Know Before You Go
Whether you're preparing for your upcoming adventure to the Amazon and Machu Picchu or just want to learn more about the world's largest rainforest and the "Lost City of the Incas," we've got you covered. We've rounded up an array of useful resources, from wildlife guides and packing tips to compelling first-hand accounts written by Nat Hab travelers and staff.
Travel Tips

Wildlife Guide
From squirrel monkeys to pink river dolphins, learn about the incredible array of biodiversity you'll see on a trip to the Peruvian Amazon!

Amazon Nature Trivia
Take our wildlife quiz to put your knowledge to the test, then share it with friends to see who knows the most about the Amazon rainforest.

Amazon & Machu Picchu Weather & Climate
Find out what the typical weather conditions in the Amazon and Machu Picchu in this month by month breakdown of average temperatures and rainfall.

Amazon & Machu Picchu Packing List
Our helpful checklist contains clothing and gear recommendations for an adventure into the Amazon rainforest and to the top of Wayna Picchu.
Travel Stories & Articles

Will Machu Picchu Get a New “Old” Name?
—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
Machu picchu in Quechua—the Incan language that is still spoken by indigenous peoples who live in the Peruvian Andes today—translates to “old mountain.”

Peruvian Cuisine: Wild Foods of the Amazon
—By Cathy Brown
On a trip to the Peruvian Amazon you will find an abundance of delicious traditional rainforest foods that can be hunted or gathered.

The Amazon River Through the Eyes of a Naturalist Guide
—By Cathy Brown
While traveling solo can be a very enjoyable experience, traveling with an experienced guide can open our eyes in new ways to details we never would have noticed alone.

Travel With a Climate Scientist: Venture to Remote Greenland, Meet Polar Bears and Explore the Amazon
—By Lavanya Sunkara
Three climate change-related adventures to the Peruvian Amazon, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic (created in partnership with conservation experts at World Wildlife Fund) bring travelers face to face with the effects of a warming climate to help them better understand the dire effects of climate change—and inspire positive action.

Explore Rainforest and Ruins from the Amazon to Machu Picchu
—By Nat Hab
The Peruvian Amazon is home to nearly 4,000 unique species. Peru is also where the mighty river begins—and its remote headwaters are our destination on Nat Hab’s Great Amazon River Expedition.

Visiting the Amazon Rainforest in Style: A Guide for Nature Lovers
—By Cathy Brown
A trip to the Amazon, especially one in which the focus is on spotting wildlife respectfully, comes with many variables to consider. Not all locations, itineraries, nor guides are equal, so here is what you need to know before you go.

The Loudest Bird on the Planet Lives in the Amazon
—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
In a recent study published in the science journal Current Biology, biologists report that they have now recorded the loudest bird calls ever documented. Surprisingly, they’re made by dove-sized, male white bellbirds that live in the cloud forests of the northern Amazon.

Sustainable Solutions to Preserving the Amazon
—By Emily Goodheart
Travelers who visit gain a better understanding of this critical rainforest’s worth as a sanctuary for wildlife, plants and people, and return home inspired to become advocates for its preservation.

Four “New” Frog Species to Celebrate on Save the Frogs Day
—By Cathy Brown
Four new species of frogs were recently found by scientists around the world and we’re here to celebrate them for Save the Frogs Day!

9 New Animal Species to Celebrate in the New Year
—By Michelle Peters
Despite the challenges today’s world faces, Planet Earth is the gift that keeps on giving. That’s good news for scientists who relish the rush of discovery, as some think there are approximately 8.7 million species left to be found.

8 Rainforest Ecotourism Adventures
—By Cathy Brown
To start you daydreaming about your next nature getaway, we’ve compiled eight of our favorite rainforest destinations.

World Rainforest Day
—By Megan Brief
Established in 2017 by Rainforest Partnership, World Rainforest Day recognizes forests as one of the most powerful and cost-effective climate change mitigation tools we have.

Inside an Amazon River Cruise
—By Debra Kathman
I recently had the opportunity to go on a Natural Habitat Adventures trip to Peru, which included a river cruise on the Amazon. It was an amazing trip and gave me the opportunity to experience the incredible diversity of the Amazon while...

10 Interesting Facts about Machu Picchu
—By Johanna Murphy
More than 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is the most visited tourist destination in Peru. A symbol of the Incan Empire and built around 1450 CE, Machu Picchu was...

Machu Picchu's Best-Kept Secrets
—By Peter Davis Krahenbuhl
Sitting proudly at the top of the bucket list of anyone who loves to travel, Machu Picchu—the “Lost City of the Incas”—is one of the most spectacular ancient ruins in all the Americas...