Puerto Maldonado / Tambopata River
The port of Maldonado is at the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata
rivers. It is a major town with connections to Cusco by road and air. Arriving
by road will take you through some beautiful mountainous countryside before
descending down to less than five hundred metres above sea level.
From Puerto Maldonado it is necessary to take a canoe journey to reach the
pristine tropical rainforest of the Tambopata Candamo Reserved Zone (TCRZ).
This is a 6,000 square kilometre protected area of the South eastern Peruvian
rainforest. It contains the Tambopata jungle lodge, which has beautiful private
rooms with en suite facilities, a library, map and games rooms. It is constructed
from local materials with palm thatch and screened windows.
Further into the reserved zone is a research centre where there is an accommodation
lodge with comfortable double rooms, each with its own view of the surrounding
forest. There are showers, toilets, kitchen and dining areas. Camping is also
possible in certain parts of the reserved zone.
The TCRZ boasts observation platforms to view nesting Macaws (November to
March), at least six species of primates, the largest known Macaw clay lick,
and twenty-five kilometres of forest trails through seven different bird habitats.
There are also ox-bow lakes where you can paddle a catamaran in search of elusive
mammals.
Below are three sample programmes for Tambopata. These represent the shortest
time possible to visit (i) the jungle lodge and its trails (ii) the macaw lick,
and (iii) a combination of both. However, we strongly recommend that you consider
staying longer, especially to see the more elusive birds and animals. Extra
days can be added to all these programmes.
Please contact us if you require trips of a different duration and/or a different
composition.
Code METL3: Three days.
Fly In and Out. Tambopata Jungle Lodge only.
Day One. Flight to Puerto Maldonado and rendezvous with your guide. A packed
lunch is provided for the motorised canoe trip, upriver, to the Tambopata jungle
lodge. After settling in, there is an exploratory walk into the surrounding
rainforest. Dinner in the lodge.
Day Two. After an early breakfast you will be transferred to wildlife trails
across the river. Your guide will accompany you to the Condenado lake system.
Here, it is possible to find Giant Otters and many exotic birds. After exploring
the lakes by paddle canoe its back to the lodge for lunch. The afternoon is
free for relaxing. In the evening its back onto the river to search for caiman
and other nocturnal animals.
Day Three. We start at dawn back downriver to Puerto Maldonado. The cool of
the morning and the clear skies makes this a great time to travel. It is possible
to see many different animals and birds at this time of day. Your guide will
transfer you to the airport and take care of all pre-departure necessities.
Code METRC4: Four days.
Fly In and Out. Tambopata Jungle Lodge and Macaw
Clay Lick.
Day One. Flight to Puerto Maldonado and rendezvous with your guide. A packed
lunch is provided for the motorised canoe trip, upriver, to the Tambopata jungle
lodge. After settling in, there is an exploratory walk into the surrounding
rainforest. Dinner in the lodge.
Day Two. After an early breakfast your canoe continues deeper into the reserved
zone. Lunch is provided on your arrival near to the Tambopata Research Centre.
In the afternoon, there are twenty-five kilometres of forest trails to explore.
Overnight at the research centre or camping near the Macaw lick.
Day Three. A pre-dawn start to arrive at the clay lick (Collpa) before the
birds. This is the largest known clay lick in the world, where you may see
parakeets, parrots, macaws, howler monkeys, capybara, and tapir. After lunch,
the canoe takes you back downriver to the Tambopata jungle lodge for dinner
and an early night.
Day Four. We start at dawn back downriver to Puerto Maldonado. The cool of
the morning and the clear skies makes this a great time to travel. It is possible
to see many different animals and birds at this time of day. Your guide will
transfer you to the airport and take care of all pre-departure necessities.
Code METRC6: Six days.
Fly In and Out. Tambopata Jungle Lodge and Macaw Clay
Lick.
Day One. Flight to Puerto Maldonado and rendezvous with your guide. A packed
lunch is provided for the motorised canoe trip, upriver, to the Tambopata jungle
lodge. After settling in, there is an exploratory walk into the surrounding
rainforest. Dinner in the lodge.
Day Two. After an early breakfast you will be transferred to wildlife trails
across the river. Your guide will accompany you to the Condenado lake system.
Here, it is possible to find Giant Otters and many exotic birds. After exploring
the lakes by paddle canoe its back to the lodge for lunch. The afternoon is
free for relaxing. In the evening you are back onto the river to search for
caiman and other nocturnal animals.
Day Three. After an early breakfast your canoe continues deeper into the reserved
zone. Lunch is provided on your arrival near to the Tambopata Research Centre.
In the afternoon, there is a further twenty-five kilometres of forest trails
to explore. Overnight at the research centre or camping near the Macaw lick.
Day Four. A pre-dawn start to arrive at the clay lick (Collpa) before the
birds. This is the largest known clay lick in the world, where you may see
parakeets, parrots, macaws, howler monkeys, capybara, and tapir. After lunch,
the canoe takes you back downriver to the Tambopata jungle lodge for dinner
and an early night.
Day Five. A short boat ride delivers you to the second trail hike possible
from the jungle lodge. A logger trail takes you the spectacular hidden lake
Sachavacayoc (Tapir Lake). After lunch, back at the lodge, the afternoon is
free for relaxing and bathing in the nearby Gallocunca, a cool clear stream
beside the lodge.
Day Six. We start at dawn back downriver to Puerto Maldonado. The cool of
the morning and the clear skies makes this a great time to travel. It is possible
to see many different animals and birds at this time of day. Your guide will
transfer you to the airport and take care of all pre-departure necessities.
Manu Explorer Service includes:
- Transfers to and from your hotel
- All departures are from Cusco (but we are happy to arrange connecting
flights from Lima and other points of arrival).
- All surface transportation is private
- Bi-lingual professional guides
- Three meals per day and snacks
- Bottled drinking water provided
- Highest quality equipment
- Showers and Toilets when camping
- Medical supplies and emergency equipment
- Radio Communication in the field
- All permits and fees (including airport taxes)
Excess flight baggage (over 10 kilos) is charged at $2 USD per kilo each way.
N.B. The nature of flying in the Andes can render flights liable to rescheduling.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you allow for some flexibility in your
other travel arrangements e.g. give yourself a day or so to relax in Cusco
after your trip.
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- 2007
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