9 of the Top Places To Go Hiking in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest

Iguazu Falls hogs the limelight when it comes to South America’s waterfalls, so you may not have heard of the Gocta Waterfalls (Catarata de Gocta), which plunge from a height of 2,529 feet (771 meters)—in fact, it’s the highest waterfall in Peru and also said to be one of the tallest in the world.

To get here, know that hiking tours typically depart from Cocachimba and lead you through lush jungle to a waterfall lookout for a truly spectacular sight that many visitors to the region never even think to visit.

If you’ve opted for a multi-night tour of the UNESCO–listed Manu National Park, you’ll likely find yourself at the Manu Wildlife Center at some point. This rural jungle lodge is surrounded by dense forest, through which hiking trails snake past trees inhabited by some of the park’s some 1,000 bird species.

In fact, one of the most popular guided hikes in the Peruvian Amazon is the night walk that departs from here. During your excursion, you’re likely to see nocturnal creatures such as tarantulas, frogs, red deer, fruit-eating bats, and much more.

Tres Cruces Viewpoint (Mirador de Tres Cruces) isn’t just famous for its panoramic views of the Amazon Basin—during the months of May and July, the sunrise creates a hallucinogenic visual phenomenon featuring rainbow-colored lights, which really makes for a sight to behold.

Sold? It’s best to travel to the lookout from Challabamba by car if you want to catch the sunrise, but you can then embark on the 6-hour hike from the mirador to the Wayqecha Cloud Forest Birding Lodge, where you can admire hundreds of bird species and soak up views of the cloud forest.

When it comes to Peruvian Amazon hiking, the trail leading to Abra la Esperanza mountain in Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park certainly offers some of the best views—the mountain is situated 11,690 feet (3,563 meters) above sea level after all.

Starting from the El Cedro Refuge (just a 20-minute drive from the town of Oxapampa), you’ll walk through cloud forests and dense rainforests home to the Amazon’s signature collection of biodiverse wildlife for an immersive experience.

Tambopata National Reserve is the place where you can enjoy some of the Amazon’s most iconic wildlife experiences—think: piranha fishing and watching hundreds of vivid red macaws eating clay—so it’s little surprise it’s also home to some of the best hikes in the Peruvian Amazon.

Here, follow the 3-hour round-trip trail around Lake Sachavacayoc, a jungle-shrouded body of water where you’re likely to spot capybaras, caimans, and—if you’re very lucky—an elusive jaguar.

One of the most moderate Amazon jungle hikes, the route leading to the 114-foot (35-meter) Tigre River Waterfalls crosses a suspension bridge and dense jungle before culminating in the charming cascades of the falls.

Starting in Oxapampa, it typically only takes 1.5 hours there and back, so this is an ideal option if you want to experience the jungle without committing to spending hours on your feet. Plus, you can cool off during a swim in the falls, so don’t forget to bring your bathing suit.

Connecting protected parts of Peru and Bolivia, Bahuaja-Sonene National Park has a rich Indigenous history thanks to the Ese’eja ethnic group. Here, you can camp on the banks of the Tambopata River and embark on hiking trails that lead you in search of nine species of monkeys, the giant armadillo, and multi-colored parrots.

And when it comes to exploring, you have options: Take in the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park by both land and wooden rafts floating down the river on a 4-day tour that departs from Puerto Maldonado.

The wetlands that line the shores of the Madre Dios River are home to some excellent Peruvian Amazon trekking opportunities. The region boasts hanging bridges that overlook the Amazon Basin and marshlands inhabited by endangered river otters, osprey, and caimans.

Here, you can combine hiking along the river banks with canoe rides to maximize your chance of spotting wildlife, but walking in the primary and secondary rainforest lets you focus on fascinating flora such as kapok and iron wood trees. (Plus, the Inkaterra Ecological Reserve is an incredible place for nocturnal treks.)

Covering more than 5,140,000 acres (2,080,000 hectares) of unspoiled rainforest, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is the ultimate place to enjoy some Peruvian Amazon trekking.

On a multi-day tour, hiking to Yanaquillo Creek will increase your chances of spotting squirrel monkeys, saddle-back tamarins, and sloths, while cruises on the Rio Marañon might reveal some of the incredible pink dolphins that call tributaries of the Amazon River their home.