TRAVELLING DURING Rainy season

Stories

The Shining Amazon Rainforest – Why Visit the Amazon During Rainy Season

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive from our guests considering visiting the Tambopata National Reserve is: “Can I travel to the Amazon during the rainy season?”

Our answer? A resounding: YES!

The time between October and March is a magical time in the Amazon jungle. First, we should mention that while there is rainfall all year round (you can’t spell ‘Rainforest’ without ‘rain’!), it is only slightly higher during this season (10% more than the other season), but it does light up the forest in colors, smells, and sounds that you can’t experience any other time of year.Here are four reasons why we recommend travel to the Amazon during the rainy season:

1. A walk through the Amazon jungle after a rainshower awakens the senses.

From tree to shining tree, the rain lights up the rainforest producing bright and fresh colors – a photographer’s dream. The smell is dewy and crisp. The sounds of insects, animals, and birds combine to produce unique melodies that rival the sounds of any orchestra.

Check out our photo tours in the Peruvian Amazon

Why visit the Amazon during rainy season

2. Transformational Experiences

Rains come in short, powerful bursts – rarely do rain for an entire day. While you are welcome to pull on some rain boots (provided at all our Amazon lodges) and play in the mud – most guests will settle back in a hammock on their balconies, grab a cup of tea (always complimentary!) and watch the rain tumble down.

(Did you know that our rooms in all three of our Amazon lodges have only three walls? We remove any barriers between you and the forest, which lets you create a real and meaningful relationship with the natural environment around you).

While our trips can be action-packed, we always encourage guests to find some time to connect with themselves, feel the power of the rainforest, and its place in it.

There is undeniably something transformational about taking this time out during your Tambopata tour.

Guest enjoying at the hammocks in Tambopata

3. Excellent Wildlife Viewing

Amazon jungle animals, like us, are prone to take shelter when it is raining. When the rain stops, they also come out in search of food, making wildlife spotting a bit more predictable than in dry season. The rain also means the trees bear flowers and fruits – making it easy to spot birds and monkeys who love to eat them! The Tambopata National Reserve is home to an enormous diversity of flora and fauna.

Spider Monkey by Paul Bertner

4. Less people and better deals

We hope that the images of glistening canopies and hammock meditations inspire you to visit during this period, but we should also add that this is the time of year when you are likely to get the best deals and encounter fewer tourists. Most tourists will seek to visit during the North American summer, meaning flights will be easier to book and hotels will be emptier.

Pro Tip:

If ever you’re faced with a train cancellation in Cusco, causing you to miss a trip to Macchu Picchu (yes, it happens!) – detouring to Tambopata National Reserve can be a great way to save your trip! Puerto Maldonado (the gateway city) is only a thirty-minute flight from Cusco, and you can be at one of our Amazon lodges upriver on the same day.

By Natasha Martin

  • What our guest say

    • Valuation Excellent
    • 5/5

Shropshire Boy October 2026

Nicholas Nguyen October 2026

David Forrest September 2026

Susanne Ratzenberger September 2026

juandiegohurtadom September 2026

Jazmin M September 2026

Paul H August 2026

FineSpitz August 2026

Jack Looney August 2026

Ching Han Toh August 2026

Maggie Kwok August 2026

Jim July 2026

If you want to know what it is like in the jungle, this is the place to come. Amazing scenery, wildlife, and knowledgeable guides. To get the most out of the experience prepare for some early starts and early bedtimes. A fantastic few days which I won't forget in a hurry. Read all

The excursions were the best part of the trip and how the guides were so knowledgeable and welcoming. We were lucky to have seen all different kinds of animals including capybara, giant river otter, spider monkey, red howler monkey, scarlet macaw, hoatzin. Read all

It gives a great insight into the jungle. We had a great visit. I recommend going during the dry season. Our guide Luis M. was excellent! Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, kind and a gentleman. Bear in mind it's going to be hot and humid with some mosquitos. It's a jungle out there! Read all

A spectacular experience—Juan Carlos and Carmen, we’d like to sincerely thank you for our stay at your lodge on the banks of the Tambopata River. This part of our two-month trip through Peru and Bolivia left an indelible impression on us. The transfer itself was a testament to the professionalism of your team: the journey from Puerto Maldonado to the lodge—with a very tight schedule to arrive before dark, a guide waiting for us, and a smooth trip by bus and boat—went off without a hitch despite our tight flight connections. Everything about the lodge won us over: comfortable accommodations in the heart of the jungle, good food, and a comprehensive, well-structured excursion program with morning, afternoon, and evening tours. We were thrilled every time we saw something new. We’d especially like to highlight our guide, Jordi: his knowledge of the flora and fauna, combined with his patience in spotting wildlife, made our stay truly special. Equally impressive was the condition of the jungle: pristine, clean, and home to an intact ecosystem ranging from big cats to macaws. The care and responsibility devoted to maintaining this place are evident. Incredible guides. And the entire staff was very attentive. Highly recommended Read all

A spectacular experience—Juan Carlos and Carmen are incredible guides. And the entire staff is very attentive. Highly recommended Read all

It was a wonderful experience and a pleasant surprise. The staff and guides at the Rainforest Expeditions lodge were fantastic and always went out of their way to ensure we had the best possible experience. Thank you to Juan Carlos and Carmen for their care and dedication to the group. Read all

We had an excellent 5 night stay at TRC with two couples. The remote Lodge and accommodation are unique especially with the open walls to the jungle in the rooms. The guides were first rate with superb knowledge and their ability to spot fauna in the dense jungle was incredible. We saw many species of monkeys; macaws, parrots, tapirs, etc.. even lucky enough to spot a jaguar. Food and service was really good. While not cheap it was I think very good value for money. We really enjoyed all the hikes and citizen science activities as well, he trips on the river and the clay licks. Overall amazing experience! As it’s the jungle not a zoo, you can’t guarantee that you’ll see everything all the time so allow enough days to properly explore. Read all

A once-in-a-lifetime experience in the middle of the rainforest. From airport pickup in Puerto Maldonado to the lodge and back, everything was exceptionally well organised. Communication was clear throughout, with the team always explaining what would happen, where to be and what to take care of. The staff at both HQ and the lodge were incredibly attentive, making the entire stay feel completely carefree. At this price point, this is the level of service you expect, but it is still impressive to experience it in such a remote setting. The food was another highlight: very well curated and balanced, with plenty of options at every buffet and, surprisingly, we never had the same dish twice. Read all

This was an excellent experience!! Highly recommend if you’re interested in visiting the Amazon Rainforest and Tambopata region. Especially happy with our guide Miguel, who was highly professional, informative, and organized. It was an immersive adventure and we got to see so many unique plants and animals. 10/10! Read all

Amazing experience at Refugio Amazonas. Rooms were comfortable and clean. Great buffet spread every day. Staff were friendly and attentive. Our guide Alan was very informative. Overall would definitely recommend a visit! Read all

We stayed 3 nights at Posada Amazonas during our summer trip to Peru, and it was definitely one of the biggest highlights of the whole journey. The staff were incredibly warm and welcoming. Our guide, Joss, was professional, friendly and amazingly knowledgeable. Sometimes it honestly felt like he could communicate with the animals — he could spot black caimans or giant river otters from hundreds of metres away! The excursions were unforgettable. We saw beautiful macaws, giant river otters, capybaras, sloths, tarantulas, an anaconda, different species of monkeys, toucans and so much more. I especially loved the rainforest walks and joined both the daytime and night walks. Every walk felt completely different, and you never knew what you might find. What also made the stay special was the lodge’s involvement in scientific and environmental projects. There was a talk every evening, and we learned a lot about the rainforest and its wildlife. We also joined the “Discover New Species” activity and helped search for possible new species of tiger moths — such a fun and memorable experience. The lodge itself is definitely rustic luxury rather than a city-style 5-star hotel. There is no air conditioning or hair dryer, but the hot shower, fan and hammock in the room were all very comfortable and suited the rainforest setting perfectly. And surprisingly, the internet connection was excellent — even the boats had Starlink! One of the things I appreciated most is that Posada Amazonas is a collaboration between Rainforest Expeditions and the local Indigenous community that owns the land. Many community members are directly involved in running the lodge, and you can really feel how much the staff care about and are connected to this rainforest, which is part of their ancestral home. If you are looking for an authentic, educational and truly memorable Amazon rainforest experience, I highly recommend Posada Amazonas. We absolutely loved our stay. Read all

The Tambopata Research Center (TRC) offers a well-organized immersive rainforest experience within the Tambopata National Reserve. The TRC and its accommodations put a spin on the term creature comforts by keeping guests comfortable while they commune among the creatures within the rainforest. I appreciated, through what I observed and the interactions I had, the attentiveness of the TRC team members. They knew their guests and seamlessly organized a lot for our benefit. The center assigns guests to a small group with a dedicated guide. In my case, Erick Arguedas was a superb ambassador for all things living in the rainforest, in part because it was the environment in which he grew up. His role was to ensure we got the most out of our visit. Being a long-term TRC guide gave him the expertise he needed to easily fulfill this role. Read all

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