After city and Machu Pichcu finally we went to jungle for the end of our visit in Peru… We had flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldanado. We booked our trip from Rain forest Expeditions and included: transfer to and from Puerto Maldonado airport, all guided excursions, all meals, accommodation and entrance fee to the national reserve. Before trip buy repellent with 100% DEET and good sunscreen. You will need it.
It was very hot and humid day. They picked us up very fast to bus, and got snacks (banana, Brazilian nuts, salty banana chips) . They dropped off us to port after about 10min. We read lot of news that in Puerto Maldanado last weeks had more attacks on tourists and took money. Fortunately guides took us very fast to the boat without stop in office. They closed office because it wasn’t safe.
By boat it took about 3h. We got nice lunch (rice, eggs, veggies in banana leave). On the way was one stop for control. They are checking how many people coming and leaving. It was also break for restrooms, and move a little bit.
Refugio Amazonas
First day we spent in Refugio Amazonas. They started with meeting where guides introduced and told us about activities. Rooms are very nice and you are so close to nature. Rooms don’t have 4th wall…so you can have visitors in your room. You need to put all your food to special box. Evening after dinner we went for research tour when we were finding mots and trying to find new species. For morning we wanted canopy tower at 5 am. Unfortunately all night was big storm with thunders and strong wind. We barely slept this night. And because of storm we couldn’t go to Canopy tower…
Tambopata Research Center
We woke up for breakfast and at 8 am we had boat to next lodge – Tambopata Research Center. It took again 3-4 hr, with one stop for control in Malinowski Point. We reached there for lunch, got welcome drink and short presentation about center and activities.
We chose sunset cruise this day. If you like spiders or insects you can choose night tour.
Next day we woke up before 5 am to go for Macaw Clay lick tour. Sunrise was amazing and view of all this parrots and macaw ready to lick clay. Worth it, we did even next day again.
We also chose bird watching after breakfast. It was very good tour, unfortunately is really dense forest so birds weren’t very visible. But we saw monkeys, some birds and had some information about trees.
In the evening we went for sunset cruise. Beautiful tour, we have nice sunset. We were dreaming to see jaguar but no luck. We went again next day to see cat but we saw family of capybaras – the biggest rodent.
We recommend overlook tour – it is around 5 km hike in bamboo forest. We saw lot of birds and monkeys and view of Tambopata river was breathtaking.
We also were for Macaw project lecture – very interesting information about macaws.
Tours in Tambopata Research Center :
– Macaw clay lick
– Monkey search
– Sunset cruise
– Bird watching
– Overlook trail
– Night walk
– Amazon creek trail
– Giants of Amazon
– Island Exploration & Pond
– Macaw Project Lecture
Bring:
– binoculars
– camera
– clothes: tight-weave, light colored, long cotton pants, long sleeved, tight-weave, light colored cotton shirts
– ankle-high hiking boots and sneakers
– flashlight or headlamp with batteries
– sunscreen
– sunglasses
– hat
– rain suit or poncho
– insect repellent – good with 100% deet
– small backpack
– slippers or sandals for walking around the lodge
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