FIVE WONDERFUL THINGS Not to be missed

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Not to be missed: top 5 things to do in the Peruvian Amazon!

Enjoy an authentic nature experience

When you imagine yourself in the Peruvian Amazon, do you think of yourself high in the forest canopies, cruising along the Tambopata River, or admiring a stunning Macaw or rainbow Parakeet at a clay lick from the river’s edge? How about an eerie night hike spotting Tarantula nests? One thing is for sure, you’ll experience wildlife and world-renowned biodiversity away from tourist crowds of many parts of the Amazon. There are dozens of spectacular experiences to be had, only 2 hours from Puerto Maldonado, because of that we share with you our top 5 things must do in the Peruvian Amazon.

With the flexibility of adventure ‘A La Carte’, Rainforest Expeditions gives you the freedom to choose your own adventure without being locked into rigid itineraries or schedules. Choose your lodge, and choose your experiences – from the get-go, the adventure is in your hands.

Here are our top 5 top things must do in the Peruvian Amazon:

  1. Canopy Tower

Canopy tower

Canopy Tower in the Peruvian Amazon – Photo by Paul Bertner

Gaze out over ancient trees and spot exotic wildlife from up high in the forest canopy! The sturdy towers sit 60m above ground and offer a chance to experience the Amazon from a higher perspective. With a birds-eye view, you’ll spot monkeys, toucans, and many more exotic species! You’ll be guided through the forest to reach the base of the tower before a slow and steady climb up the stairs to the top. This is one of the Top 5 things must do in the Peruvian Amazon. Trust us, you won’t soon forget the sweeping Amazonian jungle panorama that awaits you

2. Macaw Clay Licks

chuncho clay lick by paul bertner

Chuncho clay lick – Photo by Paul Bertner

A dazzling spectacle that will have your eyes wide as you take in the stunning colors and sounds of exotic macaws, parakeets, and parrots flocking to feast on nutrient-rich clay in the early morning light. Both the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick and Colorado Macaw Clay Lick are an awe-inspiring experience

From the Tambopata Research Centre, the Colorado Macaw Clay Lick is reached by boat, cruising along the Tambopata River to reach the viewing spot.

3. Oxbow Lake

Tambopata Landscapes -

Many Tambopata Piranhas live in Oxbow Lakes like this one

These unique inland lakes are vital habitats for wildlife due to calm waters and plentiful food. From the water edge, your Rainforest Expedition guide will help you spot some of the lake’s diverse residents including rare giant otters, squirrel monkeys, hoatzin, and majestic macaws! Each lake is different depending on your jungle lodge and this half-day adventure includes a quick boat trip from the lodge and a short hike to the water’s edge

4. Jungle Night Walk

nightwalk in the Amazon Rainforest

Venture into the nocturnal world of the Amazon! You may be hesitant at first, but once you lay eyes on the nighttime wonders with the aid of your head torch – you’re 1-hour hike will fly by. It truly is something spectacular, venturing into the jungle at night. As your usual suspects sleep, other wildlife comes out to play. For instance, tarantula nests, slimy frogs, slithering snakes, and night monkeys! A weird and wonderful mix of creatures, an adventurous experience not to be missed

5. Sunset Cruise

Tambopata River At Sunset

Sunrises and sunsets on the Tambopata River are unforgettable experiences for many travelers.

No Amazon experience is complete without a tranquil journey down the Tambopata River by boat. As the sun sets, bathing the jungle in brilliant colors, spot chunky Capybaras, familiar macaws, and shy wildlife venturing out before dark. A perfect way to finish your day and soak up the stunning waterways of Peruvian Amazonia.

How to plan your adventure

To make the most of your time, think roughly 2-3 activities per day. Traveling from Puerto Maldonado on day one, you should arrive at the lodge in the early afternoon, so head to the  Canopy Tower or prepare for an evening hike after you’ve settled in. Remember to utilize the cool hours in the early morning, spend half a day at a Clay lick, Oxbow lake, or hiking to admire jungle giants. Save your relaxing until the evening at one of the wellness centers, or learn more about the wonders of the Amazon during a night lecture or Circle of Fire.

There are many more activities to choose from depending on your length of stay and Rainforest Expedition lodge. View all the activities we offer here... and trust us, the best way to plan your activities ‘A La Carte’ is to chat with us, so get in touch!

By Natasha Martin

  • What our guest say

    • Valuation Excellent
    • 5/5

Sue_szb April 2026

Beam May 2026

David Staro May 2026

Serg Averkin April 2026

Carlotta May 2026

Asha S May 2026

Laurence W April 2026

Isobel Griffith April 2026

Kay T April 2026

Nancy Hodgson March 2026

Lesly Lagos March 2026

Batya K. February 2026

Wow what an experience! If you want to be fully immersed in Amazon life in a wonderful , comfortable eco lodge, and not have expectations of a 5 star city hotel (I'm not sure why you would, but some reviewers seemed disappointed it wasn't!) you will love this. You will be in a group, 6 in ours, but you don't all have to do the same activities, you just join another group. Plenty of spaces to chill and downtime if you need it...its hot and humid! There's a fan in the room and I heard the superior rooms have a fan under the mozzie net. Take a torch! We were never bitten, used deet repellent only. They provide rubber boots if you want them, some of the trails were very muddy, but we managed in our walking boots. We loved the open wall to the jungle, despite some bugs, but not too many surprisingly. Sooooo much wildlife, all sorts of monkeys, otters, turtles, caiman, different birds, capybara etc. Luis M was our guide, a local, and he could spot a spider from 5 metres I'm sure... great sense of humour and a wealth of knowledge, loved him. We spent 3 nights 20th-24th April, it rained on a couple of occasions but not much. Perfect holiday for an immersive wildlife experience! Read all

Beautiful lodge in the rainforest, very well maintained and clean. We had a lot of fun and excellent guides. The rooms and facilities were top-notch! Read all

We stayed at Posada Amazonas Lodge in May 2026, and it was a truly unique experience. It’s important to note that the concept is unlike a traditional hotel: the rooms (the lodge has around 30 in total) are built entirely of wood and open completely to the rainforest, with no windows. The walls are about two meters high, and everything is open-air, meaning you can hear your neighbors as well as the sounds of the forest throughout the night. There is a hot-water shower with drainage flowing through wooden beams beneath the floor, and the beds are protected with mosquito nets. The food is delicious and nutritious, and one pleasant surprise was the excellent Wi-Fi connection (Starlink) available both at the lodge and on the boats. The logistics are flawless from the moment you land in Puerto Maldonado, including a short car ride (accompanied by a security company) followed by a forty-minute cruise along the Tambopata River. The staff is incredibly friendly. Our guide, Luis M. (a member of the local community that manages the lodge), was simply outstanding, with eagle-eyed vision for spotting wildlife and always wearing a smile. Tour highlights: Canopy Tower: a 42-meter tower rising above the treetops with panoramic views. We loved seeing the river, the rainforest, and even the distant Andes Mountains on the horizon. We returned at night during a nocturnal wildlife tour, where we spotted tarantulas, white sloths, and tree frogs. Lake Tres Chimbadas: a peaceful catamaran ride (without a motor) where Luis showed us a group of red-bellied monkeys, giant otters, and caimans. The scenery and tranquility are incredible. Trek to the “Great Tree”: a forest hike where we saw deer, jaguar tracks, a three-toed sloth, and more wildlife. At the end of the trail, we reached the gigantic ceiba tree: around 500 years old, approximately 60 meters tall, and with an impressive 11-meter base diameter. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to experience the true Amazon! Read all

An exceptional experience that truly exceeded all expectations. What impressed me the most is that here they genuinely want to make your stay as comfortable as possible — and that, to me, is what real high-level service is all about. The guide really tries to fill every excursion with emotions and memorable moments, turning simple activities into meaningful experiences. The kitchen team puts great effort into variety and introduces you to Peruvian cuisine — it feels like a small гастрономic journey. Housekeeping works like invisible bees — you don’t notice them, but everything is always perfectly taken care of. Another big highlight is the comfort level: stable electricity and surprisingly good internet both on the way and at the lodge, powered by Starlink. Having this level of connectivity in the middle of the jungle is something truly special. From reception and the bar to the boat driver — everyone is genuinely warm and happy to have you. You can really feel that each person is a small but important part of one big system delivering outstanding eco-tourism service. Bravo — achieving this level of service in the wild is not easy, and it shows. This experience was very valuable for me and my family. I won’t get tired of thanking you for the emotions you gave us. Highly recommended. Dear travelers — don’t hesitate. Go, enjoy the incredible nature and the level of service. This is something you will remember for a lifetime. Read all

We had the most amazing time at Refugio Amazonas for 3 nights, with a huge thanks to our guide Juan Carlos! On the first afternoon we sat down and planned our activities, which we loved! We came face to face with hundreds of birds, tarantulas, leaf carrying ants spanning 10 meter motorways to work and deliver the leaves to the ant house for food, parasites, and even leaves that cause natural dyes on oxidation - we learned so much. Carlos was genuinly interested in showing us everything the jungle had to offer, humorous and caring too. Carlos knew anything and everything about what was around us, pointing out things and creatures that the untrained eye would miss, carrying a telescope at all times for us to see the birds, ensuring we got magical videos on our phones using the telescope! Read all

Many thanks to Refugio Amazonas for an unforgettable experience! Brenda and team were so wonderful and accommodating, and Alan was a great guide. Thank you for a memorable experience! :) Read all

We had an excellent time at Tambopata research center. We are tourists like most who now visit the center, but it’s great to know that you can support research and the local community by visiting a place like this. Our guide for our trip, Esau, was extremely knowledgeable and showed great passion for his job. He described it as a hobby and he would get very excited if you spotted a specific bird or a tree. His specific knowledge about each and every creature in the forest was very impressive and I would recommend asking for Esau to be your guide in the future if you plan to visit. The hotel itself is unique. You are in the middle of the Amazon rainforest - the accessibility to nature is second to none. There are no windows in the hotel rooms. We had bugs in our room, of course, but the mosquito nets keep everything out and, actually, we both slept very well. The bar staff, Harrison, is very knowledgeable with drinks and works very hard. The food isn’t the best you’re ever going to have, but you have to remind yourself you are in the middle of the rainforest and that it takes a 6 hour round trip to get to the nearest town, and so the job that the hotel does in respect of the food is actually intuitive and very good. I would recommend this hotel to my peers and I would love to visit again in a few years time. Read all

We just finished a 4-night stay at Tambopata Research Center and it was the highlight of our entire Peru trip. From the first email with Mariella to being picked up at the airport to the actual stay itself, every step was smooth and every employee was attentive. Having never stayed in a lodge like this (this remote or exclusive), we were a little nervous about what to expect. Our guide, Timo was INCREDIBLE at tailoring all the activities to us. When he found out we liked more adventurous hikes, he took us on walks through swamps, bamboo forests, and little-used trails while always keeping an eye out for monkeys, birds, and insects. His knowledge of the wildlife, plants, and history of the area was beyond what we hoped for and he truly made the experience worth it. Read all

Spent 4 nights in mid April. I had high expectations and was not disappointed. Our guide Carmen picked us up at the airport and we saw monkeys already on our way to the lodge. We had a wonderful stay with exceptional food and activities everyday. Our guide Carmen was great and our itinerary was based on her suggestions however we could decide on what we would like to see. Wildlife is abundant, however, sometimes difficult to spot and photograph due to the low light. It rained a lot despite April being considered a transitioning time to dry season. But come on ... it's the rainforest. The clear highlight are the macaws which you can hear all time and also see from the tower and at the leks. Read all

This trip was the highlight of our travels through peru. The lodge was absolutely 5 stars for everything. The room, food, people. We had a private guide, Allen, who grew up locally and really had deep knowledge of the land, the history, and the variety of plant and animal species in the jungle. His knowledge and passion were invaluable to our experience. There are a variety of tour companies and lodges you can book to visit the Amazon, however, I would only recommend Rainforest Expeditions as they are truly connected to the community and offer high quality first class amazon experience! Read all

We had a truly wonderful stay with Rainforest Expeditions. Everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming, and our guide was fantastic — very knowledgeable and passionate about the rainforest. We saw many animals, even from the boat, which made the experience unforgettable. Read all

I just spent 3 days here with my family. The research center surpassed all our expectations. I want to give a special shout out to Carlos who took such good care of us. He went above and beyond to make sure we werr comfortable. And he was always smiling. He made us feel so welcome. We had Erik as our guide who is so knowledgeable and experienced. We learned so much, saw so much wildlife. It really was a dream vacation. Thank you!! Read all

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