Sleeping in the Amazon Treetops: Our Epic Stay at Treehouse Lodge, Peru
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When we first set out to check Machu Picchu off our bucket list, we never expected that our favorite part of the trip might take place high above the ground in the trees of the Amazon Rainforest.
Planning our very first trip to South America, we wanted to experience as much of Peru as possible. That’s when we stumbled upon something wildly unique: the Treehouse Lodge: the only all-inclusive treehouse lodge in the Amazon. And it quickly became a must-add to our itinerary.
Pro Travel Tip: If you’re planning a trip to Machu Picchu, add 2–3 nights in the Amazon. You’ll experience wildlife, culture, and landscapes you simply can’t find anywhere else in the world.
Where Is Treehouse Lodge?
Located at the confluence of the Yarapa and Cumaceba Rivers near the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, the lodge sits deep in the Peruvian Amazon, accessible only by boat.
Getting there is half the adventure:
1-hour drive from the Iquitos airport to Nauta
Followed by a 1.5-hour boat ride down the Marañón, Amazon, and Ucayali Rivers
Pink river dolphins even greeted us along the way!
And no worries, Treehouse Lodge arranges all the transfers for you. Just show up in Iquitos and prepare to unplug.
Where You’ll Sleep
Treehouse Lodge features 12 private treehouses, each perched 30–80 feet above the jungle floor and connected by raised wooden walkways. There’s also a central lodge for meals, relaxation, and community.
We chose Treehouse #10: Alta Vista, which at the time was the tallest on property… 80 feet high! Getting there involved:
A steep spiral staircase
Two suspension bridges
A final ladder climb into our treetop hideaway
Waking up to the sunrise over the canopy from your bed? Unreal.
What’s Included in the All-Inclusive Package?
EVERYTHING. Once you arrive, the only thing you’ll need to think about is how many monkeys you want to spot before lunch. Each guest is assigned a private guide, and every excursion is customized based on your interests.
Here's a taste of what we did:
Night jungle walk (yes, we saw tarantulas!)
Sunrise river safari with birdwatching & sloth sightings
Piranha fishing
Pink dolphin tour + Amazon River beach walk
Caiman spotting after dark
Delicious local cuisine every day (including our own piranha catch!)
Don’t worry about gear… they provide boots, water bottles, and everything you’ll need. Just bring your adventurous spirit and lots of bug spray.
Amazon Highlights (and Surprises!)
Wildlife sightings: Macaws, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and even a foot-long caiman that our guide caught barehanded!
Stunning sunsets and stargazing: The sky here feels untouched by time.
Jungle meals with a twist: One night, we ate the very piranhas we caught earlier that day.
One wild night: Let’s just say thousands of bugs swarming our lights and a surprise tarantula visit made for a memory we’ll never forget (especially John).
It’s story time to share more about the wild night noted above! One of John’s greatest fears in life is spiders. I wouldn’t say he enjoyed seeing the tarantulas the night before and that probably helped spur some of his nightmares if I had to guess. Well, about five minutes after we got to the treehouse, I decided to take a quick shower before bed. As I was getting out, John was packing up some of his things and there was a HUGE tarantula walking right behind him. I told him not to turn around, but of course he did, and he absolutely freaked out because it was just a few short feet away from him. He jumped onto the bed and I had to manage getting him down the hatch in the floor by myself before we could finish packing & eventually drifting off to sleep. What an experience! The joys (and terrors!) of sleeping in the Amazon!
Is Treehouse Lodge for You?
If you:
Love off-the-beaten-path adventures
Aren’t afraid of bugs or sweating a little
Want to disconnect from Wi-Fi and reconnect with nature
Are looking for something beyond the typical South America tour
Then yes, Treehouse Lodge belongs on your bucket list.
This stay was the perfect kickoff to our Peru itinerary, and it left us with memories we still laugh (and shudder!) about to this day.
Let’s Plan Your Amazon Adventure!
As a travel advisor, I help families, couples, and adventurers book custom trips all over the world, including the Peruvian Amazon. If this sounds like your kind of wild, I’d love to help you plan a tailored Peru itinerary that includes Machu Picchu + the Amazon + beyond.
