When it comes to adventure holidays, Peru tends to be right up there. With such a vast space that includes the coast, mountains and jungle there is too little time really to ever get everything done here. The Peruvian Amazon is one destination not to be missed.
The Amazon covers a large area in Peru and can be accessed at various points. The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in the north is accessed through Iquitos, the south is home to Manu National Park and the Tambopata National Reserve are the three hot spots when it comes to jungle touring. As a general rule, the more time that you can spend on your tour, the deeper into the jungle you can get and, therefore, the more flora and fauna you can potentially see.
Manu or Tambopata are chosen by many people because of their easy access from Machu Picchu and Cusco trips which are often visitors top priorities. To reach the Tambopata Reserve, you can fly from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, the starting point for the various tours that are available. Many of the tours will include both traveling along the river as well as hiking in the jungle, in particular night walks when more of the animals are active. Birding enthusiasts will want to choose an option that includes clay licks where one can see a wide variety of colorful parrots. Two nights and three days tends to be the optimum tour length for visitors.
The Manu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, can also be reached by first traveling to Puerto Maldonado and from there by river. However, many tours use land transportation from Cusco, sometimes with a flight back by light plane. This jungle area offers even more untouched areas than Tambopata. There is so much wildlife to potentially see with giant otters, monkeys, spectacled bears, tapirs, jaguars and black caimans calling this place home. This is also the home for around 1,000 different species of birds. This is a better option for observing different species of mammals than Tambopata. In addition to hiking, there are also tours in Manu that include mountain biking.
Another common route for accessing the Amazon is via Iquitos, a city that can be reached by flight. From here, you can visit the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in the northern jungle. From the city it is 120km and many tours don't go as far as this, but if you do get chance then you can view some stunning wildlife like manatees, giant turtles, pink dolphins, birds, monkeys and black caimans. In this area, one can find a canopy trail where one can walk through the jungle at a height of greater than 30 meters, offering an excellent way to observe this habitat.
River cruises can be a luxurious way to go but do not offer as much opportunity to see wildlife although, if you choose one that includes day hikes, you will stand a better chance. Finding a reserve that has canopy walkways - like Explorama lodge - is easily the best option when you are looking to stay in the jungle a few days and see wildlife. Survival tours and night hikes are both still on offer in many lodges, while shamanic tours can also be done. Be wary of traveling with independent guides unless you have a trustworthy recommendation.
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Trips to Peru couldn't be more popular than they currently are, so be sure to find the right one for you when you are next travelling to South America. Ensure that you are getting the best from your vacation by comparing many Peru travel packages first.
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