Tambopata Research Center

Stays of Distinction

SUMMARY

4 Days

Amazon, Peru

Nestled in the heart of the untamed Amazon Jungle in Puerto Maldonado, the Tambopata Research Center (TRC) beckons adventurous travelers with its pristine and remote location. As one of South America’s most secluded rainforest lodges, it offers a remarkable opportunity to immerse oneself in the natural wonders of the Amazon. The journey to TRC, which involves a scenic bus and boat ride, takes under four hours, leading you to one of the wildest and most remote regions in Peru.

The lodge itself is a haven of serenity, nestled within untouched floodplain rainforests that teem with life. Here, Amazonian Tapirs, Jaguars, and seven species of playful monkeys roam freely, while the vibrant presence of six species of macaws, including the majestic Blue & Yellow and Scarlet Macaws, adds a splash of color to the surroundings. A nearby clay lick becomes a spectacle as thousands of parrots and parakeets gather, an awe-inspiring sight that has graced the pages of National Geographic.

The Tambopata Research Center (TRC) Lodge welcomes you with rooms designed to embrace the essence of the jungle. Each room boasts a wall open to the surrounding wilderness, allowing you to enjoy the diverse ecosystem safely, even during moments of downtime. The lodge’s intimate setting, with only 24 rooms, brings you as close as possible to the heart of the jungle. The four room categories offer varying levels of comfort, each equipped with a private bathroom for your convenience.

At TRC, unparalleled service and a commitment to environmental responsibility set the lodge apart. As a carbon-neutral establishment, it embraces sustainable practices to preserve the pristine environment that envelops it. Furthermore, the option to have a private guide throughout your stay adds an extra touch of personalized exploration to your Amazonian adventure.

In conclusion, the Tambopata Research Center (TRC) Lodge is a gateway to a world of untamed beauty, where the harmony of nature and comfort intertwine. It is a place where you can connect deeply with the Amazon’s vibrant life, guided by expert knowledge and surrounded by the awe-inspiring wonders of the rainforest. Let TRC be your sanctuary in the heart of the Amazon, an extraordinary experience that will leave you with cherished memories and a profound appreciation for the delicate balance of this magnificent ecosystem.

HIGHLIGHTS

Because of its remote location, there are no humans nearby, so you can see more monkeys, Macaws and other large and endangered species than anywhere else.
Visit the two most important clay licks in the region: Colorado and Chuncho. Visit these special portions of riverbank while Macaws and Parrots make a raucous and colourful spectacle which inspired a National Geographic cover story
Walks and easy hikes to bamboo, flood plain, terra firma, palm and riverine rainforest habitats
The lodge now features 300 meters of elevated walkways! These walkways are located in the perfect level of the forest — in between the canopy and the floor — where wildlife becomes more active, allowing you unprecedented opportunities to spot animals
Some of the wildlife seen in the lodge include Jaguar, Capybara, White Lipped Peccary, Toucan, and Hoatzin
Several monkey species including Squirrel Monkey, Dusky Titi Monkey, Spider Monkeys, and Red Howler Monkeys
This lodge is family-friendly as many activities can be oriented for kids

ITINERARY

Day 1 Puerto Maldonado

Arrive in Puerto Maldonado where you will be greeted by our local representatives and transferred 1 hour by bus to the pier. Continue by boat for 2.5 hr to the lodge. Your first taste of the Amazon culinary will be in the river while you leave the city to enjoy the amazing jungle landscapes.
The boat ride is pleasant and often includes your first sightings of Macaws, Heron, Caiman and Capybara. Once the boat arrives at the lodge dock, you will have officially arrived at the wild rainforests of Tambopata!
Excursions are a la carte, so depending on your interests you can pick the tours you’d like. Suggested for today:
This afternoon join the Overlook A three to five-kilometre hike will lead us to overlooks commanding magnificent views of the Tambopata winding its way into the lowlands.
You will have the option of hiking out at night when most of the mammals are active but difficult to see. Easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories.

Day 2 Puerto Maldonado

A new day to explore the Amazon. Choose your preferred expedition.
– Parrot Clay Lick: On most clear mornings of the year, dozens of large macaws and hundreds of parrots congregate on this large river bank in a loud and colourful spectacle which inspired a National Geographic cover story. Discretely located fifty meters from the cliff, you can observe Green-winged, Scarlet and Blue-and-gold Macaws and several species of smaller parrots descend to ingest clay. Outings are at dawn when the lick is most active.
– Monkey search: close to the lodge there is a five-kilometre trail that covers the prototypical rain forest with immense trees crisscrossed by creeks and ponds. Amongst the figs, ceibas, and shihuahuacos trees, it is possible to spot Squirrel, Brown Capuchin, and Spider Monkeys as well as peccaries.
– Ten minutes upriver from the lodge, there is a tiny pond with a platform in the middle. This is a great place to spot waterfowl such as Muscovy duck, sunbittern and hoatzin along with the woodpeckers, oropendolas, flycatchers, and parakeets.
After dinner scientists will provide a lecture, an in-depth look at the biology of macaws, their feeding habits, the theories for clay lick use, their breeding and feeding ecology, population fluctuations and the threats to their conservation.

Day 3 Puerto Maldonado

Another day to explore the Amazon
– Rainforest Master Hike: this hike is the perfect outing for hardcore hikers and nature lovers. You’ll pass through an array of ecosystems and an endless network of trails which maximises your opportunities to spot jungle wildlife. Due to their years of local experience, the TRC guides know everything about the forest. They’ll spot the tiniest bird hiding in the canopy, the most elusive monkey, and the most spectacular plant life. This hike will leave you with unforgettable memories and a profound sense of accomplishment.
– Sunset Cruise: Twilight descends early in the jungle. Under the thick tree cover of the rainforest, darkness falls quickly, when the light cannot slip through the foliage any longer. Now, as afternoon slips into evening, you’re about to see one of the world’s most spectacular sunsets. The Sunset Cruise floats down the wide river, countless oranges and pinks reflecting off the water in lovely patterns.

Day 4 Puerto Maldonado

Very early this morning we board the motorboat and head back downstream to Puerto Maldonado. You will be transferred to headquarters to pick up your luggage and then to the airport for your onward flight.