The Tambopata Reserve

Tambopata National Reserve

The Tambopata Reserve, or the largest city in this region, namely Puerto Maldonado, can be reached with a direct flight from Cusco so that one does not have to return to Lima first. This makes it easy to combine with a tour in Peru, where the rainforest is usually added at the end. Our advice is a 4 day /3 nights tour to the Inotawa Lodge in the Tambopata Reserve. This lodge is fairly basic like most lodges in the rainforest but has a very good program with professional and enthusiastic guides. Highly recommended for anyone who really wants to experience the rainforest.

If you prefer more comfort, then other options such as Refugio Amazonas, Posada Amazonas or the Tambopata Research Center are better suited. For more information about these or other options, please inform via our form, email or WhatsApp.

INOTAWA LODGE - 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

DAY 1

Upon arrival at the airport of Puerto Maldonado, our guide will be waiting for you and you will first be taken to our office, located about 5 minutes from the airport in a suburb of the city of Puerto Maldonado. Here you can safely leave most of the luggage. In order to lose as little time as possible, it is therefore most convenient that you have already prepared the bag or backpack with the items that go with you, or at least have already selected it.

Then we go via a dirt road to the port of Puerto Nuevo located in the infierno-Community. This ride takes about one hour and on route we can see different types of forest, traditional banana plantations, Citrus plantations, cattle farms and small creeks. Once in Puerto Nuevo we will start our one and a half hour boat trip on the Tambopata River. During the boat trip we will also have lunch, namely a delicious vegetarian 'rice Chaufa' wrapped in banana leaves. There is also fruit, crackers and a bottle of water for everyone. We will enter the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve and the Bahuaja Sonene National Park. During the trip by boat we see vegetation along the banks that mainly consists of strips of reeds, Cecropias and Ficus. We can also see wild animals such as different species of river birds especially the Oropendola with its typical hanging nests and breeding colonies, we see herons and other species of birds that can fly over, such as toucans or beautiful macaws. With a bit of luck we will even see mammals such as capibaras and monkeys or reptiles such as the spectacular caimans and turtles.

As soon as we arrive at the Inotawa Lodge, the manager of the Lodge will receive us and your guide will tell you what you should and should not do so that you can enjoy your stay in the rainforest to the fullest. You will then be taken to your room in the main house or separate bungalow. In the afternoon we go into the jungle for a small walk to observe the flora. For example, we see huge trees of hardwood, we see the kapok trees and birds such as Trogons (Trogonidae), quails and wild turkeys. As soon as it gets dark we can also find spiders such as tarantulas and other nocturnal animals. After dinner, your guide will give you a little explanation of what to expect and explain the different activities during your stay. Depending on the weather conditions, the order of the activities as described here can sometimes differ slightly. This will be decided in mutual consultation with the guide.

DAY 2

La Torre Clay Lick

We get up early today and then go fifteen minutes upstream to see the macaws, parrots, parakeets and sometimes a mammal busy at the so-called clay lick. La Torre Clay Lick is a mud bank about four meters high and twenty meters wide with veins of mineral rich clay that are essential for the nutrition of these animals. From our observation post, at a distance of about thirty meters that keeps us hidden from the animals, we have a clear view of the spectacle that takes place in front of us. During this unique phenomenon, it is important that the rules and guidelines established by our guide the previous evening are complied with, so that the animals can go about their business unhindered. After this we will return to the lodge and have breakfast. After our breakfast and a short rest in the lodge we go to the Tres Chimbadas lake.

Tres Chimbadas lake

The entrance to this lake is about a fifteen minute boat ride away, downstream from the Inotawa Lodge. We then walk in about 45 minutes to the lake located deep in the jungle. During the walk we pass through an eco-tourist area managed by the indigenous people of the infierno Community. They protect and maintain the area partly thanks to the income generated by the entrance fee to the reserve, paid for by the tourists. At the lake itself we board a traditional catamaran with a single pry strap (only 1 belt /paddle) to sail around on the lake. We can see lush vegetation as well as various birds such as snake-necked birds, herons, kingfishers etc. With a bit of luck we will also see reptiles and mammals such as the giant otter. The lake happens to be the territory of a family of giant otters that can often be seen here. It is also possible to fish ('catch and release') and sometimes there is even a piranha. Once back at the Lodge, lunch is served and after some rest we leave for an excursion to a local farm.

The Farm

Traditional agriculture is practiced in the area. This is a great opportunity to try various exotic fruits of the Amazon such as Copazú, Arazá, Pijuayo, Yucca, and pineapple. There are also several spices such as turmeric and coriander, as well as an array of medicinal plants, pine nuts, sugar cane and chili peppers that are traditionally and widely used by locals. The farms also create open spaces for the cultivation of papaya and banana. This is the habitat of choice for birds such as the velvet gas, troopials, oropendolas, blue-breasted woodpecker and various species of woodpeckers.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 3

Cocococha Lake Trek

This two and a half hour tour is very interesting. We will pass different types of jungle with important species of trees that are typical of the biodiversity of the Madre de Dios region in which the Inotawa Lodge is located, such as the rubber tree and the Brazil nut. Cocococha Lake is located deep in the Tambopata National Reserve and covers an area of about 60 hectares surrounded by wetlands and hills. This variation in altitude and vegetation, combined with minimal human influence, has led to a very high level of biodiversity. It also forms an important habitat for many of the endangered and emblematic species such as macaws, black caimans and giant otters that can feed and reproduce here in peace. We will be back at the lodge in time for lunch. After some rest we will walk along the marked paths near the lodge and look for old trees.

Night boat trip

In the evening we go out in boat to enjoy the unspoiltness of this area and the sounds that surround us. Perhaps we see a thunderstorm on the horizon or in a cloudless sky we can admire the stars such as the Southern Cross or the constellation Scorpio. We will bring a powerful flashlight in case we encounter some nocturnal animals such as caimans, bats, nightjars or capibaras on the banks and meanders of the Tambopata River. Then we go back and dinner is served.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 4

Today we get up early and after our breakfast we sail back downstream towards Puerto Maldonado. Along the banks we see rising fog. After about an hour of sailing we arrive back at Puerto Nuevo and we pick up the stuff at the office. After this we say goodbye to the guide and you will be taken to the airport for your flight back to Cusco or Lima.

Meals included: breakfast