Tambopata luxury lodge

04 Days / 03 Nights

An eco-luxury lodge in front of Madre de Dios River, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica has 35 wooden cabanas inspired in the Ese’Eja culture.

540 bird species have been inventoried in hotel grounds, deep in the rainforest.

Puerto Maldonado, in the Southern Peruvian rainforest near the Bolivian and Brazilian borders, is the gateway to one of the world’s most remote and extraordinary tropical environments. Your journey will take you to the heart of the Tambopata National Reserve, where you will experience magnificent beauty in the sounds, scents, colors and solitude of the rainforest. You will find yourself surrounded by a vast environment, connecting with nature in an entirely new way.

Travelling to Tambopata National Reserve offers a rare opportunity to discover a lively biodiversity of birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and trees. Record-setting numbers of animal species are concentrated within small areas, and the variety of plant life is greater than almost anywhere in the world. To help you experience the wonder of this magic place, we have prepared a suggested itinerary for your stay at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Lima – Puerto Maldonado – Tambopata lodge

Arrive into Puerto Maldonado, coined the Capital of Biodiversity. Transfer by road to our pier and begin your Amazon adventure with a 45-minute boat ride along the serpentine Madre de Dios River.

The motorized wooden boat hugs the meandering river banks to reach your eco-lodge, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, ensconced in the heart of the rainforest. After a short briefing, settle into your palm-thatched cabana set within Peru’s first ever private ecological reserve, established by Inkaterra in 1975 to protect this sensitive environment.

After lunch, retreat to your rustic-luxury cabin for a nap or a swing in your hammock before choosing from the wide range of à la carte guided excursions with your expert Inkaterra explorer guide.

We recommend walking along the trail system for an immersive introduction into the intricate biodiversity of the Amazon basin and the layers of the rainforest. Wind your way through towering trees, like the Shihuahuaco, as your ears tune in to the croaks, rustles and calls of the exotic wildlife inhabiting this rich ecosystem. There are excellent opportunities for birding and observing a cornucopia of flora. Keep your camera ready just in case sloths or monkeys appear dangling from the treetops.

In the late afternoon, we highly recommend taking our gentle twilight river excursion to witness the jungle transform from a diurnal to a nocturnal world: animals and birds of the daytime give way to species specially adapted to the shadows of the night. You may be able to spot the likes of nightjars, owls, capybaras and big caiman lurking on the riverbanks.

Amazonian-inspired dinner is served in the main dining room from 19:00-22:00 where we invite you to enjoy a complimentary Pisco Sour cocktail. Back in your comfortable cabana, listen to the intriguing cacophony of critters that inhabit the rainforest surrounding the lodge.

Day 2: Tambopata Lodge

The sunlight squeezes through the dense trees as jungle inhabitants awake from their slumber.

Optionally join them in the early hours, with buffet breakfast served from 05:00 am. Visit Lake Sandoval this morning, a glassy, ox-bow lake located inside the protected Tambopata National Reserve. Reached via a sun-dappled jungle trail, Inkaterra explorer guides enjoy regaling visitors with their tales of unexpected encounters with poison frogs and camouflaged creatures.

Board a dug-out wooden canoe to quietly paddle through mangroves and glide onto Lake Sandoval, flanked by picture-perfect palms. This serene lake is home to thousands of species of birds, the endangered giant river otter, red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles and black caimans. Return to Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, we recommend climbing the exhilarating Inkaterra Canopy Walkway and navigating the Anaconda Walk. The Inkaterra Canopy Walkway is a sophisticated and safe 344 meter (1,135 feet) network of seven ecologically constructed hanging suspension bridges, strung between eight treetop observation platforms above the forest floor. This is an unforgettable opportunity to observe the rainforest from the rooftop and gain a sense of its colossal size.

Ascend the first vertiginous tower 38 meters (124 feet) above ground, keeping an eye out for bright toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys and the three-toed sloth. It’s possible to extend your elevated amble with sunset drinks from atop a tower – or spend a once-in-a-lifetime night in a specially-designed treehouse cabin with surprising creature comforts (additional cost applies).

After descending, enjoy a 30-minute Anaconda Walk that follows a 200-meter (656 feet) raised wooden platform over the atmospheric flooded aguajales swamp. In this lush ecosystem you may observe various species of amphibians, birds, mammals, abundant flora and interesting trees – there is even a chance you might spot snakes.

Back at the lodge, you can opt to enjoy a daily nature presentation in the Eco Center or book yourself an indulgent spa treatment.

À la carte dinner is served from 19:00 pm.

Day 3: Tambopata Lodge

Journey 25-minutes by boat to Gamitana Farm and creek to unearth more of the mysteries of the rainforest. The Amazon is an almost endless source of exotic fruits and vegetables, many with healing properties that support local communities living in the remote jungle.

At Gamitana model farm, engulfed by the sounds and scents of the Amazon, you will get to see how a variety of produce is grown by local farmers and sample some seasonal forest fruits. Follow a dense jungle trail under the virescent canopy to reach Gamitana creek. This winding, dark water creek is home to abundant flora and fauna, with many piranhas, caiman, turtles and birds hiding in its murky waters and riverbanks. Return to Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica for lunch.

Head 35-minutes upriver to Inkaterra’s sister lodge: Hacienda Concepción, built on an old cocoa and rubber plantation. This site formerly functioned as a medical center, set up by Catholic missionaries in the 1950’s, as well as a center for ecological research. With over 200 different plant species found here, see why the rainforest is often considered the world’s largest pharmacy and learn about their uses and benefits up-close in this natural classroom.

Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing 30-minute canoe trip to look for turtles, sun grebes, nightjars and exotic herons before returning to your lodge. Under the cover of darkness, venture out for two-hours for the Rainforest by night excursion through Inkaterra’s ecological reserve. Armed with flashlights, duck under tree boughs as your senses heighten to the movements in the undergrowth and nocturnal forest sounds that appear in different directions around you. With your expert explorer guide, encounter animal activity and spot species that only emerge with the veil of nightfall.

Day 4: Tambopata Lodge – Puerto Maldonado – Lima

With a staggering roster of wildlife found in and around Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica – 540 bird species have been inventoried in the grounds of the lodge – enjoy your last morning in this unspoilt natural wonderland as parakeets chatter away in the trees and capybara mammals scurry between vibrant orchid-rich gardens.

Check-out is at 10:00 am, depending on your departure flight time lunch can also be arranged today (additional cost applies). Embark your ready-waiting boat for the 45-minute return trip along the snaking Madre de Dios River.

You will make a short visit to a Butterfly house before reaching the airport. Peru boasts the greatest variety of butterflies in the world, with 3,700 known species. Many of these can be seen at the Butterfly house, which serves to showcase the variety, beauty and adaptability of these fascinating insects. Please note that this four-day journey is a suggested itinerary. Activities and excursions can be chosen on an à la carte basis on arrival at the lodge and are subject to change depending on weather conditions at the time of your visit.

**Prices may vary depending on travel dates. For more information, fill in the form to get in contact with a Travel Advisor.

What’s included:

03 nights in Lodge with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
All transfers.
English speaking guides.
All tours and visits as described.
All entrance fees.

Not included:

Meals unless mentioned.
Tips.
Flight tickets Lima – Puerto Maldonado – Lima.

Important information:

What to bring ?

Long pants and long sleeve shirt made from light, breathable, quick-dry material.
Good water resistant trekking shoes.
Raingear (back-up gear is a good idea).
Binoculars.
Canteen.
Sun block, sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Insect repellent.
A converter (voltage is 220). The hotel has a limited number of converters available.
Contact lens solution and an extra set of contact lenses or glasses.
Don’t forget your camera and/or video camera (we recommend a waterproof case), and, if it is not digital, bring plenty of film!
Extra batteries. Thank you for considering that Peru does not have a battery recycling project. Please take your used. batteries with you, or leave them at the Ecocenter.

Arrival and transportation:

A 20-minute flight from Cusco brings you to Puerto Maldonado Airport, where our staff will greet you. Luggage not needed during your rainforest stay can be stored at our office headquarters in Puerto Maldonado, located near the airport.

Following a 10-minute bus transfer to the port, you will board a motorized dugout canoe for your trip to your selected property. The journey down Madre de Dios River allows travelers to appreciate the spectacular scenery that will be part of the rainforest experience. Transportation by boat is also provided upon your departure.

Health:

The US Travel Advisory for Peru usually recommends yellow fever shots and malaria-preventive medication for tourists travelling to rainforest regions. Please consult your doctor at least a month before visiting the Amazon basin. No cases of yellow fever or malaria have ever been reported on the properties.

Weather:

The weather is tropical, with an average temperature of 32°C (89° F), ranging from 25°C (77° F) to 42°C (107° F). The hotter season usually ranges from December to March and comes with frequent afternoon rainfall. Between June and September you may need some warmer clothing, since occasional “friajes” or Patagonia Cold Fronts can reduce the temperature to 10°C (50°F).

Cool comfortable cotton clothes are required to counter the heat while sweaters and jackets may be handy at night.

Equipment and luggage:

It is important that you bring only necessary clothing and equipment to the lodge in your carry-on luggage. Due to weight and space limitations on the boat, passenger luggage is limited to 10 kg. (22 lbs.) per person. Additional luggage will be kept in our storage at Puerto Maldonado.

Communication and telephone signal:

There is limited telephone access and no mobile phone coverage at the lodge. In case of emergency the guest service department can contact the office in town via radio.

Currency and foreign exchange:

The official currency is the Sol (PEN). The lodge accepts major credit cards. There are no facilities to exchange Travelers’ checks; travelers are advised to have cash (in Soles) on hand as foreign currency exchange is limited. It is advisable to exchange to Soles before going to the lodge, though payment is accepted in both US Dollars and/ or in Soles.