Tambopata Reserve Rainforest Lakes

Tambopata Reserve Rainforest Lakes 4 days 3 nights

Four days in Peru’s Amazon basin, exploring forest trails and rivers, and visiting two oxbow lake rainforest wetland ecosystems.

YOUR DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY AND SERVICES:

Day 1: Puerto Maldonado – Tambopata River

After your flight to the Amazon basin  jungle town of Puerto Maldonado in southeastern Peru, you will be met at the airport for a wonderful three-hour boat trip along the Tambopata River to our jungle lodge, journeying from secondary forest around the town to the untouched primary forests of Tambopata National Reserve. Following your arrival at the lodge, you will be invited on a trail walk, during which your naturalist guide will introduce you to the tropical forest habitat surrounding the lodge. 

Day 2: Forest trails and rainforest wetland ecosystem

Your first full day in the rainforest will be spent on the trail system leading to an oxbow lake wetland ecosystem, where in the company of your naturalist guide there will be ample time to explore the lake by canoe, in search of Amazon birdlife and other native fauna. Forest lake systems are the best places in South America’s forests to spot birds and other wildlife. 

Day 3: Remote Amazon wetland

Today, your naturalist guide will take you deeper into the rainforest to visit another wetland ecosystem. The forests around picturesque Lake Sachavacayoc are filled with tropical birdlife, while the lake’s waters are home to black caiman and giant river otters. Back at our lodge in the afternoon, there will be time to explore the trail system maintained by the lodge, or simply relax in a hammock or enjoy the comfortable lodge facilities. 

Day 4: Tambopata River – Puerto Maldonado

Your stay in the forests of Peru’s Amazon basin will end today with an early morning return by boat along the Tambopata River to the town of Puerto Maldonado, for your return flight to Cusco or Lima. This is an excellent time of day to observe Amazon fauna along the riverbanks.  

EXTENSIONS: DO YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO SPEND IN PERU?

Other travelers added the following extension to this Peru itinerary...

CUSCO CITY TOUR Half day 
Explore historic Cusco and its major attractions during a half-day excursion: Colonial-era Cusco, with its cathedral and the Inca Temple of the Sun, or Qorikancha. The enormous Inca temple complex of Sacsayhuaman, located at the top of the hill overlooking Cusco’s main square, and other archaeological sites in the hills around the city. 

CHECK TO SEE WHAT'S INCLUDED AND WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING...

Included
  • All accommodation and meals from lunch on day one of your itinerary to breakfast on the final day. 
  • All transport from your arrival at the town of Puerto Maldonado to your return to the local airport. 
  • All fully-guided excursions described in the itinerary.
Not included
  • Flights to and from Puerto Maldonado. 
  • Entrance fee to Tambopata National Reserve. 
  • Drinks purchased from the lodge bar.
  • Tips.
What to bring:
  • Light clothing, long loose-fitting trousers, long-sleeved shirts, a wide-brimmed hat and walking boots or tennis shoes 
  • Around the lodge you can wear: shorts, T-shirts and sandals
  • Windbreaker or a sweater for early mornings on the river
  • Rain gear: Impermeable jacket or rain 
  • Swimwear 
  • Sun block
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Daypack
  • Water bottle
  • First aid kit
  • Cap and sunglasses
  • Pocket knife
  • Passport
  • Waterproof bags for camera equipment
  • Insect repellent
FAQs - Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Amazon forests? 

It can rain at any time in tropical and subtropical forests. For drier weather, the best time to visit the Tambopata and Manu forests accessible from Cusco is between mid-April and the end of October. The driest months are June, July and August. Different species of Amazon wildlife can be seen at any time of the year in the tropical forests of Peru. 

Should I get a yellow fever vaccination before going to the rainforest?
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for rainforest trips anywhere in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

Is there malaria in the rainforest? 
The US Center for Disease Control considers Puerto Maldonado to be a malaria risk area although it is reported as extremely rare. Avoid mosquito bites as much as possible by using insect repellent, long-sleeved clothing and long trousers rather than shorts, and consider taking malaria prophylaxis.

What will we do for drinking water at the jungle lodge? 
Drinking water and other beverages such as coffee and tea are provided free of charge at our lodge, and sodas and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at the lodge’s bar.

Should I pack rubber boots?
At our lodge, rubber boots in a range of sizes are available for use during excursions.

Is there electricity at the lodge, can I charge my electronic devices?
Yes. For example, at our Tambopata lodge recharging facilities for mobile phones, pads, and assorted batteries are available at midday and in the evening between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm.

Is there a phone available at the lodge(s)?
In the event of an emergency, lodge staff can contact the outside world by phone or internet. 

Is a laundry service available?
Remember that it can take a long time for clothes to dry in a humid rainforest environment. Laundry services can be organized in the main towns (Cusco, Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos) from which our Amazon itineraries depart. Ask our staff for more information. 

Is smoking allowed in or around the lodge?
Smoking is not permitted in rooms, dining or communal areas, such as the bar. However, guests can smoke on the terraces of their rooms and in outdoor areas of the lodge. 

What happens in the case of a medical emergency?
In the event of a medical emergency which cannot be dealt with by guides and staff trained in first aid, guests will be evacuated to the nearest town with a hospital or other medical facilities. 

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