Whether in the Peruvian Andes or the Amazon, Paddington is just fine with his duffle coat. But you’ll need these packing tips for your Peru Amazon cruise.
The new Paddington in Peru film features the Peruvian bear returning to his homeland to look for his aunt in the Amazon rainforest via river boat. Want to follow Paddington and explore Peru too? Here’s what to expect on a Peruvian Amazon River cruise, including what to pack for the hot and humid excursions. And pro tip: while a balcony cabin is fantastic on almost any other cruise, you probably won’t need it for an Amazon cruise.
A Cruise in the Peruvian Amazon
In the new Paddington in Peru movie, Paddington visits several Peruvian locations. An ideal trip to Peru includes seeing all three of the country’s vastly different ecosystems—the rainforest of the Amazon basin; the Andes mountains with highlights like Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machupicchu; and the ribbon of desert along the Pacific coast which includes Peru’s capital, Lima. Though Paddington goes to all three regions, he likely feels most at home in the highlands given that he’s an Andean bear.
While you have a good chance of seeing chinchillas and llamas in the Andes, and whales and penguins off the coast, the best way to see an abundance of Peru’s wildlife is on an Amazon river cruise through the rainforest. Pink dolphins, brightly colored macaws and butterflies, monkeys, sloths, and reptiles like iguanas, caimans, turtles and anacondas are all quite common.
Zafiro Luxury Amazon Cruises
Most Peruvian Amazon cruises explore the Pacaya Samira National Reserve and depart from the the town of Nauta. Nauta is a two-hour drive from Iquitos, a city which can only be reached by boat or by plane. The quickest way to get to Iquitos is via a direct flight from Lima. Several cruise lines operate out of Nauta, including luxury lines like Zafiro Luxury Cruise by Jungle Experiences, Aqua Expeditions and Delphin. River cruises are generally from three to seven nights.
When to Go on a River Cruise in the Peruvian Amazon
You’ll need to choose between low water (dry) season and high water (rainy) season for your Amazon cruise. The experience is very different—many areas where you can hike during the dry season are completely flooded during rainy season and can only be explored via dugout canoe or kayak. The water rises at least 20 feet during high water season, one third from the rain but mostly due to melting snow from the Andes.
The season you choose affects the wildlife you’ll see and the weather you’ll experience. During high water (rainy) season, hiking is limited but your riverboat and expedition skiff are closer to the treetops where many animals like to dry out when it’s sunny. The chance of seeing animals like pink river dolphins, manatees, otters, tapirs, peccaries and turtles is better during low water (dry) season. While the rainy season is a few degrees cooler than the dry season, it does rain throughout the year—it is a rainforest!—and temperatures are in the mid-80s and higher with about 90 percent humidity. The only exception is a weather phenomenon that can happen in July and August when a Patagonian cold front can push the temperature down to about 60 degrees for a few days.
Though climate change is making the seasons less predictable, high water (rainy) season is generally from November to May and low water (dry) season is June to November.
Clothing to Pack for a Peru Amazon River Cruise
Regardless of when you go, the Amazon rainforest is hot and humid. You won’t need a duffel coat like Paddington’s but a hat with a wide brim like his is useful for both sun and rain protection.
When thinking about what clothing to bring, keep in mind that most cruises in Peru’s Amazon basin will have at least two excursions each day. You’ll go out on a skiff to explore tributaries and the banks of the river, motor to a hiking spot, and visit villages. When the skiff is in motion, the breeze will keep you relatively cool though the sun will be strong. When you’re on land—even in the shade—and when the skiff pauses so you can admire flora and fauna, you will very quickly start sweating through your clothes. Given the strong sun and the necessity of preventing insect bites, you’ll want clothes that cover as much of your skin as possible (including pants that you can tuck into your socks).
The best way to pack for these sweat-inducing conditions is to bring several changes of clothes in lightweight, breathable, quick-dry fabrics. After you return from each excursion, you’ll likely want to have a quick shower to rinse off all that sweat and the insect repellent you’ve wisely sprayed on. Then you’ll want to change into dry clothes—including sweaty underwear and bra—for your meal and while you relax before going out on your next excursion. To pack as light as possible, rinse sweaty clothes in the shower with you and then hang them to dry—they should be dry enough to wear again in 24 hours. Most cruises have on-board laundry service too. You can easily repeat the clothes you wear for meals and hanging around the boat as you’ll mostly be in cool air conditioning.
Another useful item to pack: a buff neck gaiter (yes, like they wear on Survivor). The cruise crew who works outdoors and accompany you on excursions often wear one of these. The buff’s lightweight fabric is excellent for covering your neck, ears and head to protect them from the sun and from most insect bites. And unlike hats, neck gaiters are immune from flying off your head from the wind when the skiff is in motion (if you prefer a hat, bring one with a chin strap or it has a good chance of taking a dip in the river). While the tight fabric of a buff next to your skin is hotter than no fabric, I find the comfort difference negligible, and the pros vastly outweigh the cons. You can even wear your buff damp from a rinse in the sink for an extra bit of cooling. Keep in mind, though, that some Amazon insects are capable of biting through tight fabrics like buff or leggings.
If you want excellent bug protection, bring a mosquito net for your head. Ideally worn over a hat and tucked into the neck of your shirt, you’ll be protected from flying bugs as well as from anything that might fall from a tree branch above you (and, yes, it does happen!). Sure it looks a little funny and the fine netting may impede your vision a little, but I considered it well worth it given the lessened need to put chemical insect repellent near my face and the confidence of knowing nothing was going to fall down the back of my shirt.
Speaking of insect repellent, you can buy clothes that are impregnated with repellent like permethrin or send clothing you already own to companies like Insect Shield to have them commercially treated. While it’s not perfect protection, studies show that insects are irritated by clothing with this repellent and are more likely to fly off rather than bite you.
As for shoes, it depends on the season, though of course you’ll want something comfortable and with closed toes. Sandals are fine indoors but not for excursions. Keep in mind that your shoes might get muddy, even in dry season. Most Peruvian Amazon cruises will provide you with rubber boots if needed and some will also provide rain ponchos. The crew will likely ask you to take off your shoes before you go into the indoor areas of the boat—many will clean them off for you too—so it’s wise to bring another pair of shoes to wear to meals and around the boat.
What Else to Pack for a Peruvian Amazon River Cruise
The best Peruvian Amazon River cruise boats provide insect repellent for you to use, however it might not be the better-protecting kind with icaridin/picaridin or DEET. The only way to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses like Dengue and Zika in to prevent getting bitten in the first place. Sandflies and ticks also live in the Amazon, so wear bug spray and use clothing as a physical barrier as much as possible. In addition to regular travel vaccinations, vaccination against yellow fever is recommended for several parts of Peru including the Amazon region. Ask your travel health specialist about malaria-prevention medication like Malarone—while the risk of malaria may be low, especially in dry season, any side effects of taking Malarone for two weeks are preferable to having malaria.
There’s no need to bring any snacks on your Amazon cruise—Paddington’s favorite marmalade sandwiches or anything else. You’ll be treated to multi-course meals and snacks available all day aboard the best cruise lines like Zafiro. You’ll likely have a fridge in your cabin too. Note that if you’ve purchased foods to bring home from your Peru trip—perhaps some of Peru’s famous chocolate such as the exquisite selections from Lima’s El Cacaotal Peru—you’ll likely be asked to ensure that any food in your cabin is very well-sealed to be sure it doesn’t attract any insects. Bring some resealable plastic bags with you to keep your goodies safe.
A camera with a good telephoto lens will help you get a great shot of a sloth in a tree. Some boats will lend or rent binoculars, but you may prefer to bring your own. A headlamp is useful for night excursions. Don’t forget extra batteries, chargers, and lots of space for the many photos you’ll take.
More Tips for Your Peruvian Amazon River Cruise
Most cruise lines that take passengers on Peruvian Amazon cruises have huge cabin windows so you can admire the views of the river—perhaps even see a dolphin swimming by—and of the green rainforest. Some also have balconies. If you’re debating whether to pay extra for a balcony cabin, consider that it is likely too hot to sit out there for long.
Especially in the Amazon and in Lima, try as many tropical fruits as you can; you’ll find a wide selection of fruits in the Andes too. And be sure to eat some ceviche—UNESCO named Peru’s raw fish dish to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The fish it’s made with varies depending on the region of Peru you’re in, but it will always be delicious. You can count on them—as well as the famous Pisco sour—being served on your Peruvian Amazon river cruise.
Canadian freelance writer/photographer Johanna Read focuses her writing on responsible tourism and aims to encourage culturally, economically and environmentally sustainable travel. Drawing on her career as a former Government of Canada policy executive, she now balances freelance writing with management consulting where she helps create psychologically and physically healthier workplaces. Johanna’s been writing for Forbes since 2020, with articles like How to See Polar Bears, Belugas And Borealis in Churchill, Canada and Why You Still Need Hand Sanitizer on Vacation—And No, It Isn’t For Covid. Her other bylines include National Geographic, TIME, Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet and Fodor’s. Based in Vancouver, Johanna’s been to more than 60 countries and visited every continent (except Antarctica) solo. Follow her for tips to make travel safe and stress-free, for you and for the people and places you visit.