Attractions in Amazon Basin & Eastern Rainforest
Where the wild jungle comes alive 🦜🌿
Showing 27 attractions · Sorted by importance
Belén District
📍 Iquitos
🏘 Town / VillageKnown as the Venice of the Amazon, this vibrant area features a massive traditional market and unique houses that float on the river during high tide.
Casa de Fierro
📍 Iquitos
🏰 CastleA unique 19th-century prefabricated iron residence designed by Gustave Eiffel, reflecting the opulence of the Amazonian rubber boom.
Interoceanic Highway (Southern Section)
📍 Cusco
🚗 Road Trip480km paved highway (10-12 hours). A dramatic trans-Andean journey starting in the high Andes, crossing the 4,725m Pirhuayani Pass before descending over 4,000 vertical meters into the Amazon lowlands. Key highlights include the transition from alpine tundra to cloud forest and dense rainforest, crossing the Inambari River, and arriving in the biodiversity hotspot of Puerto Maldonado.
Manu National Park
📍 Madre de Dios
🏔 Scenic ViewA UNESCO World Heritage site and biosphere reserve protecting a vast range of ecosystems from high Andean grasslands to lowland rainforest.
Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve
📍 Iquitos
🏔 Scenic ViewKnown as the 'Mirror of the Jungle', this massive reserve offers boat expeditions to see pink dolphins and blackwater reflections of the rainforest.
Plaza de Armas de Iquitos
📍 Iquitos
🏛 LandmarkThe central heart of the city featuring a large fountain, historic rubber-boom mansions, and a lively atmosphere for families to explore.
Tambopata National Reserve
📍 Puerto Maldonado
🏔 Scenic ViewA biodiversity hotspot featuring accessible oxbow lakes and some of the world's most impressive clay licks where hundreds of macaws gather.
The Amazon River
📍 Iquitos
🏔 Scenic ViewThe world's largest river by volume, offering families the chance to cruise past remote villages and observe unique aquatic wildlife.
Amazon Canopy Walkway
📍 Iquitos
🧗 AdventureOne of the longest canopy walkways in the world, featuring 14 interconnected platforms and suspension bridges for high-altitude rainforest exploration.
Amazon Rescue Center (CREA)
📍 Iquitos
🐠 AquariumA world-renowned conservation center where families can observe and learn about rescued Amazonian manatees and other aquatic wildlife in their rehabilitation pools.
Baños Termales de San Mateo
📍 Moyobamba
♨ Hot Spring42°C naturally heated mineral pools located in a high-jungle setting. The complex features multiple outdoor stone-lined pools with varying temperatures, public showers, and changing facilities. The water is known for its high sulfur and mineral content, historically used for therapeutic purposes.
Gocta Waterfall Trail
📍 Cocachimba
🥾 Hiking & Cycling10km out-and-back, moderate difficulty, 5-6 hours duration, 400m elevation gain. This famous trail through the high jungle cloud forest offers constant views of one of the world's tallest waterfalls. The path is well-defined but can be muddy and steep in sections.
Inkaterra Canopy Walkway
📍 Puerto Maldonado
🧗 AdventureA sophisticated network of suspension bridges and observation towers providing a safe and scenic adventure through the Amazonian treetops.
Quistococha Tourist Complex
📍 Iquitos
⛱ BeachThis popular recreational complex features a beautiful white-sand beach on a blackwater lagoon, complemented by a zoo and botanical gardens showcasing regional wildlife.
Sandoval Lake Trail
📍 Puerto Maldonado
🥾 Hiking & Cycling6km total (out and back), easy difficulty, 2-3 hours duration, minimal elevation gain. This well-maintained wooden boardwalk and dirt path lead through the Tambopata National Reserve to one of the most biodiverse oxbow lakes in the Amazon.
Catedral de San Juan Bautista
📍 Iquitos
🏛 LandmarkAn iconic neo-Gothic cathedral located on the main square, known for its elegant clock tower and beautiful stained glass windows.
Lake Sandoval
📍 Puerto Maldonado
🏔 Scenic ViewAn iconic oxbow lake reached by a jungle trail, famous for its resident family of giant river otters and scenic palm-fringed waters.
Malecón Tarapacá
📍 Iquitos
🏛 LandmarkA picturesque riverfront promenade lined with historic buildings and offering scenic views of the Itaya River.
Museum of Indigenous Amazonian Cultures
📍 Iquitos
🔬 ScienceAn insightful museum showcasing the diverse ethnic groups of the Amazon and their profound scientific and spiritual connection to the jungle's flora and fauna.
Shanay-timpishka (The Boiling River)
📍 Honoria
♨ Hot SpringA unique geothermal phenomenon featuring a river with temperatures ranging from 45°C to over 90°C. While most of the river is too hot for bathing, specific areas near the Mayantuyacu Sanctuary allow for managed soaking in mineral-rich thermal waters. It is a standalone natural site of significant spiritual and geological importance.
Cocha Salvador Loop
📍 Boca Manu
🥾 Hiking & Cycling4km loop, easy difficulty, 3 hours duration, minimal elevation gain. Located deep within the Reserved Zone of Manu National Park, this interior rainforest trail circles an oxbow lake and offers premier wildlife viewing in primary jungle.
Gran Vilaya Trek
📍 Chachapoyas
🥾 Hiking & Cycling65km multi-day trek, challenging difficulty, 4 days duration, approx 2,000m total elevation gain. This route traverses the high rainforest and cloud forests of the Utcubamba Valley, passing numerous Chachapoya archaeological sites and remote rural villages.
Manu Road Cloud Forest Descent
📍 Paucartambo
🥾 Hiking & Cycling80km cycling route, moderate to challenging difficulty, 1-2 days duration, 3,000m elevation loss. This legendary mountain bike route descends from the Acjanaco Pass at 3,500m down to the Amazon basin at 500m. Bike rental: Manu Biking (manubiking.com).
Northern Amazon Highway (IIRSA Norte)
📍 Pedro Ruiz Gallo
🚗 Road Trip360km paved route (6-8 hours). This scenic stretch of the Fernando Belaúnde Terry Highway winds through the 'Selva Alta' (high jungle). The route passes through the orchid-rich Mayo River valley and the city of Moyobamba. Major highlights include views of the Utcubamba River, proximity to Gocta Falls, and the lush tropical landscapes leading into the bustling jungle hub of Tarapoto.
Waqanki Orchid Center
📍 Moyobamba
🌿 GardenA premier botanical collection featuring over 300 species of native orchids and a variety of hummingbirds in a beautifully landscaped forest setting.
Yakupark Tarapoto
📍 Sauce
🌊 Water ParkA modern floating inflatable water park located on the Blue Lagoon, offering diverse aquatic obstacle courses and games for families.
