The Amazon holidays

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Peruvian Amazon is astonishingly big. And, although the list of places to go and things to see here are endless, there are generally two main areas that travellers flock to. The first is the Tambopata National Reserve. Stretching just short of 300,000 hectares, here you can see a huge variety of wildlife. Set out on a river cruise to spot dolphins, otters and turtles, or go searching for alligators over at Sandoval Lake.

Alternatively, you could make tracks for the even-bigger Manú National Park. Boat rides are also a popular thing to do here, where you’ll likely see herds of capybaras resting along the riverbank. You’ll also be in with a chance of seeing monkeys, armadillos, anteaters – and possibly even a jaguar.  

Peruvian Amazon holidays are all about the wildlife. And, whilst they’re famously tricky to catch sightings of, the jaguar is perhaps the most impressive creature you can see here. With jaws that are twice the strength of a lion’s, these deceptively-graceful beasts are sometimes seen swimming along the river at the Tambopata National Reserve.

A more likely spot during your Amazon trip is the giant river otter. Weighing up to 32kg, these South American weasels hang out in groups of up to 10. And, the best place to see them is Lake Sandoval.

You can also expect to catch sightings of some incredible birds during your holiday, with the most iconic being the scarlet macaw. Watch them feeding at one of the clay licks across Tambopata National Reserve or Manu National Park.

There are plenty of accommodation options to choose from during your Peruvian Amazon holiday. However, most people opt to stay in either a jungle lodge or an overnight river cruise ship. If you’re big on adventure, a visit to the Tambopata Research Centre is just the trick. Located in the heart of the rainforest, it offers some of the best wildlife-watching opportunities – with a macaw clay lick less than a kilometre away.

If you decide to give a river cruise a go, you’ll usually start your journey in Iquitos, the capital of Peru's Maynas Province. Keep an eye out for all the incredible wildlife as you wind down the river, stopping off for a jungle trek if you fancy. Or, you can simply sit back and enjoy the breath-taking scenery from the comfort of your private suite.

If you’re trying to avoid rain when planning your trip to the Amazon, you might want to rethink your holiday destination! There isn’t really a dry season in this part of the world, but it is worth knowing that there’s slightly less rainfall between May and September. During this time, lots of creatures will venture out of the rainforest and head for the riverbanks – making for some great wildlife watching.

Of course, there are plenty of benefits for visiting the Amazon when it’s rainy, too. For one, you’ll get to see all the beautiful flora when it’s at its most vivid, and you’ll be more likely to catch sightings of pink river dolphins. To top it off, a holiday outside of the peak season also helps to tackle over tourism – something you might want to consider when planning a trip to Peru.