The 13 Best Wildlife Watching in Peru

1.4 Day Tambopata Amazon Wildlife & Canopy Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 72 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $585Our pick

Small-group 4 days in Peru’s Tambopata: jungle lodge nights, 40-meter canopy views, Sandoval Lake boats, Monkey Island, caimans, and parrots.

“We went on a ten day trip to Peru, starting in Lima for two days, Cusco and Machu Picchu for a few days, and ending here for four days. This is a fascinating place to be -- a rustic, lovely little place in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. We were picked up promptly, as scheduled, and each day was filled with unique and memorable experiences -- everything they advertise. Our main guide, Romario, was just excellent - personable, knowledgeable, very prompt, professional and extremely caring. I would suggest you bring lots of bug spray and a small portable fan for your room. They do provide boots, if it's really…”

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2.VIP Best Wildlife Tour in Cusco Official Cochahuasi Sanctuary®

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $32Best value

A VIP, private wildlife visit from Cusco to the Cochahuasi sanctuary, with rescued animals, feeding, and a quick Saqsaywaman viewpoint stop.

“Great experience on our last day in Peru. We were collected on schedule from our hotel in Cusco (you can send message to operator after booking to select a time) and driven to sanctuary. Guided tour was excellent with lots of information about the animals and their history/reasons for rescue. We were able to feed tortoises, llamas, alpacas and, macaw, watched condors flying (and mating!) and were lucky to catch a glimpse of a puma. We also saw vicunas and toucans. Our driver stayed on site during the visit and dropped us back at our hotel.”

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3.6-Hour Wonderful Wildlife Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 32 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $96

6-hour Iquitos Amazon wildlife tour with river cruise, pink dolphin chances, paiche breeding, Victoria lily pads, Lupuna tree, and more.

“Our guide was wonderful and very informative, however the tour stops weren’t the most ethical unfortunately.”

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4.Lake Sandoval National reserve ,hiking and wildlife search

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 6 hours 50 minutes (approx.) · from $90

Forest hike and canoe wildlife search in Tambopata Reserve near Lake Sandoval, with hotel pickup, lunch, and included admission.

“Wally was very knowledgeable and informative, he shows a passion for nature and shares it with you the whole way. Highly recommended.”

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5.Amazon Adventure: Nature and Wildlife | 2 Days

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 25 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $299

2-day Iquitos Amazon adventure with Belén Market, Nanay-Amazon boat ride, jungle lodge night, pink dolphins, and piranha fishing.

“Do not book this tour!!! Especially online. We discovered that the local price for the tour is 300 soles, while we were charged $300 CAD, which is approximately 3x the local price. This is an unacceptable markup and is clearly exploitation of foreign visitors. Other reasons this was an awful experience: Lack of Communication: There was no contact from the company prior to the trip, leaving us uncertain about the details and logistics of the tour. We had to reach out ourselves through WhatsApp. Misrepresentation of Tribe: We were led to believe that we would be visiting an authentic Amazonian tribe, but it turned out to be a fake tribe…”

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6.3 Day Tambopata National Reserve Tour with Local Guide & Wildlife

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $296

3 days in Tambopata near Puerto Maldonado with a local guide: canopy tower birds, kayaking, Monkey Island, Lake Sandoval, and night caimans.

“Wonderful experience, only issue was lack of electricity which we found very difficult and were not aware”

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7.Sea Lion Swim and Wildlife Palomino Islands Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 20 reviews · 4 hours · from $76

Swim with sea lions near Lima on a 4-hour Palomino Islands cruise, plus San Lorenzo wildlife and birdwatching for penguins.

“Dear Maciej, Thank you! We're so glad you had a great time exploring the Palomino Islands and swimming with sea lions. Hope to see you again soon!”

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8.Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge Tour in Lima

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $159

See migratory birds at Lima’s Pantanos de Villa with hotel pickup, a private guide, and tower and boat views, all for $159.

“I was with Nicole. She has an eagle eye to spot birds. All the birds were lifer to me as it is the first time i am in South America. This wildlife refuge was a gem to see forest birds and shore birds. It is also close to Miraflores- another 13 km south of Barranco.”

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9.Amazon wildlife explorations 3 days 2 night

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $250

3-day Amazon wildlife trip from Iquitos, Payorote lodge on the Yarapa River, dolphin spotting, piranha fishing, sloths and medicinal plants.

“Amazing experience and wonderful staff!!! What a good time we had!! Everything was planned perfectly and guide's had lots of knowledge.”

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10.Marine wildlife observation in a fishing village

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $140

Half-day wildlife cruise from Pucusana fishing village near Lima, with a small group and a guide who connects birds, boats, and local life.

“The tour is nothing compared to the ones in Ecuador, for instance Isla de la Plata. The cost is higher and the trip is no comparison. I would not recommend this for their prices..”

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11.4-Day Wildlife Tour: Manu Peruvian Jungle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $465

4-day Manu jungle wildlife tour from Cusco with naturalist guides, boat rides, clay licks, night walks, and jungle lodges for $465.

“First of all my tour said that it was going to be a total of 6 to 8 people, resulted to be a total of 11... we were kind of tight in the van, arguments broke up between the passengers for that reason that the tour became uncomfortable and some unpleasant... Second, the lodge did not have hot water.. Third, The zip line was not working... Fourth, the expected activities were not been followed... the disappointing part of all, the tour guide left us by our self for a day and a half in the middle of the jungle in our Lodge.. someone that was not in charge of the…”

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12.Amazon Wildlife Excursions 2/ Days /1 night

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $260

Two days in Peru’s Amazon around Iquitos, with wildlife walks, a monkey island stop, freshwater pink dolphin swimming, and piranha fishing.

“AVISO: solo puedo recomendar esta excursión para los con el coraje para explorar y experimentar la selva de la Amazona en todo su esplendor natural. El lodge es rústico, en los senderos y los ríos estarás expuesto a los elementos y cada día es imposible para predecir. Pero, con los guías experimentados y amigables (debo alabar Jair específicamente), siempre estaba en buenas manos. Verás a toda clase de flora y fauna y disfrutarás una experiencia inolvidable y maravillosa.”

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13.Iquitos to the Amazon: 2-Day Jungle & Wildlife Experience

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 8 reviews · 2 days · from $480

A 2-day Amazon and Yanayacu River tour from Iquitos with boat travel, wildlife spotting, medicinal plants, and guided jungle night life.

“Christian was a really good guide!! Wish I had stayed more days!”

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