Peru Amazon Extension | Refugio Amazonas

To begin your rainforest adventure, you will take a quick flight from Lima or Cuzco to the Amazonian city of Puerto Maldonado, in Southeastern Peru. Upon arrival at Puerto Maldonado Airport, a Refugio Amazonas representative will greet you and accompany you on the journey to the lodge. You will be taken on a one-hour road trip, followed by a tranquil 1-hour boat trip on the Tambopata River, to arrive at Refugio Amazonas. During the trip, there will be a stop at the local office where you can repack your luggage, bringing only necessary items for the next four days.

*Guests are allowed to bring only one carry-on of a maximum of 15kg per person; all other luggage must be left in storage at the office.

Upon reaching the lodge, you will be warmly welcomed and given a brief orientation. After dinner, you have the option to participate in a night walk, where you can observe the animals that are active during the evening, but often difficult to spot. The nocturnal frogs, with their captivating shapes and colors, as well as interesting sounds, can be seen more easily.

Please note: The Peruvian Amazon is a very remote region. Cruise and lodge operators design transfer schedules to align with specific incoming and departing flights to maximise their operations. Frequent flight schedule changes can also complicate matters. We strongly advise consulting with your booking agent prior to confirming your flights to avoid any potential long delays and/or missed connections.

*Refugio Amazonas offers a variety of on-site activities and excursions that can be customized. The itinerary presented below is provided as an example and may be subject to changes depending on weather, availability, or your personal preferences.

After breakfast, you'll have the opportunity to explore the Condenado lake's wildlife from a canoe or catamaran, where you can spot exotic creatures like hoatzin, caiman, horned screamers, macaws, and rare otters. Later, you'll embark on a thirty-minute walk from the lodge to a 25-meter canopy tower with a staircase, offering stunning views of toucans, macaws, and raptors from the treetops.

After lunch, you'll visit a local farm to learn about Amazonian crops and local agriculture. An ethnobotanical tour will follow, where you'll gain insights into the medicinal practices of the region. In the evening, Refugio staff will offer engaging lectures that cover conservation challenges, opportunities, and projects in the Tambopata National Reserve.

Experience the magnificent spectacle of a clay lick, where you'll witness vibrant-colored macaws, parrots, and parakeets feast on clay. Species such as dusky-headed and cobalt-winged parakeets are frequently seen, and with some luck, you may also spot blue-headed pionus, various species of macaws and parrots.

After lunch, you'll embark on a brief hike from the lodge to a stunning Brazil nut forest, which has been sustainably harvested for decades. Here, you'll learn about the entire process of collecting, transporting, and drying one of the rainforest's only sustainable product.

In the afternoon, the medicinal plants' trail will take you on a journey to explore the vast array of plants and trees that the local population has used for centuries to heal their bodies and minds. You may recognize some of the names, such as Sacha-Ajos, Uña De Gato, Sacha-Charcot, Para-Para, Ayahuasca, among others.

After breakfast, you will embark on a two-hour journey back to Puerto Maldonado for your departure flight. The trip includes a 1-hour boat ride followed by a 1-hour road transfer to Puerto Maldonado. This provides a final opportunity to immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural scenery of the Tambopata National Reserve, offering a chance to spot a variety of wildlife along the way.

Please note: The Peruvian Amazon is a very remote region. Cruise and lodge operators design transfer schedules to align with specific incoming and departing flights to maximise their operations. Frequent flight schedule changes can also complicate matters. We strongly advise consulting with your booking agent prior to confirming your flights to avoid any potential long delays and/or missed connections.