The Peruvian jungle is part of the mighty Amazon basin. Amazon is one of the longest rivers in the world and runs through many countries in South America. There are two main jungle areas in Peru that you can visit, both equally beautiful and with many great attractions to experience. The first area is the area of Puerto Maldonado and the Madre de Dios River. The area is part of the great Tambopata National Reserve; The reserve covers around 274,690 hectares stretching from the Andes Mountains to Bolivia and is close to the Manu National Park and the Madidi National Park. The second area could be considered the city of Iquitos, full of wonderful Amazon adventure tours. And together with the experts from Cusco Peru Travel, we wanted to focus on these areas, making emphasis on the Tambopata region. In this way, on your next trip, you can enjoy one of the most incredible Amazon regions of Peru.
The Tambopata National Reserve travel guide
On the different Peru Amazon tours, you will discover the Tambopata National Reserve. The reserve is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. Even the Peruvian government has officially recognized it as the Biodiversity Capital of the country. According to current estimates by conservationists, the area is home to 160 species of mammals and at least 650 species of birds, one of the most surprising Amazon facts. The area is home to 1200 butterfly species, over 150 species of amphibians and reptiles and more than 100 fish species, and over 10000 plant varieties. A highlight of the Tambopata National Reserve is the world’s largest known mineral clay lick. This is where hundreds of parrots and macaws congregate daily to ingest the detoxifying clay. The reserve contains the largest known clay lick in the world as well as the highest concentration of clay licks anywhere. Up to 17 different parrot species visit the licks daily.
Wildlife found at the reserve includes Giant River Otters, Jaguar, Tapir, Peccary, Caiman, Anteater, Armadillo, Eagles, Turtles, Deer, and wolves among many others. The reserve has up to eight habitats for different species of monkeys, including the Red Howler Monkeys. The Tambopata National Reserve is the home of the Ese Eja, an ethnic group that has lived in the area since ancient times and knows the area well. The Ese Eja are currently organized in three communities, Palma Real, Sonene, and Infierno. Infierno works together with private companies to offer diverse activities and tourism services including lodging and guided tours. The project has been considered a global success, thanks to the cooperation of the communities. If you get a chance to try it, you have to. Being able to share with the different communities is one of the best things to do in the Peruvian Amazon.
The average temperature is around 79 F. There are cold winds that cool the jungle in the months of June and July. The rainy season is from December to March and the months of April to November are considered the best time to visit. If you plan a luxury trip to the Amazon rainforest, you will not be disappointed. The Tambopata region of the Peruvian jungle has wonderful lodges that will take care of all your wishes. Choose from five-star lodges with gourmet meals to a basic lodge that will also feature three meals a day. The Tambopata region of Puerto Maldonado is a great place to visit if you love nature and also if you are not a nature lover.
After enjoying and experiencing the different Tambopata tours, you can continue your trip to the second area of the jungle. The second jungle region in Peru that you must visit is Iquitos. Located in the north of Peru, Iquitos is a jungle town with a colorful past. Iquitos was founded in 1757 as a Jesuit mission, though indigenous tribes actively resisted conversion. In the 1870s, the great rubber boom boosted the population 16-fold and for the next 30 years, Iquitos was the scene of wealth and abject poverty. Rubber barons became fabulously rich, while rubber tappers mainly local tribespeople suffered virtual enslavement and sometimes death from disease or bad treatment. By WWI, the bottom fell out of the rubber boom as suddenly as it had begun. Plantations were seeded in Malaysia. It was much cheaper and easier to collect the rubber from orderly rubber tree plantations than from wild trees scattered in the Amazon Basin. Iquitos suffered subsequent economic decline, supporting itself with a combination of logging, agriculture from Brazil nuts, tobacco, bananas, and the export of wild animals to zoos. Then, in the 1960s, a second boom revitalized the area. This time the resource was oil, and its discovery made Iquitos a prosperous modern town. In recent years, tourism has also played an important part in the area’s economy.
If you plan to take a luxury Amazon cruise in Peru then Iquitos is the place to start. The city has different ports from which to depart. There is a choice of four, five & seven-day cruises on offer, most offer all the luxury inclusions that you will need and expect. Explore the jungle on one of the many shore excursions, relax on deck with a cocktail, and dine on chef-prepared meals in the dining room with your fellow guest. Most of the cabins have floor to ceiling windows for maximum views, all this on an upscale adventure river cruise Amazon.
“IN THE END, WE ONLY REGRET THE CHANCES WE DIDN’T TAKE.”
Any part of the Peruvian Amazon will be an experience of a lifetime. Tambopata National Reserve is one of the best jungle experiences you could ask for. Take the time to research the area and find the best jungle lodges that offer the best jungle experience. We hope together with the experts of Cusco Peru Travel to have clarified all your doubts. If you want to find out more about our tours in Peru, you can consult with our qualified advisers. What are you waiting for to book your tour today?
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