34 Best Hotels in The Amazon Basin, Peru

Built by rubber baron Luis Morey in 1913, this restored mansion offers the most historic setting in Iquitos, with high ceilings, colorful tile floors, and antique prints and photos that evoke the turn of the century when Iquitos was one of the world's main rubber suppliers. Four rooms upstairs have views of Plaza Ramón Castilla and the Itaya River. Interior rooms are quieter but darker. The hotel has a small pool in the courtyard, a library, and an elegant lobby.

With a massive thatched restaurant and airy bungalows overlooking the Madre de Dios River, Reserva Amazónica is this region's fanciest lodge. Its 42,000-acre private nature reserve is traversed by trails and features a canopy walkway with suspension bridges strung between treetop platforms, but it has less wildlife than lodges farther from Madre de Dios. It is home to jungle rodents called agoutis and an array of birds, but you'll see more wildlife on the (recommended) half-day trip to nearby Lago Sandoval. Dinners feature excellent regional cuisine and attentive service.

This rustic eco-lodge owned by Amazonia Expeditions is an excellent base for experiencing the rainforest. Its thatched buildings connected by wooden walkways are perched between the Tahuayo River and a seasonally flooded forest, a short boat trip from the Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo. Some bungalows have private, hot-water baths; all have electric (solar) lighting and fans. A canopy exploration system includes four zip lines (ACCT-certified). The lodge itself is certified by the Rainforest Alliance and by Travel Lite.

In the heart of the Tambopata National Reserve, this remote but stylish lodge is one of the best places in Peru to experience the wildlife and diversity of the Amazon rainforest. You can expect to see dozens of bird species, several kinds of monkeys, peccaries (wild pigs), and, if lucky, a jaguar or puma. All rooms have private bathrooms and electricity, at least part of the day; some have Wi-Fi. Due to the distance, stays here are combined with overnights at the Refugio Amazonas on four- or five-night tours.

Bungalows at this unique jungle lodge are perched high in the branches of tropical trees, providing an unforgettable bird's-eye view of the rainforest and a 24-hour jungle soundtrack. Circular tree houses with thatched roofs have screened walls and curtains, are reached by suspension bridges, and are surrounded by greenery. You may spot monkeys, toucans, and other wildlife in nearby branches. Bungalows have comforts you might not expect to find in a tree house, like lights, ceiling fans, toilets, and cold-water showers. Three-course meals, often featuring fresh river fish, are served in a large, thatched restaurant with screened walls and a second-floor lounge. Daily tours include forest hikes, opportunities to see river dolphins, and fishing.

One of the few properties located just north of Puerto Maldonado on the Las Piedras River, these rustic but well-appointed cabins offer access to primary rainforests little explored by other tourists. Soaring 110 feet above the cabins is one surprisingly luxurious tree house with air-conditioning, hot showers, and solar-powered electricity—all in addition to the 360-degree views.

This bare-bones camp operated by the tour company Pantiacolla is near Cocha Salvador, an oxbow lake in Manu's Reserved Zone, which is home to an amazing array of wildlife. Platforms under palm-thatched roofs and surrounded by mosquito screening are just big enough to fit two single beds; shared toilets and showers are housed in a separate structure. Meals are served in a screened dining hall with a thatched roof. The reward for enduring such spartan accommodations is the chance to see more than 100 bird species, various types of monkeys, and countless other animals.

This is one of the region's few eco-lodges featuring comfortable, air-conditioned rooms—with tile floors and private, hot-water baths—as well as amenities that include a pool, bar, laundry services, and a hammock house. From here, you can also take a full-day trip to see one of the longest canopy walkways in the world near NapoLodge. Excursions include piranha fishing; looking for pink dolphins; visiting Indigenous villages; and taking jungle walks in primary forest and to see the giant, canopy-emergent ceiba tree.

At the edge of the cloud forest in the Manu Cultural Zone, affording an amazing view of the lush Kosñipata River valley, this property takes its name from Peru's red-and-black national bird, which can usually be seen nearby, along with dozens of other avian species, among them 35 types of hummingbirds. The bungalows are the most comfortable in Manu, with balconies, good beds, and private, hot-water bathrooms.

A short boat ride down the Madre de Dios River from Puerto Maldonado, this lodge provides a good introduction to the rainforest and easy access to beautiful Lago Sandoval. Thatched, wooden bungalows with private baths and balconies provide more privacy than rooms at most of the area's lodges, as well as easy access to a main building with a bar, restaurant, and swimming pool. In addition to the lodge's resident macaws and toucans, the surrounding forest holds an array of other animals. Guests will see even more wildlife on a trip to nearby Lago Sandoval, which is included in two- and three-night stays.

This stylish, contemporary hotel is in the heart of Iquitos, on the Plaza de Armas, and features carpeted guest rooms with giant windows, flat-screen TVs, and other modern conveniences. The airy lobby has a six-story ceiling and a glass elevator, while behind it is an outdoor pool with an elevated Jacuzzi and a small spa with a few exercise machines. Rooms in front overlook the plaza, whereas quieter rooms in back glimpse the river over rusty metal roofs.

This large eco-lodge, two hours east of Puerto Maldonado on the Madre de Dios, lies within a private 11,856-acre reserve with bungalows that boast 24-hour electricity and hot-water showers. In addition to the standard bar and buffet-style restaurant, there is also a large screened-in swimming pool. EcoAmazonia runs specialized tours to the property for those interested in sport fishing, bird-watching, or photography.

Occupying a turn-of-the-century home at the southern end of the malecón, Época offers comfortable, friendly lodging with a bit of historic atmosphere. Guest rooms are modern, with high ceilings and small bathrooms, but they're quiet, which is a luxury in Iquitos. The hotel's most pleasant area is the second-floor bar and breakfast room, which retains more historic charm and has a balcony with a view of the malecón and Itaya River. It's a short walk from restaurants, shops, and museums.

At Explorama's original lodge, rooms are screened in and have private baths with running cold water and electric fans. Be aware that dividing walls do not reach the ceiling, so there is less privacy than at other lodges. The rusticity is offset by welcome amenities such as quaint thatched walkways, a hammock house, and a main lodge with Wi-Fi reception. Excursions include guided walks, boat tours, and visits to nearby villages and a local medical clinic supported by the company.

Located 100 miles from Iquitos on the Napo River, this Explorama lodge is wonderfully remote and near one of the world's longest canopy walkways, which consists of bridges that connect 14 platformed trees. Thatched, open-air rooms have an electric wall light and mosquito nets on beds; cold showers and pit latrines are in separate buildings. The main lodge is screened and has Wi-Fi and a charging station. Excursions include those to the ReNuPeru Ethnobotanical Garden, as well as to the primary forest and local Indigenous villages.

A good option for travelers who want to experience the rainforest in comfort or are short on time, this lodge is in a 2,000-acre private nature reserve with a small lake and plenty of wildlife. Guest rooms are removed from the jungle, sharing the main lodge with the restaurant and bar. Spacious, thatched bungalows with screened walls and a sitting area with a couch and hammock offer more exposure to the rainforest. Rates include guided tours to Lago Sandoval, the Reserva Amazonica Canopy Walkway, and other local attractions.

Perched along the Amazon, a 90-minute boat ride from Iquitos, the Heliconia has a blue-tile swimming pool as well as comfortable rooms with screened windows and private (hot-water) bathrooms. Activities include hikes in the lodge's private reserve, piranha fishing, visits to Yagua and Bora Indigenous communities, and a nighttime boat ride. Meals are served in a big, thatched-roof dining hall, and a bar sits beneath a conical roof. There's electric power for two hours before dawn and five hours after dusk.

Although a major expansion diminished the charm of this hotel, once a tranquil spot with wooden bungalows, it's still Puerto Maldonado's second-best accommodation. The air-conditioned bungalows, with wood floors, double beds, and picture windows are pleasant enough, but doubles and triples are uninspiring. Rooms with ceiling fans are quite inexpensive, though cramped. There's a large lounge with several computers for guest use and a small pool. The restaurant is good and serves popular lunch specials. The hotel also offers free airport transfers.

This shiny addition to the malecón brings modern design and all the latest amenities to rooms overlooking the riverfront. The rooftop pool, on-site café, and hopping bar make it one of the more happening spots to spend a night in town. The river-facing suites are worth the upgrade.

Though farther from the Tambopata National Reserve than the other lodges, this off-the-beaten-path biological station lies within a 1,119-acre private reserve that holds most of the same wildlife, including giant river otters, 11 primate species, and more than 550 bird species. Simple bungalows with private baths and porches stand in a clearing in the jungle together with the biological station's laboratories, dorms, and dining hall. Daily excursions include rainforest hikes and floats through a palm swamp and an oxbow lake. The lodge can be visited only on a five-day tour.

This working conservation research center within the Manu Biosphere Reserve gives visitors easy access to field scientists and educators protecting the Amazon Basin. Rooms are sparse with either two single beds or one double, a mosquito net, and a private en suite bathroom with shower. The property provides access to 15 miles of trails (where you can search for sloths and howler monkeys) and lies a quick boat ride away from a large clay lick visited each morning by hundreds of parrots and macaws.

Named for the mountain range that towers above, the Pantiacolla Lodge sits in a 2,223-acre, private, Manu Cultural Zone nature reserve that has 600 bird species and an array of mammals. Rooms lack electricity and consist of two beds with mosquito netting and a table. Nine out of 11 rooms have private bathrooms while the other two have shared ones. All are in raised bungalows. Because this area is higher, it is slightly cooler and has fewer mosquitoes than the Manu lowlands.

Guest rooms are in long buildings with high, thatched roofs, and wide, screenless windows; mosquito nets protect sleepers, and kerosene lanterns provide light at night, though the bar-restaurant and superior rooms have electricity. The lodge is owned by the Ese'Eja community of Infierno but operated by Rainforest Expeditions. Activities include nature walks in a protected rainforest, a boat tour of Lago Tres Chimbadas, an observation tower, and a medicinal-plant tour led by an Ese'Eja shaman.

Nestled in the cloud forest of the Manu Biosphere Reserve Cultural Zone, midway between Cusco and the Pantiacolla Lodge, this small lodge offers earthy accommodations amid extraordinary scenery and birdlife. It is an obligatory stop on trips to Pantiacolla's lodges deeper in the reserve and is an excellent base for seeing colorful hummingbirds, tanagers, and the incomparable cock of the rock. Basic rooms are in four thatched, wooden duplexes, near which are a building with toilets and hot-water showers and a simple dining room.

One of three lodges on the Tambopata River run by Rainforest Expeditions, the refugio lies within a 500-acre protected forest that is contiguous with the Tambopata National Reserve, so it has plenty of wildlife. Spacious rooms are separated by cane walls, with screenless windows and drapes instead of doors. The romantic suites are some of the nicest rooms in this region. All rooms have Wi-Fi and electricity. Activities include visiting a macaw clay lick, hikes, an observation tower, and kayaking.

Offering comfortable accommodations inside the Manu Reserved Zone, several hours by boat up the Manu River, the Romero Rainforest Lodge provides access to impressive natural attractions (including two oxbow lakes). Rooms in thatched, wooden buildings have private bathrooms with hot water, screened windows, and small porches. You might see several species of monkeys and such rare birds as the agami heron and black-faced cotinga here. Tours often include an overnight stay at the Manu Learning Centre on the way to this lodge.

Despite its relative proximity to Puerto Maldonado, this lodge sits deep in the rainforest, overlooking lovely Lago Sandoval, inside the Tambopata National Reserve, so there is plenty of wildlife. Small but comfortable rooms have private baths, hot-water showers, fans, and electricity during certain hours. A stay includes excursions on the lake and into the surrounding forest to see monkeys, macaws, herons, caimans, and rare giant otters. To get here, you take a 30-minute boat ride down the Madre de Dios River from Puerto Maldonado, hike 3 km (2 miles) down a muddy forest trail, then get into a canoe for a 30-minute paddle across the lake.

Inside the Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo, this rustic lodge provides almost constant exposure to nature. Although the private bungalows on stilts are quite sparse and bathrooms are shared, the quality of the food, excursions, and guides make up for it. Additional payoffs are the views of the rainforest, the Tahuayo River, and the abundance of wildlife. More than 600 bird species and 13 monkey species live in the surrounding forest, and the river holds a multitude of fish and caimans.

This small collection of solar-powered tree houses, two hours up the Palotoa River, puts you deep in the heart of the jungle, far from any other tourists. Though suspended in the trees, rooms still come with toilets and hot-water showers. Every member of the staff was born and raised here, so they have a great understanding of the zone and its biodiversity.