How much are trips to the Amazon? Ok, you know that you will travel to Peru and you are very tempted to visit the Amazon. And why not? More than 60% of the Peruvian territory is covered by Amazonian forests. So if the world wonder of Machu Picchu is on your list, the tropical forest should be on your list of wishes, and you can mark the Amazon as one more. 

But first thing first, which Amazon is best for you Tambopata, Manu or Iquitos?

How much does a trip to the Amazon cost?

A trip to the Amazon cost for 2 people for 3 nights, depending on the destination you visit:

1. From USD$ 740 for staying in a comfortable city hotel
2. From USD$ 580 staying in a closer to the city basic lodge
3. From USD00 cruising the Amazon river

But, the first thing you must define is how you want to visit the Amazon and where. In order to not make this article long, I will focus on the 3 great destinations in Peru: Iquitos, Tambopata, and Manu.

The difficulty level is from soft (I) to hard walks (III) , where soft includes easy, short walks on flat terrain, and hard may require a little more physical effort as it may include stairs and terrain with some ups and downs. Usually, this occurs in more pristine places.

I will describe each experience according to the location of the destination on the map, starting with Iquitos, continuing with Tambopata, and finally Manu.

Travel to Iquitos

Iquitos is located in the northeast of Peru. Home of the Amazon River, pink river dolphins, and manatees. Considered one of the natural wonders of Peru. Iquitos has 4 airlines that fly from Lima arriving from 10 am onwards.

Cost of hotels and tours in Iquitos

To get here you must take a flight to Iquitos airport.

The city has an incredible hotel infrastructure with swimming pools and more. You will find hotels in Iquitos from US$ 50 a night to US$ 500. What makes it more or less expensive? The same characteristics that you will find in any city hotel.

The activities that you can find have a cost of for half days up to US$ 200 for full days.

You can find regional restaurants around the square for approximately US$ 10 for each meal

• Approximate cost: US$ 800
• Number of people: 2
• Nights: 3

Cost of ecolodges in Iquitos

With all ecolodges the same rule applies: location, location, location.

Your chances of seeing wildlife and experiencing pristine forests depend on the location and quality of the forest around the lodge where you stay.

Usually the closer to the city, you will get more urban amenities like swimming pools, further away you probably won’t find that but you will enjoy a better connection with nature.

The cost for two people here for 3 nights starts at 00

• Approximate cost: US$ 1500
• Number of people: 2
• Nights: 3

Amazon Cruises in Iquitos

The services begin at the Iquitos airport and end there and include transfers to/from the city of Nauta, meals, excursions, and accommodation.

You can find prices from 0 to 00 per person for 3 nights according to the luxury you are looking for.

Here the level of difficulty includes a couple of easy walks in the forest, canoe rides, and entertainment on board.

• Approximate cost: Between US$ 1500 to US$ 6000
• Number of people: 2
• Nights: 3

In summary, how much does it cost a trip to the Amazon in Iquitos?

How to book the tour in Iquitos?

For hotels, lodges, and cruises I recommend that you go directly to their website, this way you not only benefit from the deals but you can also be in direct contact in case of any eventuality.

For activities from the city, you can find some options online. If you are going to buy directly from the same site, a certain level of Spanish is necessary.

Pro tip: check the latest reviews of each company and remember that having 5 stars with 5 reviews is not the same as having 5 stars with hundreds of reviews.

REMEMBER: Wild animals must be in the forest, do not visit or support activities that involve handling wildlife.

Travel to Tambopata

Tambopata is located in the southeast of Peru, very close to Cuzco. The Tambopata National Reserve is known as one of the most biodiverse places in the world. That means your chances of seeing wildlife here are very good. It has flights from Lima and Cusco which facilitates the planning of your itinerary. In Tambopata, there is no cruise service.

Cost of hotels and tours in Tambopata

To get here you must take a flight to Puerto Maldonado airport.

The city has some 2 and 3-star hotels. You will find hotels in Puerto Maldonado from US$ 50 a night to US$ 110. What makes it more or less expensive? The same features you will find in any city hotel and the style of accommodation.

Here the location intervenes since there are boutique-style hotels that are not very accessible and although they look close on google maps, remember that you are in an Amazonian city, and there are no UBER-type taxi services, so it is good to consult these accommodations for their facilities to get closer to the city when you need it.

The activities that you can find have a cost of US$ 70 for half days up to US$ 180 for full days. Again, if your hotel is far from the city, ask the tour operator if they can pick you up from your accommodation or if you will have to go to a meeting point.

You can find regional restaurants around the square for approximately for each meal

• Approximate cost: US$ 740
• Number of people: 2
• Nights: 3

Cost of ecolodges in Tambopata

It is worth repeating that your experience in ecolodges in Tambopata will depend on the location as we mentioned before, plus a super plus: in the region, different ecolodges distribute their resources for the development of conservation, science, and work with native communities. This is a super plus if you are looking for this trip to leave a positive impact on the forest and its inhabitants.

Madre de Dios, the region where Tambopata is located, for many years had agriculture as one of the main activities, so here more than anywhere else it is important to know the health of the forest if your interest is the observation of wildlife.

How do you know if the lodge you visit has a good forest for wildlife observation? Ask on their social networks when was the last time they saw jaguars, spider monkeys, and tapirs. Or check on travel forums what other travelers are saying about this topic.

The exploration of the forest and the chances of seeing wildlife can reach 5 stars if the lodge is well located. Here comfort could be sacrificed for the exploration of fauna, but it is not in all cases. You will not find air conditioning or swimming pools, but your contact with nature is much richer.

Our eco lodges are designed for just that, to connect with nature at all times, that’s why you won’t find walls in the common areas or on the bridges. In your room you will find only 3 walls, so one is open to the forest. And yes, if you can have visits from moths, butterflies if you are lucky a frog. But also the best opportunities to see wildlife very close to the lodge you could even see troops of monkeys from your room. After all, we are in the middle of super-healthy forests.

The cost for 2 for 3 nights starts at US$ 580 up to US$ 3417

• Approximate cost: From US$ 580 to US$ 3400
• Number of people: 2
• Nights: 3

How do you book this tour in Tambopata?

Directly on its website, you can find the best deals, in addition to being able to count on personalized attention that will answer all your questions. Our specialists are nature lovers and love to organize expeditions to our favorite place in the world: Tambopata.

For activities from the city, most are only accessible from the city itself through agencies located around the square. Take note that these excursions are in group service, so you may want to know how many people are needed for the tour to depart.

Pro tip: In Tambopata, you will find two important rivers, the Madre de Dios and the Tambopata. The last one crosses the Tambopata National Reserve so its forests are much healthier, however here the location raises the price of the experience since the logistics are more expensive. Two ecolodges in the region are located within the Tambopata National Reserve. Remember location, location, location.

In summary, how much does it cost a trip to the Amazon in Tambopata?

REMEMBER The Amazonian forests are dense, and the wildlife is not arranged like in a zoo. You will not be able to handle animals.

Travel to Manu

Manu is located in the southeast of Peru between Cuzco and Madre de Dios. You have the best chance of seeing wildlife because the Manu National Park groups together various types of clouds and rainforests. There are daily flights to get to Cusco from Lima and other departments of Peru. The trip from the city to Manu takes approximately 7 hours.

Cost of ecolodges in Manu

To get here you must take a flight to the airport in the city of Cusco. Stay in a hotel in the city for at least one night as expeditions to Manu leave early in the morning and they usually have Cusco main square as a meeting point.

The Manu National Park has two visitor areas, including the cultural area where the native communities are located. Make sure you visit the area of ​​your interest and confirm that you will be able to visit the protected natural area and not just the buffer zone to maximize your chances of seeing fauna, the qualification would be as follows:

• Approximate cost: US$ 740**
• Number of people: 2
• Nights: 3 nights is the best

Remember that to take this expedition you must have booked the night before in the city of Cusco.

** The cost on internet does not specify if the accommodation is inside the park. Ask for this, when dealing with the tour operator.

How do you book a tour in Manu?

Ideally, direct on the website of the local operator you hire.

Here is a map where you can see how to get to each destination.

Are you thinking about how it will be to travel to the Amazon and explore its forest? Take one of our virtual tours

Or chat with our rainforest specialist.

By Rocio Guzman