The Amazon. It's on your bucket list, or you wouldn't be reading this. A vastness of green with an arterial network of white, black, and clearwater rivers. Bigger than Europe. The size of the lower 48 states of the USA. The largest rainforest in the known universe. Magical, imperiled, accessible, incredible. And you haven't been there? MT Amazon Expeditions can make it happen - and by traveling with us, you will be contributing to the preservation of the Amazon rainforest, its flora and fauna, and its people.
The Peruvian Amazon is closer and more accessible than most people imagine. Our hub of Iquitos. Peru (airport code IQT), is served by 8 to 12 flights daily. Most visitors will arrive via Lima (LIM), Peru.
Since the late 1990’s, Peru has become a global tourism magnet. The highlands of Peru, with locations like Cusco, Machu Picchu (a “bucket-list” site!), Huaraz, Arequipa, and Lake Titicaca are prime attractions. The Amazon portions of Peru (~60% of the country) are also seeing increased visitation, with the Iquitos region (NE Peru) being a popular destination.
A booming economy (both pre- and post-Covid) - one of the best in Latin America, a vibrant democracy, free press, and the lack of visa requirements for most visitors have all encouraged tourism. Word-of-mouth has also greatly increased visitation, as a common reaction among visitors is to comment on how welcoming and friendly Peruvians are, and how anxious they are to "show off" the natural and cultural wonders of their country. The growing reputation of Peruvian cuisine has certainly helped as well. There are many excellent dishes to try!
The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in Peru shutting its borders from 16 March to 1 October 2020; but Peru fully opened to vaccinated visitors as of early 2022, and all Covid restrictions / mask requirements were revoked on 12 October 2022. Over 93% of Peruvians are now vaccinated and boosted (as of Feb 2024).
Our trips, which support on-the-ground Amazon humanitarian and conservation activities and field stations are once again full-on. We are delighted to share our love for this important and beautiful part of the globe with others. To see what trips we have coming up, click on “Expeditions” and then “Calendar”.