Exploring the Jungle from Tambopata

 

Tambopata is a great opportunity and an excellent option for all those that want to escape for a moment of the concrete forests, infernal noises and pollution of the big cities. It is also special for those that want to have a close encounter with paradisiacal places in the virgin jungle of the Amazonian, without any other noise than the ones made by the birds, monkeys or insects.

 

Our Amazonian is bountiful. The deep green of our jungle is home to scores of ethnic groups and to one of the world's natural systems with the greatest biodiversity. Peruvian Amazonian offers the possibility of delving into the mystery of virgin nature, getting to know our huge biodiversity and enjoying the paradisiacal scenarios which the Amazon River discovers along its route.

 

In Peru is born the Amazon River, the longest and mighty in the world, and its basin is covered with vegetation, embraces more than half of the Peruvian territory. The interesting thing is that the Peruvian Amazonian is so big that we could take months or years visiting it, that is the reason why a tourist infrastructure has been designed to allow the visitor to choose the one that suits better.

 

The south Amazon basin is the natural reserve of more extensive and more variety life of the Earth. Abundant botanical and zoological species, in amazing landscapes as Valencia Lake, Sandoval Lake, Gamitana creek or Concepción. The highlight is the Tambopata National Reserve. Additionally, the only humid tropical savannah in Peru is found at the Bahuaja - Sonene National Park (1,091,416 hectares). The highlighted species here are the manned wolf and the marsh deer, both close to extinction, as well as the giant anteater, giant river otter, the bushdog, the black caiman, and the harpy eagle.

 

Puerto Maldonado is located in the confluence of the rivers Tambopata and Madre de Dios and it is the gateway to fascinating protected natural areas in the south Peruvian Amazon rainforest, featuring an extraordinary diversity of wild species of flora and fauna.

 

Sandoval Lake
10 Km (6 miles) from Puerto Maldonado (25 minutes by a 55 HP riverboat). To reach the lake, you must take a riverboat and then walk 5 Km (3 miles) from the shore of the Madre de Dios river to the interior (1 hour and 30 minutes). It is approximately 3 Km (2 miles) long, 1 Km (0.6 miles) wide, and 0.5 centimeters (0.1 inches) to 3 meters (10 feet) deep. The water remains at an average temperature of 26ºC (79.8ºF), and a huge amount of fish live there. It is surrounded by aguajales, swampy areas where, among other exotic species, a native palm tree called aguaje grows. Along with the local vegetation, you can see orchids, wild plantains, and milpesos palms, giant kapoks, mahoganies, and 30 meter (98 feet) aguaje palm trees. In this habitat lives a great variety of birds, like cormorants, toucans, macaws, parrots, horned screamers, and herons. In addition, there is a colorful variety of wild hens called hoatzin or shansho whish heads are topped with feathers. With some luck, tapirs, turtles, and giant otters or "river wolves" can be seen as well as different species of crocodiles, like the black caiman.

 

Valencia Lake
60 Km (37 miles) from Puerto Maldonado (4 hours by 55 HP riverboat). The lake is 15 Km (9 miles) long, 800 meters (2,625 feet) wide, and between 0.5 and 15 meter / 1.6 and 49 feet deep, and thanks to its trees and fish, it is considered a privileged spot. Around the lake, there are trees like the pumaquiro, the quinilla, the cedar, the giant kapok, the dwarf fan palm tree, and the Brazil nut tree. Among its animal life, the more exotic are bearded guans, turtles (charapas and big headed motelos), crocodiles, monkeys, cormorants, and herons. The wealth of its waters allows both the Huarayos natives and the settlers of its surrounding areas to make a living from fishing for tiger shovelnose catfish, palometas, gilded catfish, piranhas, and paiches (Arapaima gigas). These last ones, though, are not a native species but were brought to the lake. Along with fishing, another important economic activity is the collection of Brazil nuts.

 

Exploring from a Jungle Lodges

For you to have the best experience in the jungle, stay in one of the many Amazon Jungle Lodges renowned for their high quality service. These facilities operate on some hidden river or on the shores of a lake concealed in the thickness of the rainforest with its constant chorus of sounds and the psychedelic color show in the sky. Usually they offer services of visits and guided for wildlife encounter to Tambopata National Reserve. Some lodges include visits to Valencia Lake, Sandoval Lake, Gamitana creek or Concepción. They wait for you at the airport from your arrival to Puerto Maldonado, and after your visit, they return you directly to the airport, or to Puerto Maldonado.

 

Close to Puerto Maldonado are located numerous lodges that have elaborated an excellent plan of activities in the rainforest. You also can find lodgings a little far away from the city. These lodges are usually located in the bank of a river and they have bungalows and cottages that have all the comforts, and others of more restricted services. Some of these places have investigation laboratories, orchid nurseries and special places for the observation.

 

From these points you will be able to carry out hikes to the interior of the forest of Tambopata National ReserveTake rides in canoes by small rivers and water-channels. You also can be in territories that have changed, a little or nothing, in the last 10,000 years and enjoy the magnificence of the jungle, knowing and sharing the same space with thousands of animal and botanical species.


It is possible that you can also visit native communities as part of the activities that the lodge prepare.

 

Some lodges offer alternative experiences as canopy walkways, sport fishing, ayahuasca rituals, and specialized tours as medicinal plants, safari photography, or bird watching with many endemic birds of this area, the highlight spot is the macaw clay lick.

 

Sport fishing: There are three Amazonian species considered trophies in the world of fishing: the chambira or payara, the tucunare (peacock bass), and the dorado.

 

Exploring from a Cruise

Cruise down the Madre de Dios or Tambopata rivers in a little catamaran and lose yourself amidst palm trees and exotic fruits as you marvel at the biodiversity of the surrounding forest.

 

During the voyage, visits are made to some villages and native communities, and they are carried out hikes by the jungle, night expeditions and sport fishing sessions. Many expedition cruises offer excursions on skiffs to remote reaches of the Amazon rainforest.

 

 

Vaccines:

Vaccination is not required to enter to Peru. If you have planned to carry out a long trip to the deep Amazon area it is advisable to be vaccinated against the yellow fever. Depending on the time that you estimate to be interned in the jungle, if this time will be long consult with your doctor the possibility to be vaccinated against the hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus and an anti malaria treatment.

 

 

Visit and travel

Inside Tambopata National Reserve, areas enabled for tourists and visitors exist, and other areas are only restricted for the entrance of investigators. In the area for tourists, exist lodging facilities.

 

There are jungle lodges in its interior, and near to it, that offer lodging and guided wildlife excursions for the tourists, as well as housing facilities and work for investigators and scientific.

 

To visit this reserve, you should arrive from Lima or Cuzco by air to Puerto Maldonado, and from there carry out a riverboat trip that lasts approximately 4 hours.


The entrance of tourists to this Reserve is restricted to certain areas, those that should be coordinated previously with the tour operators. To enter the reserve, prior authorization from INRENA is required. We recommend minimum 3 days in Tambopata area.

 

We consider indispensable to coordinate your expedition with expert guides and Jungle Tour Operator.

Check our Tours in Tambopata.



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