When planning this trip to Peru, I knew that Machu Picchu would be on there but I had no idea that the Amazon would be on the itinerary.  Years of playing The Amazon Trail surely didn’t help as I always thought the Amazon was only in Brazil.  I was quickly proven wrong in my research and discovered that both the river and rainforest extended out to a large part of Peru.

This article walks you through our entire experience at this Peruvian Amazon jungle eco-lodge from start to finish and what made it so incredible.  This should give you an idea of what to expect on your very own trip with this Refugio Amazonas review.

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Refugio Amazonas Review – The Experience

How we decided on Refugio Amazonas

With only two weeks to work with, I struggled with what to include beyond the Inca Trail.  There were raving reviews about Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, the Nazca Lines, and Huacachina’s sand dunes.  Ultimately what intrigued me the most about the Amazon was that it would provide a polar opposite experience from Machu Picchu.  It’s rare that you can do a trip that takes you from extreme altitude and minimalist conditions to the lush and thriving forests of the Amazon teeming with life.

If that wasn’t complicated enough, we also struggled between which part of Peru to go see the Amazon.  There are two spots that most people go to – Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado.  The former is known as a place to really immerse yourself with the culture and lifestyle of the people of the Amazon and cruising the Amazon River while the latter is more about wildlife spotting.  We ended up picking Puerto Maldonado partially because of logistics and partially because we just wanted that true jungle/rainforest experience.

Flying into Puerto Maldonado

We were all exhausted from trekking the Inca Trail but I for one couldn’t wait for the next leg of our adventure to start.

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star peru flight in refugio amazonas review in peru's amazon jungle

We took the most peculiar plane for our flight down from Cusco.   Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the British Aerospace BAe-146 of Star Peru.  You’re probably as puzzled as we were but this is a real plane and yes it flies.

After landing, it was funny walking out of the plane because pretty much everyone was waiting for some sort of backpack to roll out.  The Amazon is definitely more off the beaten path than most places but tourism has definitely started to thrive here.

Staging grounds for Rainforest Expeditions

Rainforest Expeditions Bus Airport Pickup

From the start, Rainforest Expeditions, the company that owns a collection of jungle lodges in the region, ran like clock work for us.  Everything was smooth as butter and I only have high praise for their organization and how well they run their lodges.  More on that in a few.

Rainforest Expeditions Head Office

Getting off the plane was just the first of many steps though.  Who said getting into the Amazon jungle would be easy right?  Our first stop was the head office right around the corner from the airport which allowed a lot of the other guests to drop off their large bags and re-pack the essentials.

Rainforest Expeditions Welcome Snacks on the Bus

I thought the next bus ride would be dry but they again proceeded to surprise me with a nice little basket of snacks to keep my hunger at bay.  Our to-be-guide, Paul, also spent the time to point out different wildlife and native vegetation he spotted along the way.

Boat ride along the Tambopata River

Lunch on the Tambopata River
Puerto Maldonado Boats to the Lodge

The real experience of course was in the boat ride with lunch served in a jungle leaf, a stop at a a government checkpoint, and tons of wildlife spotting.  While it took a good 2.5 hours, the entire journey was pretty comfortable with the much-welcomed high speed breeze.  Once on the Tambopata River, it felt like we were fleeing civilization in a way with the pace of life slowing down.  It’s just you and the wild out here.

capybara sighting with rainforest expeditions enroute to refugio amazonas in peru
The ultra-cute capabara – largest rodents on earth

Our most exciting spotting of the largest rodents on the earth.  Meet the Capybara.  You think of mice and you shudder but these guys are actually kind of cute.  Cutting the engine, we slowly drifted in and watched in wonder.

walking path to refugio amazonas jungle lodge

Arriving at the Refugio Amazonas

Once we docked, we begrudgingly moaned when we saw the steps up up but lucky for us it was a short climb up the cliff.  From there, we followed the stone steps that led us straight to our Amazonian lodge.  After a long day in transit, dropping our bags and plopping ourselves on the plush sofas of the open-concept lodge, was the greatest feeling.

entrance to the refugio amazonas amazon jungle lodge - a review

refugio amazonas dining hall
Inside the Dining Hall
refugio amazonas review showopen concept lounge while waiting for keys
Waiting for our room to be ready
refugio amazonas lounge and bar in peru amazon jungle
Loved the ambiance of the lounge and bar
wooden walkway path to the refugio amazonas suites
refugio amazonas suites in the middle of the peruvian amazon jungle forest

If you’ve ever been to Disney World, this is Animal Kingdom come to life.  The entire Refugio Amazonas lodge is just plain impressive when you consider that this was built in the middle of the jungle.  The main part of the lodge stands two stories tall complete with large lounging areas, a shop, bar, dining area, and a library and more comfy couches upstairs.

No Brainer

At the end of the day, Refugio Amazonas was the best choice for anyone coming through Puerto Maldonado wanting an authentic Peru Amazon jungle experience without having to pay through the roof.
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A look at our classic room suite
refugio amazonas classic room review
inside the classic room bathroom at the refugio amazonas in peru

If you thought that was impressive, my jaw dropped even more when we open the door to our classic suite.  I mean come on, any suite that has a hammock has to be a winner right?  Sure it’s easy to get freaked out that there are no real to-the-ceiling-walls here but once you put it all into perspective, this is unspeakable luxury.

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The bathroom features hot water which is so key considering the number of times you’ll be showering in a day.

Electricity is something we take for granted and I was totally willing to concede the availability of power but somehow they’ve managed to wire up all suites with outlets that come on at fixed times throughout the day (morning, afternoon and evening).  This means that yes you can have all your gadgetry more than well-juiced.

If that wasn’t enough, they even have wifi set up throughout the property.  Unlucky for us though, some idiot decided to plug a blowdryer (one of the few things explicitly not allowed because it draws so much power) and damaged some equipment so we didn’t have any internet access during our stay.

Huge Moth In Our Suite
two queen beds at the refugio amazonas in peru amazon jungle

Having your fourth wall as the jungle does have it drawbacks though.  As guests of the jungle, you realize that you’re on their turf.  This means that there are going to be all sorts of creatures and critters passing through.  There may have been some girl-ish screams the first day when we encountered our first cockroach.  This all became a normality in the next few days.  I learned to check and pat everything before using it and keep all zippers closed.  At the end of the day, I was just thankful we had heavy duty mosquito nets surrounding are super plush and comfy bed.

The wildlife excursions

Amazon Rainforest Giant Trees
Monkeys of the Rainforest
Macaw Chuncho Clay Licks with Refugio Amazonas
20150911 Peru-030

Of course, as much as it was awesome to have the creature comforts of the lodge, let’s get real, all of that is overshadowed by the abundance of wildlife that surrounded us.  From listening to the early morning screeches of the macaw to climbing above the canopy of the rainforest, to watching the darting of howler monkeys, to staring in fascination of the leafcutter ants, we had a chance to see a little bit of everything.

I was truly humbled by how everything in the rainforest was magnified in size and the immensity of its scale.

Eating like kings and queens

buffet style meals at refugio amazonas

I couldn’t end off a Refugio Amazonas review without talking about the food.  The eco-lodge has a weekly set menu that managed to impress us everyday.  As a testament to that, I’m usually not much of a soup guy but I found myself going back for seconds every meal.  And like the Inca Trail, I was continuously impressed with how well they could incorporate quinoa into their dishes.  Sufficed to say, their food was quite excellent.

What To Pack For Your Stay At The Refugio Amazonas

We’ve made a comprehensive list of everything you’ll need to know and pack for a trip to Peru, but these are a few things we recommend for you eco-lodge stay:

  • Suitcase – you’ll want a suitcase with good functioning zippers to keep those jungle bugs out of your stuff.
  • Insect repellent – This is a must in the jungle, especially in a lodge with the jungle as your walls, you will encounter bugs.
  • Comfy sandals – although these won’t be what you want to wear on your hikes through the jungle, sandals are nice to have when lounging around the lodge.
  • Binoculars – you never know when there will be a unique bird flying by, or a monkey in the tree just outside your room!
  • Snacks – always something good to have when hanging out in the lodge!
  • Games – a simple deck of cards are always fun to have on a slow night in!
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Early Morning On the Tambopata River

Make your Amazon Jungle Dreams Come True

So what are you waiting for? If you’re planning a trip to Peru’s Amazon jungle? Book your stay at Refugio Amazonas before the suites sell out.
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Have you ever been to the jungle? What was your experience like?  Got questions for me about this Refugio Amazonas review?  Drop a comment down below!

Travel Resources For Your Next Trip

If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.

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Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.

Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).

Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.

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If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

William Tang of Going Awesome Places
About The Author

Will Tang

Will Tang, founder of Going Awesome Places, has traveled to 51 countries. He shares his insanely detailed itineraries, travel guides, and packing lists. Will’s travels have been featured on Huffington Post, Men’s Journal, and Entrepreneur.

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The Discussion

  1. Hi,

    thanks a lot for this post, this is very helpful and inspiring. There is one thing I believe is definitely misleading regarding Refugio Amazonas. You’re mentioning “its balance of experience with affordability. “. Having checked the prices, at around $600 a night per person, we are talking luxury, this is not at all “affordable”.

    I am actually quite surprised on the little affordable options I am finding online regarding eco lodges in Peru.

    If you have any other recommendation that similar in terms of nature respect and wildlife experience, but at a cheaper option, I will would be very interested.

    Thanks!

    Seb

    1. Hey Seb! Thanks for dropping by. It’s definitely not the cheapest experience BUT I just went back to double check everything and it’s not actually per night. The package prices are for 4D3N if nothing’s changed since I went. Back then, it was USD$ 847 + USD$ 30 for the entrance ticket to the national reserve (per person). For our group of 4, he applied a 6% discount because we were booking in advance so you can definitely ask for that when you get in touch with their agent.

      In terms of alternatives, we definitely did our home work and this was truly the best balance of experience, positive reviews, and price so that I still stand by!

  2. Hi thank you for all this information, it is making this tough decision a lot easier!!.
    I just have some questions, my partner and I will be doing the Machu Picchu trek before heading to Puerto Maldonado. After the treck, what do you think the best way to get there is?
    Do you need the amazon tour booked in advance including transport?
    Is the only way to get there from Cuzco?
    Is there buses or is flying the best way to get to Puerto Maldonado?.
    Sorry for all the questions, I pretty much just want to know the best process for getting from Machu Picchu to the Refugio Amazonas lodge. Thanks a lot and look forward to your reply.
    Chris

    1. Hey Chris! Sounds like you’re dong something very similar to what we did. For us, the only easy way to get down there was via flight from Cusco. Some routes will require a change in Lima. Bus I’m sure is possible but it will take incredibly long and won’t be the most comfortable. In terms of the Amazon and booking your lodge, it’s highly recommended to book that as early as possible because they well out quite quickly. I hope that helps!