Of all the travel dreams we’ve had, staying in a treehouse in the Amazon Rainforest has always been at the top. The Treehouse Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon is an actual dream come true for myriad reasons. Waking up because there are birds squawking just above you in the tree, or having the best night’s sleep of your life because of the Amazon rainstorms, or getting to photograph toucans as you walk from your treehouse to breakfast… it’s all amazing. We’ve been to so many wonderful, beautiful places but no place has compared with getting to spend nearly a week staying in a treehouse in the Amazon. This was undoubtedly the highlight of spending more than two weeks in Peru.
If ever there were a unique experience that leaves you dreaming of going back, this is it. When we booked the Treehouse Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon we had high hopes and I can confidently say that it surpassed them, so much so that our 45 minute boat ride back to civilization was spent crying. Nothing has ever matched this and nothing ever will… but I’m willing to try more epic adventures just to see. If you have any questions about staying at the Treehouse Lodge in Peru on the Amazon River or just planning a trip to Peru in general, please leave a comment or send us a note. This is a big adventure and we’re happy to share more and help you plan an unforgettable experience.
Why Plan Staying at the Treehouse Lodge in Iquitos, Peru?
When you’re looking at the different ways to visit the Amazon, you’ll see lots of cruises on the river, and many experiences based out of Brazil. The Peruvian Amazon is not terribly different from what you’ll find in Brazil, but the ease of planning and the affordability is better I think. Staying at the Treehouse Lodge in the Amazon is incredible and affordable. Yes, it’s a premium price, but when you consider that all of your food and excursions are a part of your stay, it’s an amazing deal. I know there are more budget friendly options for visiting the Peruvian Amazon, but what you get for staying at the Treehouse Lodge is remarkable.
When we started planning our family trip to the Amazon Rainforest it was overwhelming as I had no idea what sort of adventures we would want to have or even how much time to spend exploring. When we found the Treehouse Lodge we discovered that we would have a dedicated guide just for our family and we could be completely flexible with the types of activities we would do. Even though we live in Florida and are used to the heat and humidity, I was worried that being in the Amazon would be a lot for our kids so didn’t want to make a plan that would leave anyone miserable. The flexibility and knowledge of the local guides you get to have with you for the duration of the stay makes the Treehouse Lodge itself an indispensable resource for getting to have the full Amazon Rainforest Experience.
Even if I had the option of trying another Amazon Rainforest lodge or treehouse resort, I wouldn’t (and no, they didn’t pay me). Beautiful treehouses connected by suspension bridges and boardwalks with sloths and parrots all around, with wonderful food and the coolest people, it’s my dream destination and I will happily return again and again.
Book the Treehouse Lodge here!
What are the Treehouses like at the Treehouse Lodge?
There are a variety of treehouse setups, so whether you’re planning this as a family trip or just on your own or as a couple, there are options to make it work for you. All treehouses have their own bathrooms and entry areas, and each one gets the same level of access and service in terms of adventures and experiences. For our family, we had an Amazon treehouse with two twin beds and a queen bed. Each bed has a mosquito net around it and then the treehouse as a whole is screened in.
During our five days here at the Treehouse Lodge we didn’t have any mosquito issues in our room. When it comes to the bathroom in each treehouse, keep in mind that this is a TREEHOUSE so you already should be wowed by how nice the bathrooms are in their very existence. With that, there is a toilet, a sink with a mirror, and a shower. The bathroom door is a curtain, but if you’re on an adventure with friends or family to the Amazon Rainforest, you’re close enough to use the restroom with just a curtain. When it comes to the shower, it is not heated except by the Amazon atmosphere itself. It’s not a cold shower, but it’s a cool shower that feels great. If you’re used to luxurious, long hot showers just deal with it, because it’s amazing to get to bathe while toucans fly by you.
There are small sitting spaces and some shelves in the treehouses, but each one is a little different. Ultimately, you don’t spend a ton of time in your treehouse, but there is plenty of space to be comfortable. And there are public areas that supplement your private space, so you’ll be okay.
Amenities at the Treehouse Lodge
The experience of staying at the Treehouse Lodge is my favorite of any place I’ve ever stayed anywhere in the world. Staying here means that you are IN nature as much as you can be and every element of your stay contributes to the experience. All the treehouses are connected by boardwalks and suspension bridges, and those have a central area with the common space.
The dining room treehouse is a large space where you’ll get your orientation and work out a plan (remember that it’s flexible) for your stay. When you go upstairs there are chairs and couches and hammocks for down time, and it’s a great place to relax together or apart. There are some games and books, but mostly it’s a place just to chill. When you head out for your first adventure or before, you’ll get fitted for boots. There are times that you’ll want to wear your galoshes / wellies so make sure you get ones that fit well. They’ll be important for any rainforest walks you go on.
There is also WIFI at the main central area of the Treehouse Lodge, and the signal does reach a bit out into the treehouses, but even when you’re in the main treehouse, the signal isn’t great. You are NOT going to be able to do any form of work that involves the internet while you’re here. Consider it a blessing and plan your availability appropriately.
Amazon Rainforest Activities at the Treehouse Lodge
Every day at the Treehouse Lodge is a new adventure, and even if you’re doing the same activities multiple times it’s always different and exciting. If I had to choose my favorite activity I would have to say that it was just the simple river exploring on our boat. You’ll be choosing activities with your dedicated guide and adjusting them as your week rolls, and you can always choose a boat adventure.
You have the same guide and boatman for everything, so you get to know them, and they get to know you and what you’re interested in. We lucked out in that our guide, Edgar, was just as much into birds and wildlife as me so he was all about doing the weirdest, deepest jungle experiences with us, looking for the rarest wildlife we could find. Edgar and I were great birdwatching buddies and after five days I was so sad to leave him.
Besides wildlife photo safaris on the boat, we also did cool activities like jungle walks to look for monkeys and bullet ants, river trips to watch the pink dolphins, sunrise on the Amazon, fishing for piranhas, doing Amazon indigenous crafts and more. Seriously, every experience left us amazed and so grateful to be able to have this time in the Amazon Rainforest together. I can’t imagine another traveling adventure together that’s more special than our time at the Treehouse Lodge. Unforgettable in every way.
Dining at the Treehouse Lodge (inclusive)
Your stay at the Treehouse Lodge is nearly all inclusive. Daily your meals are all provided as well as all of your excursions. The only thing that’s not included is alcoholic beverages. The meals are great and so very fresh. Breakfast each day is a European style buffet (not American) with so much fresh fruit you couldn’t dream of eating it all. Lunch each afternoon varies from gourmet sandwiches to salads and different meats. Dinner is always beautifully presented and served with a dessert.
Local, fresh ingredients are what the dining is all about, so Peruvian flavors are strong here. If you’re tired of potatoes (Peru has 8000 varieties), you will no doubt find a potato dish by the end of your stay that you really like. Sometimes during meals your guide may stop by to check in and see how everyone is doing and how their interests are changing. From the guides to the managers to everyone else you meet, they’re all always looking out for you to ensure the best experience.
Getting to the Treehouse Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon
If this is your first visit to Peru, you might not be familiar with its geography, or at least how to access the Amazon, as it’s very different from visiting the Andes mountains or the coastal deserts. To get to the Peruvian Amazon, you need to fly into Iquitos, Peru. This is a less than 2 hour flight from Lima, which you can fly to from Miami, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix and Los Angeles. Fly on Latam (easy and inexpensive) and then upon arrival in Iquitos your driver will pick you and other guests up and begin the journey to the Treehouse Lodge.
Yes, Iquitos is on the Amazon River with the rainforest all around, but it’s not close to the Treehouse Lodge. You need to go far to get to the more remote part of the rainforest and river. You’ll do around an hour and a half drive from Iquitos to Nauta, at which point you’ll get onto a small riverboat. These long, low boats navigate the Amazon River swiftly, but it’s still an adventure. In the rainy season the boat ride from Nauta to the Treehouse Lodge is about 45 minutes; in the dry season it can take an hour and a half. It depends on how many shorter waterways are accessible. When you arrive at the Treehouse Lodge, they’ll take care of your luggage while you get an orientation about the property and activities. It’s a pretty seamless process.
Cost of Staying at the Treehouse Lodge in Peru
So how much is it to stay at the Treehouse Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon? Great question, and when you consider that all of your food and excursions are included it’s amazing. The best deal is when you stay for 5 days / 4 nights, but you get nearly the same value with a shorter stay. The pricing is done per person and you’ll be booked into the accommodations that best first your travel party. We stayed in a treehouse that slept 4 and there was ample space for us, our meals were top notch and our excursions were amazing. We paid approximately $1100 USD per person, so $4400 for our family for 5 days of the best adventure we could imagine.
To be clear, here’s exactly what’s included in case you missed it:
- accommodations
- breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks
- all excursions
- transportation to and from the Treehouse Lodge and Iquitos Airport
The only costs that aren’t included are alcohol and whatever gratuities you feel you should give.
Operating Info for the Treehouse Lodge
To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan your adventure.
- Operating Dates/Season: year round, rainy season is best
- Booking: Book the Treehouse Lodge here!
- How to contact: email bookings@treehouselodge.com or call 801-210-9350
- Official website: TreehouseLodge.com
- Visiting address: Peruvian Amazon, pick up from Iquitos Airport
More Ideas for Planning a Trip to Peru
I love Peru, but visiting the Amazon Rainforest is my favorite part of it. There are some cool places to visit and explore that are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT though, so if you’re putting together a trip you should try to pick some varied experiences. You’ll likely begin by flying into Lima (LIM) so spending a few days here exploring the historic sites and restaurants is an easy addition to any Peru trip plan, including the Amazon Rainforest.
Visiting the Andes of Peru is a whole trip on its own, but you can easily add it to whatever else you’re planning if you have the time. I can’t stress it enough just how high in elevation the Andes are. Cusco sits at over 11,000 feet, Machu Picchu at 8,000 feet and much of the Sacred Valley at the 10k-12k feet elevation. Have you head of Rainbow Mountain? It’s at 16,522 feet in elevation. What I’m saying here is that if you’re sensitive to elevation and get altitude sickness, you should take your time getting to the higher parts by visiting other towns along the way, traveling by bus. We got hit hard with the elevation and it made 3 out of the 4 of us violently ill and then zapped for our whole time.
You can’t forget the Peruvian coast as well. I would rather add time on the coast visiting the Department of Ica (one of the Peruvian states) than spend time in Lima or going back up into the Andes. Paracas and the Ballestas Islands are awesome, and experiencing the Peruvian desert is really cool. Pair it with your trip to the Amazon Rainforest and you’ll be amazed at the diversity of Peru.
I hope you’ll consider planning a visit to the Treehouse Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon. To this day it’s the most fun, must memorable family trip we’ve gotten to experience and ALL OF US cannot wait to return. If you have any questions about the planning process or if there’s something about staying at the Treehouse Lodge that we didn’t cover, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help YOU plan an amazing family adventure!
