Stories
Three Easy Options for Solo Travel in the Peruvian Amazon
When we make plans for a trip, one of the first things we have to figure out is whether we are going to do solo travel, share the adventure with family, or travel with a friend or two.
This decision is the primary one because it will affect where we go and how we do the trip. For example, if we decide to travel with friends, we should plan the trip together to make sure that everyone is on the same page in terms of what we hope to see and do. The same goes for a family trip along with whatever is required for traveling with children or senior citizens. With that in mind, it almost goes without saying that you have a lot more freedom when traveling on your own. In fact, since you don’t have to meet any other expectations than your own, you have all the freedom in the world to hike the Inca Trail, sample the best in Peruvian ceviche, and even explore the Amazon jungle.
For our three options for solo travel, read below! And don’t forget to check out our free guide to Amazon jungle travel here:
Macaw clay lick – Peruvian Amazon jungle excursion for solo adventurers. Image by Paul Bertner
Well, maybe not that last idea because wouldn’t you need an expedition team to explore the Peruvian Amazon? Well, that would be best if you wanted to try and reach little-explored areas but thanks to successful ecotourism projects in certain parts of eastern Peru, you don’t need an expedition to experience the wild heart of the Peruvian rainforest.
Here are three ways that even the least experienced solo travelers can make that happen in the Amazon:
1. Visit Tambopata
This wild corner of the Amazon is much easier to visit than most people realize. It only takes a short flight from Lima – almost 2 hours – or a much quicker flight from Cuzco – just 30 minutes – to land in Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the rainforests of Tambopata. Upon arrival, you are met at the airport by your personal guide and transferred to your jungle lodge.
Tambopata-Landscapes-Lianne-Herbruck
2. Stay at Unique Lodges with a Purpose
Guests (including folks who go their own way) who stay at Posada Amazonas or Refugio Amazonas Lodge can take guided hikes through the wild, mature rainforest, watch for monkeys, and birds from canopy towers, and take part in other activities recommended by their personal guide. But also, these rainforest lodges make your travel unique since each of them is alive for a purpose.
While Posada Amazonas is the only lodge in the region owns by the Native Community of Infierno, part of the Ese Eja tribe. The lodge wants to exchange cultural experiences and share out all over the world thru its visitants their traditions and stories.
Refugio Amazonas, on the other hand, believes that the protection and conservation of the area can be possible thru science. Because of that, they encourage every guest to become a citizen scientist and save the Amazon across the activities they have at the lodge.
Solo travelers have more opportunities to spot wildlife when traveling to the Amazon. Image by Louis Guillot
3. An off-the-beaten-path experience inside the National Reserve of Tambopata
Head further upriver is located at the Tambopata Research Center, the only lodge inside the National Reserve of Tambopata, fronting the Bahuaja Sonene National Park. Here you can access one of the wildest parts of the Amazon, even if you do the trip on your own. As with the other Rainforest Expeditions lodges, a personal guide will take you on trails through the wild Amazonian rainforest in search of wildlife, bring you to an incredible macaw clay lick, and make sure that you have an unforgettable and safe Amazonian experience even if it happens to be your first trip abroad.
Solo travel to Amazon isn’t just possible — as long as you go with an experienced operator like Rainforest Expeditions, it’s downright easy. They have helped thousands of solo travelers experience their jungle lodges in the wild Amazon, contact them to see how they can help you achieve the trip of a lifetime!
Tambopata Research Center inside the National Reserve of Tambopata. Image by Paul Bertner
By Patt ODonnell
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What our guest say
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- Valuation Excellent
- 5/5
Jacob Shama May 2024
Yaacov May 2024
secaBoulder May 2024
Cecilia D May 2024
Andrea Breanna Apr 2024
A user Apr 2024
Niko Dietsch Apr 2024
Yuting C Apr 2024
Yuting Chen Apr 2024
Víctor Moscoso Apr 2024
Ari S March 2024
Dreamer627120 March 2024
The lodge is located in the middle of the forest accessible only by boat. The experience was very unique and exciting. Service is great, and the fun part are the nature activities and tours the hotel offers for free. We had an amazing tour guide that had a lot of knowledge and was fun to spend time with. The rooms are totally open to the forest which is really cool the struggle is the there is no privacy at all in between the rooms, also food was pretty basic. All together a very unique experience. Read all
This hotel is the perfect blend of comfort and hospitality, with the natural experience. The hotel is reached by a hours boat ride from Puerto Maldonado, expertly organized and accomplished. Most staff are members of the local Esa Ejja community. The food is good and plentiful. Hot water is always available and lovely bedding features mosquito nets. There is of course no air conditioning (one side wall is open in rach room) and the electricity is off for a few hours at night affecting overhead fans, so I was glad to have brought a small battery powered fan for sleeping. But the best of the experience is the wildlife. Our expert guide Oscar Mishaja introduced us to nearly 100 bird species, along with caimans, river otters, poison dart frogs and capybara. A trip of a lifetime. Read all
Excellent experience overall— really kind and welcoming staff at every point of the journey. All transfers were well organized and smooth. Excellent and educational excursions all around the rainforest. Delicious food for every meal. We had wonderful guides- Freet and Alvaro. Enjoyed our time here! Read all
We had a surreal experience at Refugio Amazonas. From the well organized transportation to the warm welcome, hospitality and the experience of living in nature - we loved it all. Huge shout out to our guide Boris who went out of his way to ensure we had a good experience and got to watch all kinds of wild life. The meals and cocktails were delicious. And even though this place is smack in the middle of the jungle there was super fast WiFi available. We made unforgettable memories. Read all
We had an amazing time in TRC. From the guide, tours, lounge staff, food and room, everything has exceeded our expectation and like an amazing dream came true. We highly recommend to directly book with the lounge website, so that you got a private guide for your group. Special thanks to our guide Saul, who made this experience extra special! We were so impressed by his knowledge about all the animals and the rainforest. Read all
We had an amazing time in TRC. From the guide, tours, lounge staff, food and room, everything has exceeded our expectation and like an amazing dream came true. This is the only lounge available in Tambopata national park, and this eco lounge takes environment seriously. We highly recommend to directly book with the lounge website, so that you got a private guide for your group. Special thanks to our guide Saul, who made this experience extra special! We were so impressed by his knowledge about all the animals and the rainforest. If you are a natural lover, you can’t miss this place Read all
Excellent and luxurious place, wonderful experience and our guide Boris was first class, he had a unique patience with my 8 year old son. An experience in the tropical rainforest that marks the life of its visitors. In addition to the scientific research that takes place in the place: a whole research center. Rooms: Very comfortable and luxuriou Read all
El mejor hotel para visitar la Amazonia peruana. Hotel eco turístico metido en medio de la selva, equipado para visitar y vivir la selva, su flora y fauna, en todas sus facetas. Todo incluido, con guías preparados y amables, resultó una experiencia increíble para mi familia. Dentro de las opciones no se debe perder el Canopy de 45 metros de altura para observar y escuchar la selva, así como el lago de las tres Chimbadas, lugar único para ver caimanes, nutrias gigantes, monos y aves exóticas. Recomiendo mínimo dos noches!!! Read all
Wunderbare lodge mit freundlichen Menschen. sehr persönliche guides, tolle Tourangebote und super kulinarische Verpflegung ! Wir wurden herzlichst von Caesar empfangen und unser guide JuanJo hat uns phantastische Dinge gezeigt. Wir können die lodge nur wärmstens empfehlen! Read all
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