Peruvian Amazon Jungle: Ecotourism and Excursions

There’s no better place to experience nature than the Amazon basin. And though the first place that comes to mind is Brazil whenever we think of it, the Peruvian jungle certainly offers a total immersion in the extensive biodiversity of this immense region.

For those who didn’t know, the Amazon represents about 50% of the Earth’s remaining rainforests and it’s home to two-thirds of the animal and plant species of the entire world. This incredibly biodiverse region has an extension of 550 million hectares and spreads across nine countries of South America.

Peru, for example, owns only the second largest part of the Amazon jungle, though it’s believed that it’s here where the Amazon was “born” since it comprises the privileged location where the UCayali and Marañon rivers converge, creating the long Amazon river.

If you’re eager to connect with nature intimately and experience one of the most beautiful parts of it, here we’ll introduce you to the Tambopata National Reserve. This small portion of the jungle englobes a great biodiversity and some of the most exciting activities of ecotourism in Peru.

We’ve come up with this section for those looking to spice up their adventure through the ancient country of the Incas. Continue reading and learn everything about it!

Puerto Maldonado: The Starting Point

Puerto Maldonado is a beautiful city located right at the heart of the southern jungle, connected to Bolivia and Brazil by the Interoceanic highway. This special spot is easily accessible by car from Cusco and by flight from Lima and Cusco airports.

If you’re visiting the Tambopata National Reserve, this will be your first stop! The city is known as the happiest entrance to the jungle, thanks to its impressive natural sceneries and cultural expression.

Puerto Maldonado is located within the Madre de Dios department, which is a region full of unspoiled natural areas and maybe the least intervened part of the rainforest. 

This sector has a rainy tropical weather, with high temperatures throughout the year and two stationary seasons though rainfall is present even in the “driest” months. Puerto Maldonado has an annual average precipitation of 2,167 mm, being the rainiest period between October and April.

If you’re planning a trip to the Jungle, you should have that in mind since the weather can be quite unpredictable in this region, especially during the dry season which takes place between the months of June and September. 

For those planning a trip to Peru, you should know everything about the weather conditions of the country. Luckily for you, we have prepared a blog so you can know when’s the best time to visit Peru.

Tambopata National Reserve

This national reserve is one of the most visited parts of the Peruvian jungle since it is easily accessible from the city of Puerto Maldonado. It is considered as one of the most biodiverse places on the planet since it gathers thousands of plant and animal species.

Therefore, it is very popular among visitors thanks to the different ecolodges that offer a total immersion in the lush nature of the region. Likewise, they look to promote and raise awareness about the importance and impact of this beautiful natural resource on the world.

The Tambopata National Reserve extends to 275,000 hectares, comprising 632 bird species, 1,200 types of butterflies, 103 amphibians, 180 fishes, 169 mammals and 103 reptiles. The reserve is also home to several endangered species such as the river wolf, the otter, the yaguarundi, the puma, the jaguar and the ocelot.

Here you’ll be able to have a more intimate experience with nature, while also getting to know about the daily lives of the locals that inhabited this remote location. Here at Viagens Machu Picchu, we have partnered with the Inkaterra hotel chain, which offers eco-friendly excursions and low-ecological footprint facilities.

Inkaterra offers an array of activities for those who wish to get deeply immersed in the lush rainforest, where hiking excursions, boat rides and incredible bridges built between the treetops will get you totally captivated in the region’s flora and fauna. Below you’ll get to know everything about it!

Ecotourism and Excursions by InkaTerra

Jungle Tour
If staying in any of InkaTerra’s ecolodges, one of the main activities will take you to the depths of the rainforest, so you can soak in the flora and fauna of the national reserve. Here, you’ll have a professional guide that will give you all the details about the jungle’s vegetation.




Nocturnal Life Excursion
This will be an activity for the bravest ones since you’ll cross the Madre de Dios river at night. On this expedition, you’ll get to see the different animals that make their life once the sun is down. Here you’ll get to see caimans, snakes and other animals that make their way through the darkness and hallucinating nature of the jungle.



Canopy Walkway
This is the most popular attraction within the Inkaterra complex. On this opportunity, you’ll climb to the top of a 29-meter tower and observe the wildlife that inhabits the treetops. Later, you’ll walk through a network of bridges connected by eight observation platforms, where you’ll get to see the region’s diverse wildlife.



Anaconda Path
Here you’ll walk across the swamp through a system of wooden bridges from where you’ll be able to observe the biodiversity of the jungle’s swamps. The Anaconda Path is composed of a 200-meter wooden bridge located on top of the wetland, allowing you to observe various amphibians, birds and mammal species.



How to Visit the Tambopata National Reserve?

As we said earlier, the Tambopata National Reserve is one of the easily accessible places of the Peruvian rainforest since it is located near the Capital of Biodiversiti, Puerto Maldonado. To visit this famous protected area, it’s best to start from the city of Cusco since the flights or car rides will be shorter.

Besides, if you start your adventure in the so-called Imperial City of the Incas, you’ll have time to explore Machu Picchu and many other tourist attractions before getting fully immersed in the lush Peruvian jungle.

Currently, there are only two ways to reach Puerto Maldonado. Whether you’d like to take a flight or bus ride, here’s what you should know:

  • Buses to Puerto Maldonado: This option is more suitable if you’re starting your adventure from Cusco city. That is because Puerto Maldonado is located 10 hours away from this famous destination. 

    Although we’ve always mentioned that traveling through Peru by bus can be a very enriching experience, we do not recommend taking a bus ride to Puerto Maldonado due to the time travel and because the road may present landslides and floods during the rainy season.

  • Flights to Puerto Maldonado: Flying to this city might be the most suitable option for anyone that wishes to visit the Tambopata National Reserve. If you’re taking the flight from Cusco, it will take about 1 hour to get there; whilst from Lima, 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Peru is a widely diverse country, where history, culture and natural wonders will give you an unforgettable experience during your vacation. For that reason, we encourage you to visit other cities before going to the Amazon rainforest.

In case you’d like to explore more of Peru during your trip, we’d love to show you one of our best itineraries that will take you not only to the Tambopata National Reserve but Lima, Paracas, Huacachina, Nazca, Arequipa Puno and Cusco.

The Classic Peru with Amazon Experience package is the perfect option for those that wish to know Peru at its fullest. This itinerary will give you a broader view of the three natural regions of the country, while also showing you everything about their history and cultural expression. 

Make your way through Peru like a local expert! If you wish to learn about the different things to do in this magical Southamerican gem, then you should check our Peru travel packages and start planning the trip of your dreams while you’re here.

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