Discover The Peruvian Rainforest

There are two main gateways for the Peruvian Amazon. These are Iquitos as a port of the Amazon River in Peru's north and Puerto Maldonado in Madre de Dios in the south. Puerto Maldonado provides access to the incredible Tambopata National Reserve and Manu lowlands.

Amazon Stilted Houses

Puerto Maldonado

The southern Peruvian Amazon offers more clay licks than anywhere in South America. This is the rainforest accessed from Peru's gateway town of Puerto Maldonado. From here, you can enjoy visiting the licks to see hundreds of colorful birds. The parrots and macaws visit these areas to eat clay. This is thought to provide essential salts and help neutralize toxins in the birds' unripe fruits and seeds diet. You can experience the clay licks from one of the many lodges. These offer guided tours to Tambopata's clay licks. And two recommendations are the Posada Amazonas and Refugio Amazonas Lodge. In addition to the clay licks, within the Peruvian Amazon, you can find beautiful lakes home to lake-living wildlife. Some of these are even home to endangered giant river otters.

 

Parrots on a Claylick

Iquitos

In Peru's northern territory, from Iquitos, you can enjoy fantastic cruises to enjoy the Amazon River. There are also jungle lodges for guided expeditions of the Iquitos rainforest. If you're interested in an Amazon River cruise, then Iquitos will be your choice as different high-class cruises depart from the port city of Iquitos. As the largest destination in the Amazon, the city offers a unique look at "city life" amidst the rainforest. Wander through wild markets selling exotic fruits, deadly catches, and herbal drinks claimed to deliver all sorts of effects. Dine at innovative restaurants in old colonial buildings on the water's edge, where the man-made jungle meets the untameable natural jungle. To make the most of Peru's Amazon Rainforest, you can see a list of Valencia Travels tours here.

 

Riverboat Cruise, Iquitos

 

Iconic Things to Do In The Peruvian Amazon Rainforest

 

Take a Boat Ride

Cruising along the Amazon River has to be one of the most idyllic activities to do in the Peruvian Amazon.   The views across the water are remarkable and you will be amazed by the colors of the jungle, with its small villages and even a few dolphins. There are luxury cruises with glass windows and fine dining rooms, massive cargo ships; speed boats; and small motorized launches. No matter which option you choose, be ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

 

Boat ride in the Amazon

 

Swim in the Amazon

The Peruvian Amazon is hot and steamy, as you would expect and nothing is better than diving into the river for a quick cool-off. Many people think that it is dangerous to swim in the Amazon river, however your trusty jungle guide will know all the best spots to take a plunge in its cool waters.

Swimming in The Amazon

 

Visit the Belen Stilted Houses

The poorer downtown area of Iquitos is worth a visit on your trip to The Amazon. During the dry season, you’ll find mud and garbage beneath houses on stilts. Businesses operate out of the first story, but during the rainy season, everyone has to move upstairs as the first floors flood, so activities move up a floor! In the rainy season, boats line the streets, sailing up and down to take people from the market to their houses along the river.

 

Belen, Iquitos

 

Hang out with Some Monkeys

The Peruvian Amazon is of course teeming with wildlife, especially monkeys which are endemic all over the Amazon. You can take guided tours that offer retreats to hang out with a number of monkey species. Beware of your belongings, however, as these playful creatures have been known to steal people’s glasses, hats, and cameras, on occasion!

 

Capuchin Monkeys

 

Try Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca tourism is one reason why people have been visiting the Peruvian Amazon for a number of years now. This hallucinogenic cocktail is made by boiling a vine and leaf together for hours until the liquid becomes a thick mixture. Many retreats have sprung up in the jungle that offer lodgings, an ayahuasca experience, and a shaman to perform the ceremonies. If this sounds like your cup of tea (literally!) it’s best to do some research first on both the retreat and the shaman for a safer, more authentic experience. Ayahuasca is powerful and you want to make sure that you’re in good hands, especially while under the influence. 

 

Shaman in an Ayahuasca ceremony

 

Try Kambo

This new Amazonian health craze is a poison secreted from a frog, called kambo. A shaman will burn the toxins into your skin, making four dots, allowing this “medicine” to get into your bloodstream. The effects are usually intense which produces fever and nausea, so be prepared to vomit and experience the swelling of your body. It doesn´t sound like fun but the poison is said to clear your body of unwanted toxins and leave you feeling refreshed and healthy once the reaction is finished. It has been used in the Peruvian Amazon to treat migraines, chronic illnesses, cancer, and depression and has been used by native jungle tribes for thousands of years.

 

Kambo

 

Sample Unique Fruit

Peru is home to 30 of the world’s 32 different climates, providing a food source native to Peru that is quite impressive. From spiky fruits to fruits that look like a dragon’s eggs, The Peruvian Amazon is bound to have something that you’ve never seen before and that you would not have dared to eat. There are delicious and nutritious fruits some of which are now even exported as superfoods to health stores around the world.

 

Amazon fruit selection

 

Do Some Birdwatching

The Amazon is home to an incredible number of bird species. Take off with an expert guide who will be able to show you all the best places to spot the impressive airborne wildlife that the region is famous for…. The Peruvian Amazon really is an ornithologist's dream.

 

Cockatoo´s

 

Take a Hike

If you want to get the most adventure out of your trip and a chance to observe endemic Amazon wildlife, a hike in the jungle is the best way to do so. There are a number of guided day hikes and also night hikes, which offer incredible opportunities to see caimans, spiders, and insects, amongst other creatures that the Peruvian  Amazon is famous for.

 

Trekkers

 

Try Amazon Ceviche

Ceviche is Peru’s traditional dish that can be found along the coastal regions and the Amazon has its own particular version. The main difference is that Amazonian ceviche uses freshwater fish from the Amazon which tastes just as delicious as anything you can find near the ocean.

 

Amazon Ceviche

Wherever you decide to enter The Peruvian Amazon, and the activities you decide to do, you can be sure of the adventure of a lifetime with Valencia Travel's Jungle Experiences.
 

Emerald Boa