extra amazing from a wildlife-spotting perspective because you can also head up into the Andes to experience a completely different montane realm, soared over by Andean condors and host to the elusive spectacled bear, South America’s only ursid, as well as Peru’s national bird, the striking Andean cock-of-the-rock.)

Clouds Reflected Over The Pucate River, In The Pacaya Samiria Reserve, Peru

4. Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve (Peru)

It may not have the international name recognition of Manu National Park, but Pacaya-Samiria (the biggest nature reserve in Peru) is another utterly spectacular ecotourism destination in the Peruvian Amazon. It’s an extensive, seasonally inundated forest between the Mariñon and Ucayali rivers—sometimes called “the jungle of mirrors”—supports jaguars, tapirs, and monkeys, with everything from pink river dolphins , manatees , and anacondas , to sailfin catfish, anhingas (“snakebirds”), and twist-neck and yellow-spotted river turtles sliding through the riverways, lagoons, and backwaters.

Many river cruises to Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve embark from the city of Iquitos, host to such fine accommodations as Jungle House, Casa Morey, Treehouse Lodge , Victoria Regia, and the DoubleTree Hilton Iquitos.

Magic Sunset In The Yasuni National Park, Ecuador

5. Yasuni National Park (Ecuador)

While Brazil and Peru account for larger shares of the basin, travelers will be rewarded for investigating the somewhat lower-profile Ecuadorian Amazon as well. Certainly, Yasuni holds its own with the other Amazonian parks and preserves. Indeed, this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve may well rival Manu National Park as the most biologically diverse spot on the planet, a special landscape close to the crossroads of the Amazon and the Andes, and near the Equator to boot.

Blanketed mainly in primary tropical rainforest, Yasuni harbors more than 600 bird species, the better part of 400 kinds of fish, and 120 or so species of reptiles, plus an almost unbelievable plethora of vascular plants. Visitors have a good shot of seeing macaws , toucans, guans, and tinamous as well as kingfishers and jacanas along the water, plus such primates as titis, pygmy marmosets, Napo sakis, red howlers, squirrel monkeys, capuchins, and the endangered white-bellied spider monkey. Jaguars and pumas rest atop the rainforest food chain in Yasuni, with peccaries, brocket deer, tapir, and capybaras among the herbivore checklist.

Seek out such strategically positioned accommodations for wildlife safaris in the Ecuadorian Amazon as the La Selva and Mashpi lodges.

Other Worthy Wildlife-Watching Spots in the Amazon

Amazing as the above spots are, there are so many other productive wildlife-watching hubs in the gigantic Amazon Basin. These include the grand tropical wilderness of Brazil’s Tumucumaque Mountains National Park as well as Bolivia’s extraordinary Madidi National Park, which sweeps from high Andean mists down to the Upper Amazon rainforest and integrates with Peru’s Manu National Park in an extensive protected complex. Speaking of Peru, another celebrated Amazonian refuge is Tambopata National Reserve, perhaps best known for its density of macaw-thronged clay licks .

We’ll close by noting that, besides their wildlife credentials, any of the parks and preserves we’ve profiled here serve as some of the all-around best places to visit the Amazon rainforest in general. After all, the Amazon Basin’s chief appeal, even beyond the colorful and dramatic animals, is its sheer atmosphere: the sense and scale of its tropical wildness.

While Rainforest Cruises aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information herein or found by following any link on this site. Rainforest Cruises cannot and will not accept responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies, or for any consequences arising therefrom, including any losses, injuries, or damages resulting from the display or use of this information.

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The Best Locations to Explore the Amazon Rain Forest

The Amazon is a vast stretch of jungle and river that covers many countries in South America. Deciding where you want to visit—which part of the jungle and how—is a vexing question that doesn’t have a definitive answer. Each country can offer a different perspective and different glimpses into its landscape. Our guide to exploring the Amazon will help you settle on a location and clear up some of the confusion—but no matter where you choose, the Amazon awaits.

If you’re in Peru and want to explore the Amazon, nothing beats Iquitos for pure Amazon adventure. The city has no roads leading to it, completely cut off from the rest of Peru except by boat or by plane. This in itself makes traveling to the city of Iquitos an experience—its sheer isolation. While there have been forays into the jungle city by rubber companies and, most recently, by oil companies, it keeps its Amazonian roots with a large serving of psychonauts seeking spiritual connection or help with personal problems. Throw all this into a blender and you have the city of Iquitos.

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Iquitos has quickly gained a reputation as the ayahuasca capital of the Amazon, which is why you’ll find bug-eyed tourists walking around with ear-to-ear, post-ayahuasca grins. There are many healing centers that have srpung up around Iquitos and the number is growing. The centers will usually have a resident shaman who will guide you on ceremonies. The reputable centers are much more recommended than taking ayahuasca from someone off of the street.

Manaus is the most populated city in both the Brazil Amazon and the rest of the Amazon rain forests. With a population of around two million, this city is large and chaotic, offering a city-life atmosphere surrounded by the jungle. The city experienced a period of tremendous wealth during the 19th century when rubber barons were taking over, as Manaus quickly became the center of the huge Amazon rubber boom. By all means, stay here for a night, but only to check your emails and get an internet fix. There are many places to explore in the jungle and Manaus is not one of them. Come for the guided tours and leave.

Maybe the only excuse to stay in Manaus is to hit the beaches. The oddity of laying out on a beautiful beach in the Amazon will quickly dissipate as the Amazon heat bears down. The beaches are only accessible during the dry months of August to November, outside of that they’re submerged under water for the rest of the year.

Parque Manu

The area around Parque Manu—where the Andes meets the jungle—might be the most biodiverse forest in the world. Only a day’s travel outside of Cusco, this park is the perfect destination for those people who want to see the Amazon before they have to catch their flights home. This stretch of jungle is your best chance to catch glimpse of Amazonian wildlife. The park is also Peru’s most well preserved.

Animal sightings

Your best bet to see the Amazon’s wildlife is to take a multiple-day trek into the jungle, where you just might find the speckled bear and the jaguar, as well as monkeys and uniquely colorful birds.

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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Guides & Tips

The best group trips to take with your family.

The Coolest Train Carriages in the World

See & Do

Customer review - ‘peru had been on my bucket list for decades’.

Places to Stay

The best luxury resorts to book in peru.

The World's Most Dramatic Cliffside Hotels

Incredible Places To Glamp in the Sacred Valley

A Visual Journey Through the Peruvian Amazon

Stay Curious: Experience Peru From Your Living Room

Food & Drink

How to make peru's ají de gallina according to a local le cordon bleu chef.

How To Host a Peruvian-Themed Dinner Party

How to Make Authentic Peruvian Ceviche According to a Local Cordon Bleu Chef

Where To Spot Peru’s Brightest Turquoise Lakes

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How to explore the Amazon from Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador

Never thought of visiting the Amazon Rainforest ? Picture this: a massive forest that matches the size of 46 U.S. states. Three million species of wildlife. A unique shade of bright green that can’t be seen anywhere else. There’s nowhere like The Amazon in the world, which makes it a top spot in every nature lover’s Dream Trip list—and worth a spot on yours, too.

Set across 9 South American countries from Brazil to Peru , The Amazon is the world’s largest and most biodiverse tropical rainforest, A.K.A. the perfect place for off-the-grid adventures of a lifetime. If you want to experience nature’s crown jewel at least once, here are the three main ways you can (safely!) explore the Amazon rainforest. Plus, we’ve found nifty tips from travelers that’ll help you make the most out of your trip.

This guide features activities in Brazil , Peru , and Ecuador —the best jump-off points for Amazon rainforest trips.

1. Set off on an epic Amazon river cruise

The Amazon River flows through the entire rainforest, so it’s no surprise that most deep Amazon excursions are only possible by boat. Cruises are one of the most popular ways to explore the rainforest’s diverse terrain in style and comfort.

Operating year-round, boat tours tweak itineraries to match the season—so you’ll always get a worthwhile experience with plenty of photo ops and wildlife encounters (try spotting the elusive Amazon pink river dolphin!).

You’ve got two choices: go during the high-water season from January to June when most of the jungle is underwater and accessible by boat, or go during the low-water season from July to December for fishing and spotting wildlife on sandy shores.

Recommended destination: Manaus, Brazil

Located in the heart of the rainforest, Manaus is known as the gateway to The Amazon. Cruises here are longer and go further into the Lower Amazon River, making it every avid explorer’s dream expedition. Most tours will cover visits to Indigenous villages too.

Don't miss the Meeting of the Waters , where the black-tea waters of the Rio Negro and the sandy-shaded waters of the Amazon River run side-by-side.

Recommended tours and activities

2. Explore national parks and wildlife reserves

The Amazon is home to 30% of the world’s species—including endangered caimans, the elusive jaguar, and various native monkey species like the pied tamarins. This impressive biodiversity has brought mountaineers, photographers, and wildlife spotters all over the world in search of their next great adventure.

Look no further than the national parks and wildlife reserves in Ecuador —they’re smaller in size compared to the rest of the sprawling continental giants in Brazil and Argentina , but make up the most biodiverse area of The Amazon. Wildlife lovers, onward.

Recommended destination: Napo, Ecuador

Ecuador ’s national parks feature dramatic mountainous landscapes, abundant wildlife, and a dizzying array of flora and fauna. Imagine a wild wonderland with swinging spider monkeys, sky-high trees, and choruses of colorful toucans.

There are 11 national parks and 25 wildlife reserves that cover every part of Ecuador. Short on time? Travel along the Napo River and add the biggest rainforest preserves— Yasuni National Park and Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve —to your Amazon itinerary.

3. Go glamping in a luxe jungle lodge

Looking for an immersive all-day jungle experience? Go glamping at a jungle lodge in Peru . There are a bunch of unique activities you will only experience from staying in the forest, from waking up to distant sounds of Amazonian wildlife to serene stargazing in pitch darkness. Look out for lodges featuring macaw clay licks and canopy viewing towers that provide great photo ops.

Most places offer daily excursions including guided treks, night safaris, canoe outings as well as visits to Indigenous villages. Design your own jungle adventure and get acquainted with The Amazon however you’d like.

Recommended destination: Madre de Dios, Peru

Madre de Dios represents 15% of the Peruvian Amazon and is the capital of biodiversity in Peru. Heavenly jungle lodges are often found in or near Tambopata National Reserve —don’t forget to stop by Lake Sandoval , a gorgeous oxbow lake home to a variety of wildlife.

When to visit the Amazon rainforest

High-water season: January to June

Best for: Bird-watching, canoe trips, river cruises

The main draw of the wet season is the dramatic high-water panorama, where river levels rise up to 3 stories high to immerse most of the jungle floor.

Most Amazon rivers, creeks, and lakes become navigable during this period, making it a prime season for river cruises, boat trips, and kayaking adventures. Find yourself closer to the canopies, making it easier to spot birds, monkeys, and other creatures that make the treetops their home.

You’ll experience cooler and rainier weather around the forest, with average temperatures dipping to around 86°F.

Low-water season: July to December

Best for: Wildlife-spotting, fishing, jungle treks

Good news, hikers: during dry season, water levels drop to reveal sandy shores and trekking trails that were previously inaccessible—making deep jungle explorations on foot (finally!) possible.

The receding waterfront makes it easier to spot nesting caimans, snakes, and lizards by Amazon shores, plus fishing for piranhas becomes much easier by boat. You’ll even get the chance to watch migratory flocks in flight, something you’ll miss entirely during the wet season.

Expect less rainfall (though heavy showers can still happen!) and an average temperature of 98°F, with mosquitos less likely to bother you.

Tips on preparing for your Amazon rainforest trip

1. Plan. In. Advance.

Only a limited number of tour operators are authorized to conduct Amazon tours, which means they’ve got limited slots for peak seasons. Once you decide between high-water and dry season, book your tour early to secure your spot.

2. Support local guides

Make sure you pick tours from local tourism companies; it’s a great way to support the community sustainably. Local guides are expert naturalists who know best how to navigate the jungle and are more than happy to share everything they know about this unique ecosystem with you.

3. Choose responsible tours

Smaller group tours leave a smaller environmental footprint. Go with a trained guide who'll ensure your group sticks to good practices like staying on designated walking paths and mindful excursions that don’t disturb the wildlife.

4. Leave no trace behind

Dispose of any waste properly and adopt a ‘take in, take out’ approach when exploring. Commit to bringing a portable trash bag and keep it with you throughout the journey.

5. Give back to The Amazon

The rainforest is vital to the Earth’s health and is one of the last remaining homes for wildlife, Indigenous tribes, and local communities. After your trip, give back to reputable charities like the Rainforest Trust and Amazon Watch that are dedicated to Amazon conservation efforts.

6. Bring binoculars

Travelers suggest investing in a pair of binoculars to maximize your wildlife viewing, especially if you’re aboard a cruise boat. Many animals in The Amazon are tree-dwellers and can be frequently spotted frolicking high up in their canopy homes.

7. Prepare for mosquitos

The Amazon’s warm, humid nature makes it a hotspot for mosquitos. Pack long-sleeved, light-colored clothes, and mosquito repellent and don’t forget to get your malaria shots in advance. When you do get bitten, calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream will help to ease the itch.

More like this:

• 10 Life-Changing Trips to Take in South America
• 10 incredible National Parks in South America to add to your bucket list
• Now's the time to travel more sustainably...