Pacaya Samiria National Reserve Tours and Tickets

Part of the Amazon Rainforest, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is home to almost 1,000 animal species. Some endangered species you might spot are the powder-pink Amazon River dolphins, jaguars, red macaws, black caimans, and Amazonian manatees. You will also likely spot monkeys, snakes, spiders, and toucans.

The optimum time to spend in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is 3–4 days—though you can spend up to a week in the wild. Once you’re inside the park, you can expect quite a lot of traveling between destinations, so four days gives you time to relax between journeys without having to rush.

Outdoor activities in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve include canoeing down tributaries of the Amazon River to spot birds and reptiles, hiking through the rainforest at night and during the day, fishing for piranha, going on boat rides to spot pink Amazonian River dolphins, and camping overnight in rural parts of the forest.

Tours of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve nearly always include round-trip transport from Iquitos and activities such as canoeing and fishing. Depending on your budget, some include accommodation on a luxury boat and gourmet Peruvian meals, while others feature overnight camping in tents and more basic meals cooked over a campfire.

As expected from the rainforest, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve enjoys year-round rainfall. However, the best time to visit is, ironically, the ‘dry’ season, from May through September. It makes for better trekking and increases your chances of spotting animals as they tend to concentrate around scarcer water sources.

For a trip to Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, you should pack waterproof clothing such as trousers and a jacket; leech socks; hiking shoes with good grip as the ground is typically slippery; a head torch for night walks; plenty of mosquito repellant; and cool clothing, as temperatures are generally humid and sweltering.