HOTELS, CRUISES OR LODGES How much cost a trip to the Amazon?

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How much are trips to the Amazon? – Updated for 2023

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.

Accommodation to travel to the Amazon

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 much 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?

How much 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.

CHECK AVAILABILITY

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.

How to travel to the Amazon

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

 

  • What our guest say

    • Valuation Excellent
    • 5/5

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A truly magical experience. It’s set in a completely unique location in the middle of the jungle with no other lodges around. The guide we had (Jarinson) was the best, so so knowledgeable, experienced and lovely to spend the time with. The lodge itself is beautiful and food was great too. Would highly recommend. Read all

Interesting bus and river boat rides bring you to Posada Amazonas on the Tambopata River. It’s managed by the Ese Eja indigenous community. Luis M., our guide, helped us observe birds and learn about plants and other animals. A canopy tower, clay lick and oxbow lake are highlights. All personnel are extremely kind and researchers give short lectures in the evening. The food is delicious! Excellent mosquito netting in rooms! Read all

Wow where do I even begin. This was one of the most unique and special experiences we've ever had. You are smack dab in the middle of nowhere, deep in the Amazon jungle. Surrounded by plants and animals of all kinds and some of the most breathtaking scenery you can imagine. And in the company of scientists doing conservation work all around you. The facility is gorgeous beyond belief. Everything is so thoughtfully prepared, from water servers everywhere to comfy couches to hammocks to raised walkways so you can pad around barefoot without feeling like you're going to step on a scorpion. The meals are positively gourmet. They have delicious fresh juice out for you when you come back from your hikes. We spend 2 days there and I genuinely feel like I saw the jungle. 2-3 excursions a day with a private guide to show you everything from plants to birds to animals to a very tall tower where you can watch the sunset over the canopy. We only had 3 people in our group but I believe there can be up to 7. You have the same guide your whole trip so you really get to know them. Johan was our guide and he was wonderful. And I do believe the number of excursions/type/length can be adjusted based on your groups physical ability. The rooms are beautiful and comfy and they help you prepare mosquito netting at night so you can be comfortable. There's a full bar, in the middle of the rainforest. At night there are short (30 min) lectures you can go to if you want where the scientists talk about their work. Fascinating. We loved that the center was very eco conscious and put a lot of effort into being low impact while also offering a truly luxurious experience. That being said. Do yourself a favor and read the web site. This experience will not be for everyone. Ppl posting negative comments here about the heat, bugs, open rooms, etc did not do their homework. You are far, far inside pristine Amazon jungle. It is hot, humid, rainy, and there are bugs. You can expect to use your lovely shower a few times a day to cool off. Fortunately you have lots of down time during the heat of the day to rest under the ceiling fan in your room. There were lots of grasshoppers, moths etc around our room but honestly we didn't have many issues with biting insects or mosquitos despite visiting during the rainy season (we did use bug spray). Your room has one open wall that faces nature. Yes, technically than means someone could see you walking around naked in your room, but you are 15 feet up in the air and facing directly into thick jungle, there is no one out there besides birds and monkeys to see you. They do cut the brush back so nothing except maybe some birds could get into your room. The sounds are magical at night and during the day. It's hot especially if you go during the rainy season as we did. If you hate bugs or can't handle life without air conditioning, this is not for you. Truthfully we had no issues sleeping. Ventilation is another big benefit of the one open wall. Think of this as the glampiest glamping you'll ever do and you will not be disappointed. Read the web site and reviews thoroughly and you won't be surprised. Being good hiking shoes, a lightweight waterproof jacket, refillable water bottle, a hat, binoculars (you can rent them too), bug spray, and sunscreen. Lightweight long sleeved shirts and long pants are essential bc you want to be covered so you won't get bitten or in case you brush up against a nasty plant. We saw monkeys, macaws, capybaras, owls, a caiman, and some cool jungle bugs. The guides even have a telescope you can use to both look at the animals and take great pictures with your phone. once in a lifetime experience in one of the most special and precious ecosystems in the world. Worth every penny and honestly we felt the price was cheap considering what you get. The highlight of our trip to Peru. Thank you so much. Read all

It was our first time in the rainforest and we wouldn't do it any other way. The boat rides on the Madre de Dios and the walks through the rainforests were both exciting and peaceful. Exciting when we spotted wildlife and peaceful as we settled in to hear the sounds and sights of the forest. The lodge was comfortable and the food was great. The research talks in the evenings were a great pre-dinner ritual for us. Do check them out. Saul was an amazing guide - friendly, fun, knowledgeable and very tuned to the rainforest. He could pick up on slight sounds and movements and helped us spot some great wildlife. Read all

TRC is up close with nature deep inside the Peruvian Amazon. If you are a fan of wildlife and love being in the nature this is the place for you. This is an eco lodge, so come with similar expectations. The sound of macaws flying over would make your day. TRC is doing some amazing work on Macaw conservation, the visits to the clay lick would be special. During your journey you would be able to spot a number of animals, birds. Do not miss the guided walks, you would really see a lot of monkeys. If you are a photographer, invest in a good zoom lens ( it will pay you back). The other thing is the amazing staff that take care of you. The food is among the very best I tasted in Peru and they really pamper you. So make sure you walk a lot to burn the additional calories :) Starting from the booking to the pickup in the airport everything is meticulously planned. From Mariella of the booking team, Juan Carlos the guide and Tania, our manager in the hotel everyone was fantastic. Ultimately spotting wild animals is a lot of luck, but this would be a great experience. Rooms: Rooms are large, spacious with wide open balconies, but no monkeys come in ( they strictly don't encourage wildlife feeding). Nearby activities: Lots of them, morning hikes, afternoon hikes, sunset cruise Walkability: You need to walk a bit, so you need to be mobile Food & drinks: Awesome Buffet, great food. Read all

TRC is up close with nature deep inside the Peruvian Amazon. If you are a fan of wildlife and love being in the nature this is the place for you. This is an eco lodge, so come with similar expectations. The sound of macaws flying over would make your day. TRC is doing some amazing work on Macaw conservation, the visits to the clay lick would be special. During your journey you would be able to spot a number of animals, birds. Do not miss the guided walks, you would really see a lot of monkeys. If you are a photographer, invest in a good zoom lens ( it will pay you back). The other thing is the amazing staff that take care of you. The food is among the very best I tasted in Peru and they really pamper you. So make sure you walk a lot to burn the additional calories :) Starting from the booking to the pickup in the airport everything is meticulously planned. From Mariella of the booking team, Juan Carlos the guide and Tania, our manager in the hotel everyone was fantastic. Ultimately spotting wild animals is a lot of luck, but this would be a great experience. Read all

The immersion experience was great. Be prepared though to feel hot and full of bug spray much of the time. Wear hiking pants. Not Lulu leggings (too hot). The guides are great and you can do as much or as little as you want. We saw a lot of animals. Read all

Posadas Amazonas is an eco-friendly lodge that makes a huge commitment to preserving the rainforest for generations to come. The food served (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is fresh and delicious! The staff is extremely knowledgeable and caring. A special shoutout to the lodge manager Cesar for ensuring that we had packed meals for the onward journey when we were delayed by a rain storm. The main attractions apart from the abundant wildlife are the canopy tower and nearby Oxbow lake. The canopy tower gives a great 360 degree view of the rainforest and we were fortunate to see monkeys and macaws from the vantage point. At the Oxbow lake we saw river otters and Caimans and we were able to catch a piranha fish as well. Overall, Posada Amazonas is a great lodge owned and operated by the native communities located in the amazing Amazon rainforest. Read all

I had an amazing time here. I was traveling solo and did 4 days/3 nights through Inca Expert Travel. It was an unforgettable experience! I opted for a group tour for the excursions and am glad I did. Our guide, Boris, was fantastic and made sure we saw as much wildlife as possible. I can't say enough good things about him. The rest of the staff were also very kind. I enjoyed the large variety of fresh food at each meal. I felt safe and well-taken care of the entire time. Read all

TRC was an amazing place to stay. Being in the Amazon rainforest was truly like no other trip I have or will ever take. From arrival we were greeted by staff with cool drinks, warm welcomes. Beautiful main area w bar, sofas, tables,games. Our guide Fernando was SO knowledgeable, interesting, enthusiastic,. We already miss his smile and laugh :) We did every excursion available over our 4 days there. The night hike turned out to be our favorite as we spotted the wandering spider then and many other intersting moths/insects. January is hot and humid, so yes expect to be wet,sweaty. Pack extra bag for wet stinky clothes ... Be ok w insects as no 4th wall in your rooms so at night mosquitio nets do a good job preventing bugs in your bed but when you wake up to use bathroom excpect moths, grasshopppers etc in room. All harmless!! TRC does provide nice rainboots for wet swampy treks.. Read all

A perfect experience in the Amazon. Harry, our guide, made the entire experience very memorable. The food is good, the bar is expensive but good and the support staff were excellent. Tanya, the manager, took care of all our needs and was very supportive the entire stay. Please remember that the rooms are open to the nature and therefore comes with its pros and cons. You wake up with the nature including the mosquitos :) The experiences offered by the Refugio is fantastic and provides a great exposure to the Amazon. Dont miss the Macaw trip. It is just magical. Read all

This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! From the getgo, it was easy to coordinate our 4-day stay at Tambopata. The booking was all done via email with quick responses, there was clear communication leading up to our stay and even upon arrival the staff was extremely organized (incl. taking our bags and making sure they arrived to our rooms). During our stay the staff was all very friendly and accomodating, the lodge was always clean (actually impressively clean given it is located in the jungle), and the food was great and plentiful. By far the best part of our stay was our tour guide, Saul. Upon arrival, Saul helped us pick our activities based on what animals we wanted to see (using his 10 years of experience). He worked on timing to make sure we can see as much as possible, was extremely knowledgable on the rainforest, the plants, the insects and the animals and noticeably put in the extra effort to find animals. You can tell that he truly loves his job and was always equally as excited to see the animals as us, even though he has seen them thousands of times. He helped us find monkeys, birds, countless insects, lizards, capybaras ect. I am 100% confident our experience wouldn't be the same without him. He even helped us capture these cool photos with only our iphone!! If you are planning to stay are TRC, I would highly recommend asking for Saul as a tour guide, if possible. Read all

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