Choose Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to Tambopata National Reserve, if you want a short lodge-based rainforest stay that fits easily after Cusco and Machu Picchu. Choose Iquitos, the gateway to Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and the Amazon River, if the Amazon is the focus of your trip and you want river-based exploration, ideally with more time. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed in either place.
At a glance
| Puerto Maldonado | Iquitos | |
| Region | Madre de Dios, southern Amazon | Loreto, northern Amazon |
| Main reserve | Tambopata National Reserve, 274,690 ha | Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, 2,080,000 ha |
| Getting there | Flights from Cusco (about 1 hour) and Lima (about 1.5–1.75 hours) | Flights from Lima (about 2 hours); no road access |
| Typical format | Lodge stays with boat, trail and lake excursions | River cruises and stays along the rivers |
| Known for | Macaw clay licks, oxbow lakes, chance of giant river otters | Flooded forest, river life, manatees, caimans |
| Best fit | 2–4 nights added to a Cusco itinerary | Amazon-focused trips with more time |
Getting there: the main practical difference
Flights to Puerto Maldonado take about one hour from Cusco. Once there, all lodges are reached by river, and the closest is about 30 minutes away. Transfers to lodges further from town take longer, so ask for the transfer time when comparing.
Iquitos has no road connection to the rest of the country, and flights from Lima take about two hours. Iquitos is rarely easy to combine with a Cusco itinerary, which is why Puerto Maldonado saves backtracking.
Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata
Tambopata National Reserve covers 274,690 hectares in Madre de Dios. It is known for macaw clay licks along the Tambopata River. Lake Sandoval is known for giant otters and caimans. The rainy season runs November to April. Macaw activity at some clay licks is highest in that period. Sightings vary by day and lodge.
Iquitos and Pacaya-Samiria
Pacaya-Samiria covers 2,080,000 hectares in Loreto. That is more than seven times the size of Tambopata. It is called the “jungle of mirrors”, and wildlife includes paiche, manatees, caimans and river turtles. SERNANP suggests May to January as the best time to visit. Visits are usually made by river cruise or from lodges along the rivers. Ask how far the itinerary actually enters the reserve.
Health and practical points
The CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination for travellers aged nine months and older going to the regions of Loreto and Madre de Dios. The vaccine should be given at least 10 days before travel. Malaria is present in parts of the Peruvian Amazon, so ask a travel clinic several weeks before departure whether preventive medication is advisable for your route.
How to choose
Puerto Maldonado suits you if:
- You are adding a few nights after Cusco or Machu Picchu.
- You want clay licks, oxbow lakes and short boat transfers.
- You prefer a simple route with one flight from Cusco.
Iquitos suits you if:
- The Amazon is a trip in itself and you have several days.
- You prefer exploring by river or on a cruise.
- You accept a route through Lima.
Combining both in one trip rarely makes sense, because flights connect through Lima. For seasons across the whole country, see our guide to the best time to visit Peru. To fit an Amazon extension into a wider route, see our guide on how to plan a trip to Peru. If you would like help choosing lodges, boats and transfers for a private itinerary, our team can build it around your dates.