ITINERARY
Day 1 Cusco to Puerto Maldonado
45 minute flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado. Puerto Maldonado is located at the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers and has a typical frontier town feel about it. On arrival, assistance by one of our representatives to our office and here you will have the chance to off load any unnecessary luggage and store this in our safe deposit; this will help keep the boats light.
We now drive some 20km to the river port of Tambopata located within the native community of Infierno. Here we board the motorized canoes for a 2½ hour journey to Refugio Amazonas located on the Tambopata River. Journeying along the Tambopata River, we should be entertained by Black Skimmers, Pied Lapwing, Capped Heron, Jabiru Stork, Roadside Hawk, Kingfishers, Swallows and Flycatchers.
Depending on the timing of flights from Cusco, lunch will be presented on the boats or served on arrival at the lodge. The manager of the lodge will greet you and allowing time to settle in, will present a briefing in order that you get the most out of your stay in Tambopata. The remainder of the afternoon will be free to relax in the grounds of the lodge.
After dinner, we take to the canoes and with flash lights, search the river banks for Caiman. Caiman are the most popular of all crocodilian species and should not be difficult to spot as the beams of light reflect off the back of the retina noted by the bright red beacons projected from the dark river banks. The usual size of these reptiles is around 2 to 2.5 meters (male) and their powerful jaws contain over 70 teeth.
Overnight in Refugio Amazonas.
Day 2 Sachavacayoc Oxbow Lake and Brazil Nut forest
After an early breakfast, a two hour hike takes you to Sachavacayoc Lake. An Oxbow lake is caused by the loops of meanders that are cut off at times of flood and the river subsequently adopts a shorter course. We can paddle around this lake in a catamaran, searching for the resident family of five giant river otters and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman, hoatzin and horned screamers. We hike out at dawn - when otters are active. Don’t forget the two hour return hike! For those who do not want to take the long hike, Condenado Lake, thirty minutes from the lodge, is an option.
Following lunch, we will head down river by some 5 minutes and visit the farm and ethnobotanical garden of Don Manuel from the neighboring community of Condenado. He grows a variety of popular and unknown Amazon crops - just about every plant and tree you see serves a purpose. He has also identified and cultivated many of the medicinal plants used in the region in a little backyard garden.
On return to the lodge, nearby is a beautiful old growth patch of Brazil Nut forest that has been harvested for decades (if not centuries) where the precarious remains of a camp used two months a year by Brazil Nut gatherers can still be experienced. We will be demonstrating the whole process of the rain forest's only sustainably harvested product from collection through transportation to drying.
Dinner is served back at the lodge after which you have the option of a short night hike – this is when most of the mammals are active but rarely seen. Much easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories.
Overnight in Refugio Amazonas
Day 3 Parakeet clay lick and Canopy Tower.
A fifteen minute boat ride and sixty minute walk from Refugio Amazonas we will find a parakeet clay lick. There are three main reasons why these avian eat the clay: grit for grinding food, mineral supplementation and adsorption of dietary toxins. From a blind you will see parakeets descend on most clear days to ingest the clay on the bank. Species such as Dusky headed and Cobalt winged Parakeet descend at this clay lick. We may visit the clay lick at dawn, midmorning or early afternoon, when there is most activity.
Close to the lodge we will encounter a Mammal clay lick. Twenty minutes walking from Refugio Amazonas is a peccary clay lick. These wild rain forest pigs show up in herds of five to twenty individuals to eat clay in the late morning. Other wildlife also shows up including deer, guan and parakeets.
A relaxing lunch and now a short walk to the Canopy tower. The 25 meter scaffolding canopy tower has a bannistered staircase running through the middle providing safe access to the platforms above. The tower has been built upon high ground, therefore increasing your horizon of the continuous primary forest extending out towards the Tambopata National Reserve. From here views of mixed species such as toucans, macaws and raptors are likely.
After dinner, Tambopata National Reserve Lecture. Nightly lectures prepared by the staff of Refugio Amazonas cover conservation threats, opportunities and projects in the Tambopata National Reserve.
Overnight in Refugio Amazonas
Day 4 Refugio Amazonas lodge to Puerto Maldonado – flight to Lima or Cusco
Breakfast and then transfer boat back to the Tambopata River Port then on to our office in Puerto Maldonado where you will need to collect and sign for your stored belongings. Departures from the airport vary considerably so timings will be confirmed the day before your flight.
On arrival at Cusco or Lima, a member of our office team will met you at the airport and assist you with any arrangements you might need.
End of our services
Price per person in US Dollars $450.00 (valid through March 31st 2008)
Single supplement available on request
INCLUSIONS
- 3 nights of accommodation at lodge
- River transportation
- Transfer to and from the airport of Puerto Maldonado
- All meals
- Excursions
- Specialized English - Spanish speaking guide
- Return flight Cusco to Puerto Maldonado
NOT INCLUDED
- Gratuities per person USD 20.00
- International airport tax USD 33.00
- Domestic airport tax Cusco USD 4.28
Equipment required for Tambopata
Good binoculars
Camera gear – no availability to recharge batteries
Tight-weave, light colored, long cotton pants
Long sleeved, tight-weave, light colored cotton shirts
Ankle-high hiking boots and trainers
Flashlight with batteries
Sun block lotion
Sunglasses
Wide-brimmed hat
Rain jacket or poncho
Insect repellent
Money - Small denomination bills
Day pack.
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