Imagine a journey that takes you by raft and dug-out canoe into the remotest corners of Peru’s Amazon Basin, where capybara, tapir and jaguar roam, where pristine tropical rain forest is your daily 360 degree view and the chatter of 530 species of birds are the first sounds you hear each morning. Pull up onto the river’s sandy banks for a night of camping under the stars, a delicious meal, and a chance to encounter more closely the wildlife glimpsed distantly from the raft the day before. Wiith some luck you see monkeys swinging from the trees and giant river otters sunbathing on the river shores.
This dream-like reality is the Tambopata River Expedition, a nine-day, eight-night adventure into the lush depths of the Bahuaja Sonene National Park of Peru, on the spectacular fringe of the Amazon Basin.
Due to its remoteness and few human inhabitants the Tambopata region is rich with biodiversity, harboring some of the most biodiverse rainforest in all of Peru, if not the entire Amazon Basin. The region is home to more than 10,000 species of plants, 8 species of macaws, 13 species of monkeys, 530 species of birds, ocelot, jaguar, capybara, tapir, caiman, giant river otters, and so, so much more.
The Highlights:
Tambopata Research Center & Eco-Lodge
This beautiful research center serves as the perfect base to wander deeper into the wildlife-filled rainforests, and maybe even spot a jaguar or two. During the evening, sit in on one of the nightly presentations by a resident researcher about the wildlife that surrounds.
Macaw Lick
The largest clay lick in South America, the Macaw Lick is a colorful sight, especially in the early morning hours. Situated next to the Tambopata Research Center, the lick attracts hundreds of macaws, parrots, and parakeets daily. Because of the long-standing research of the lick, the birds have become quite accustomed to humans allowing for some thrillingly close encounters with these colorful birds.
Giant River Otters
An endangered species, the giant river otter of the Amazon can only be found in the Tambopata region. The reason being that it’s one of the few protected and regulated areas of the region.
If you’re concerned about your impact on this biologically diverse region by visiting it, worry no more. Tours are limited to just three operators and each operator is limited to two to three trips per year. There are no roads or trails into this protected area. The river is the only way in and its current your only way forward. Additionally, by visiting the Tambopata Research Center, you are helping to support their important research into understanding and maintaining the biodiversity of this incredible region.
We invite you to review the full itinerary and find out the many incredible things you will discover along the way. For more information click here.