ALL YOU NEED IS HERE in the Peruvian Amazon

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Lodge, cruise or hotel? All you need to know for your Amazon adventure

The Peruvian Amazon is globally renowned for its stunning rainforest and wildlife. But where to base yourself to best explore the winding rivers and towering forest canopies of the Peruvian Amazon? Many questions will appear, and because of that, we share All you need to know for your Amazon adventure. Whether your upcoming adventure is a hotel, cruise, or lodge-based, we’ve put together the pros and cons of each to help you experience the best of what this stunning region has to offer.

Better to read all you need to know for your Amazon adventure

Hotel-based

A handful of hotels can be found in Puerto Maldonado, the gateway town to the Peruvian Amazon. These generally cater for those spending a night or so before venturing further into the jungle on a lodge-based Rainforest Expedition or cruise-based tour. Although it is possible to have extended stays here relaxing by the pool, a hotel is not recommended if you are looking for deeper nature immersion.

Pros

  • Time: Short on time? A hotel close by to the main hub limits travel time but still allows you a small taste of jungle on a day trip or boat trip.
  • Distance: From Puerto Maldonado, you don’t have to travel far to reach a small taste of the Peruvian Amazon.
  • Price: As you are close by to town, hotels work out to be a lot cheaper than a cruise or lodge-based options, as generally, you are paying for accommodation rather than a package experience.
You'll take in spectacular views of endless Amazon rainforest, even while flying into Tambopata. Photo by Lianne Herbruck.

You’ll take in spectacular views of the endless Amazon rainforest, even while flying into Tambopata. Photo by Lianne Herbruck.

Cons

  • Environment: Rainforest and jungle have no doubt felt the pressure of human impacts. Therefore, flora and fauna just aren’t the same close to hotels as it is further off the beaten track in reserves such as Tampota National Reserve heaving with wildlife.
  • Looking from the outside in Hotel-based you are really only knocking on the door of the amazing Peruvian Amazon forest and all it has to offer. Personally, we’d recommend a deeper exploration if time and budget permit.

Cruise-based

With many to choose from and a growing number of luxurious offerings, a cruise-based trip offers a relaxing journey through some of the Amazon’s stunning waterways from the comfort of the upper deck.

Pros

  • Amenities: Floating down the rivers and waterways of the Amazon doesn’t mean skimping on facilities. Luxury abounds – think jacuzzis, sun-decks, and well-equipped cabins. On average, the facilities available on cruises are top-notch (but not without the added price tag!).
  • Distance traveled: During the high-water season (December – May), atop a cruise boat means you are able to explore areas that can be inaccessible or challenging to access by foot.
  • Activities: Cruises generally include land-based activities also, therefore you don’t miss out on experiences such as canopy walks, clay-licks, and cultural activities.

Sunset cruise

Cruising through the Amazon affords beautiful views of the iconic river, but there is less flexibility in choosing activities.

Cons

  • Seasonality: Although cruises run year-round, the routes and activities vary seasonally based on rainfall. During dryer times, areas not reachable by boat are accessed via foot, and you may be using your legs more than you had expected!
  • Set Itineraries: Cruise-based trips generally have set activities…so if you are a family or group looking for flexibility, this may not be the option for you.
  • Space: Compared to roaming free in the jungle in a lodge-based option, atop a boat you can be quite limited in space. If this is a problem, you may want to opt for a lodge and take river trips instead.

Lodge-Based

Based amidst the rainforest, lodge-based options give you an authentic taste of nature, deep in the Peruvian Amazon. Far away from towns, lodges offer a safe, secure, and comfortable stay embedded in the lush forest! It’s what you traveled to this glorious region to experience, right?

Pros

  • Location: Unlike hotels or cruise-based trips, lodges offer you an authentic taste of what the Amazon is all about: nature. The pristine rainforest that can only be accessed far away from major cities and towns is all around you. Even better, Rainforest Expeditions lodges are open-air, offering a truly immersive stay in the Peruvian jungle.
  • Flexibility: Lodges offer extremely flexible itineraries and budgets based on your needs, and are perfect for both long and shorter stays as families, groups, or individuals!
  • Budget: As you can pick and choose, a lodge-based Amazon experience works out cheaper, but doesn’t skimp on the range of experiences you can have.
  • Impact: Reputable eco-lodges ensure minimal negative impacts on the environment they are in, fund wildlife research, and carbon offset your stay so that you can relax knowing your visit is having a positive impact on the natural settings around you!
refugio amazonas entrance

Rainforest Expeditions Jungle lodges offer a real taste of the jungle, with only three walls!

Cons

  • Travel times: A jungle immersion naturally means longer travel times to reach your lodge, however, think of this as the opening act to your Amazonian Rainforest Expedition. The boat trip to reach the Tambopata Research Centre provides ample time for bird watching, or if you are lucky a jaguar!
  • Jungle eventualities: Not all lodges will have 24/7 electricity or Wi-Fi like what you can access in main towns or cities. However, as you are busy adventuring, learning, or taking some downtime, you will barely notice you’re missing anything!

We hope this blog helped you understand the differences between hotel-based, lodge-based, and cruise-based Amazon itineraries. No matter which accommodation type you choose – we are sure you will love the Amazon. If you have any questions, we are always here to help, just fill out the form below and our team will get back to you within twenty-four working hours.

By Natasha Martin

  • What our guest say

    • Valuation Excellent
    • 5/5

Michelle Smith February 2025

Cheryl Cooper February 2025

Irene February 2025

DayTrip816719 Feb 2025

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Niriksha Ravi December 2024

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MarcStl December 2024

Such a wonderful experience deep in a part of the Amazon, Tambopata NP. They really involve you with what is happening at the research centre with evening lectures. The meals are outstanding and the rooms are comfortable and I had the best sleep. Dino our guide was outstanding. The river trip to see the Macaw claylicks was a beautiful outing. We saw Capybaras along the river and it was very scenic. The staff are friendly and very engaging. As a tour operator who sends clients to AFRICA for safari, I was hugely satisfied. Thank you, gracious. Food & drinks: Good was simply delicious Read all

An amazing experience in the Peruvian jungle. the information about the centre was very accurate so I knew what to expect but was blown away by the experience and competence of my guide for the four nights, Juan Carlos Yatto. JC was looking for birds for me from the moment he collected me at the airport, so we saw birds on the drive and on the boat ride as well as on the excursions themselves. I was in Peru three weeks and JC was my best guide by far. Don't miss the clay licks for sure, and the tower is also well worth the climb. Food and people are wonderful and the research very interesting. Read all

Das Tambopata Research Center ist eine wunderbare Lodge im Nationalpark Tambopata. Die charmanten, miteinander verbundenen Aufenthaltsräume und Zimmer befinden sich auf hölzernen Stelzen. Bei den offenen Gemeinschaftsräumen gibt es gemütliche Sitzecken, eine wunderbare Hängemattenrelaxzone und einen herrlichen Restaurantbereich, wo zu jeder Zeit Tee, Kaffee und Wasser zur Verfügung stehen. Die stilvollen Zimmer verfügen über bequeme Betten mit Moskitonetz und moderne, saubere Duschbereiche. Die Research Center Lodge mit den Forschungseinrichtungen liegt inmitten des Regenwaldes umgeben von der reinen Natur mit der fantastischen Flora und Fauna, welche dort auch weiterhin erforscht und geschützt wird. Jeden Abend gibt es dazu sehr interessante Vorträge. Die Mitarbeiter sind sehr freundlich, offen und zuvorkommend. Die Buffets waren sehr köstlich und reichhaltig mit Gerichten aus der Region. Es wird großer Wert auf ökologische und nachhaltig umweltschonende Bewirtschaftung gelegt. Von der Lodge aus ist es möglich, mit ausgebildeten Guides in Gruppen von maximal 6 Personen verschiedene Exkursionen zu machen. Speziell Timo war ausgesprochen freundlich, auf unsere Sicherheit bedacht, ging auf die individuellen Interessen der einzelnen Personen ein und vermittelte uns in seiner kompetenten Art umfangreiches Wissen über die Pflanzen- und Tierwelt. Er hatte dabei die wunderbare Fähigkeit, versteckte Wildtiere zu entdecken, und verschaffte uns wunderschöne Momente, auch durch das mitgetragene Teleskop, wodurch wir der Tierwelt näher sein konnten. So sahen wir u.a. Brüllaffen, Kapuzineraffen und Spideraffen mit ihren Kindern, viele Vögel insbesondere Papageien wie z.B. Scharlach- und Gelbbauch-Aras sowie Wasserschweine und verschiedene Insekten. Wir können diese wunderbare Lodge absolut weiterempfehlen. Die herrliche Tier- und Pflanzenwelt in dem wunderbar erhaltenen und geschützten Regenwald des Amazonas war auf unserer Peru-Reise ein wirklich fantastisches Erlebnis! Read all

Rainforest Expeditions is a wonderful company and the Posadas Amazonas lodge is a beautiful location to spend your time in the Amazon. The staff are all incredibly kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. The tours were very fun and we saw lots of animals including River otters, monkeys, birds, and capybaras. We loved our guide Luis and all the people we met. The food was delicious and locally grown and there was never a dull moment. Would highly recommend! Read all

I went to Posada as part of a wider group trip, so did not pay for it directly. The lodge feels very far from anywhere and yet it feels incredibly safe. The rooms are open to nature, but nothing was ever damaged (use the safe boxes as advised, especially for food - not that you'll need any - the catering is excellent, with plenty of vegetarian options, and snacks are also provided between meals). There are flushing toilets, incredible shower facilities and the beds are very comfortable with mosquito nets placed at night by the staff. Drinking water vats are strategicvally placed throughout the lodge but you may have a long-ish walk to the common areas through corridors. Some parts of the corridors are open to the elements, but umbrellas are provided everywhere in case of rain. There is obviously no air conditioning, but this helps you acclimatise. The lodge is run by a family and others from the Infierno community, which gives the place a homely feel, with resident tour guides and a local geologist for citizen science projects. Massage services are available and there is a local shop for souvenirs and essentials like bug spray, clothing and torches. Tons of activities can be arranged, but it's also nice to relax in the hammocks and common areas and listen to the sounds of nature. While this hotel is not going to be for everyone, I had the most incredible time! Read all

The place to go if you want to see Macaws in the Peruvian rainforest. We stayed at the Tambopata Reaearch Centre (TRC) for three days and had Juan Carlos Yatto as our guide for the duration of our stay. We loved the mission of the TRC ie Macaw conservation and the link between Macaw nest site availability and the overall health of the rainforest. Juan Carlos Yatto (there is another JC at the research centre) was a fantastic guide and really made a difference to our experience at the TRC. His knowledge of the different species of wildlife and plants was amazing, his ability to spot things in the day or at night was phenomenal and he really made things accessible for our group. His English is excellent (including great humour when appropriate) and is a super guy. I really do recommend the TRC abd Juan Carlos Yatto as a guide. We saw an abundance of wildlife of all descriptions thanks to him and learned a huge amount without being overloaded. Read all

Two planes, a bus and a boat…that’s how we made it to TRC, and every minute was worth it. Tambopata is a jewel, from the moment you are greeted by the guide assigned to you (Juan Carlos Gonzales for us) to the last boat ride back to civilization. Juan Carlos was amazing…on just one hike he found five of the seven species of monkeys in the area! He is truly an expert..can hear, see and even SMELL animals, birds and insects to point out to us. We upgraded to a deluxe suite and it was decadent! An elegant outdoor tub and shower on a private balcony was soo nice’ Although we went in the rainy season, it never rained while on a hike or excursion. It rained for a few minutes on our late afternoon cruise , but not enough to dampen our enthusiasm, or prevent us from seeing a capybara in the mid! (And despite the warning of a lot of mosquitoes, I have been bitten more in my own back yard!) The bar is great, there’s PLENTY of food…we are going home feeling so lucky to have had such a great connection to the beauty of the Amazon. Read all

We had a fantastic time for our 3N/4D stay at Tambopata Research Center. The whole experience was marvellous. Rooms and facilities were great and meals superb. The Staff, ably led by Tanya the manager, were all friendly and helpful. This is the only lodge actually inside the Tambopata National Park, and we enjoyed being so "remote". I like that you have one guide who coordinates and takes you on all your activities; Jair our guide was amazing. One morning our planned activity was rained out, and I liked that they have alternative "wet weather" activities planned. There are lectures each night by researchers, which were very interesting. Also citizen science projects that you can participate in. All up, it was a fantastic way to experience the Peruvian Amazon. Read all

Posada Amazonas by Rainforest Expeditions is an extraordinary place. From your arrival at the airport in Puerto Maldonado all the staff is always attentive to your needs. You travel by boat to the hotel Posada Amazonas and it is a unique experience. It really is a total disconnection and a recollection with Mother Nature 🌎 The buffet lunch is delicious (already included in the price). You have a guide who speaks Spanish and English at all times and accompanies you to explore the jungle, the river and other activities. The price is worth it. Outside my room I caught a glimpse of monkeys :) The night sky is starry and very spectacular ✨️ 5 star service. I will definitely come back. Read all

I stayed with my parents at Refugio Amazonas for 3 days. We really enjoyed our stay and had a wonderful time here. The staff were extremely kind and well informed. The lodge manager- Arturo in particular was very helpful. To highlight their culture: They prepared special vegetarian meals for my parents, always ensured we felt comfortable and all our needs were met. A stay here is a must do to get a real feel of the Amazon rainforest on your trip to Peru! Noteworthy details: There are a lot of activities for kids and families to do, but my personal favourites are: Macaw Claylick, OxBow river ride, sunset cruise and the canopy tower. Read all

An incredible and unparalleled experience I felt fortunate Read all

I can't express how amazing our guides were. Incredibly knowledgeable and able to spot birds, frogs, spiders, animals, etc. with an almost unbelievable ability. The research and contributions to the jungle they are making at the Center are to be commended. The facilities were nice and kept clean and the staff was great, but between the walls in the rooms being open to the jungle, the heat, the bugs, underpowered fans, having to completely cover up for hikes due to bugs and then getting overheated, etc. it made for a tough stay. The food was good but after a couple days became repetitive. I would recommend this for serious birders who are willing to endure a bit for an incredible adventure. Read all

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