The 4 Best Wildlife Trips in Peru

1.4 Day Tambopata Amazon Wildlife & Canopy Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 72 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $585Our pick

Spend four days near Puerto Maldonado with a maximum of eight people, traveling by boat into the Tambopata jungle. You’ll walk forest trails, search for caimans, visit Sandoval Lake, fish for piranhas, climb trees, see parrots at a clay lick, and meet a local jungle family. Guides such as Andres, Carlos, Tito, and Romario have earned special praise.

“Know what you're signing up for!! This experience can be very uncomfortable if you're not prepared for it. There was nothing luxurious about this adventure. Bare-bone sleeping spaces, minimal and cold water for showers, electricity available just a few hours per day, absolutely no cell service or wifi available. That's what I was imagining when I booked this tour, and that's exactly what it was. An absolute amazing time. Luckily I got along really well with the group of travelers I was with, which made a huge difference. Sometimes the food was a bit sketchy but the staff did everything they could to make the experience better. Keep in mind,…”

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2.6-Hour Wonderful Wildlife Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 32 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $96

Spend 6 to 7 hours with a bilingual guide such as José or Cristian, cruising from Iquitos to the Amazon, visiting Fundo Pedrito, a wildlife rescue center, Victoria amazonica lilies, a river viewpoint, and the giant Lupuna tree. This private tour offers a broad taste of the jungle, though animal welfare standards deserve your attention.

“I was lucky to have two private tours with Yakumama and I was very impressed with everything! More importantly I felt secure and safe. If you are looking for a quick day tour - I highly recommend this one to get a nice taste of the jungle and see some incredible animals!”

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3.Sea Lion Swim and Wildlife Palomino Islands Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 20 reviews · 4 hours · from $76Best value

From La Punta, cruise past San Lorenzo Island and offshore colonies of sea lions, Humboldt penguins, pelicans, and guano birds. You can enter the Pacific with a wetsuit and life jacket for a supervised swim among playful sea lions. English and Spanish guides lead the four-hour outing. Hotel pickup from Miraflores and San Isidro is optional.

“Dear Maciej, Thank you! We're so glad you had a great time exploring the Palomino Islands and swimming with sea lions. Hope to see you again soon!”

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4.Iquitos to the Amazon: 2-Day Jungle & Wildlife Experience

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 8 reviews · 2 days · from $480

Travel by private boat from Iquitos into the Yanayacu River for two active days of rainforest walks, wildlife searches, sunset views, night hikes, birdwatching, rafting, and piranha fishing. English and Spanish guides, including Christian, Harley, and Adriel, lead the trip. Lodge meals, river transport, boots, and hotel or airport transfers are included.

“Christian was a really good guide!! Wish I had stayed more days!”

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