Tambopata Travel Guide

  Moshe on the boat ride to Tambopata
by roaming-mosh
 
  • Moshe on the boat ride to Tambopata
      Moshe on the boat ride to Tambopata
    by roaming-mosh
  • On the Canopy Tower- Refugio Amazonas- Tambopata
      On the Canopy Tower- Refugio Amazonas-...
    by roaming-mosh
  • Canoeing on the Oxbow lake
      Canoeing on the Oxbow lake
    by roaming-mosh
  • Climbing inside the 'Fichus Strangulador'
      Climbing inside the 'Fichus...
    by roaming-mosh
  • Moshe eating some fresh Copuacu
      Moshe eating some fresh Copuacu
    by roaming-mosh
 

Explore Tambopata

Things to Do  

Medicine Man Visit - Ayahuasca and Life's Fate

Medicine Man Visit - Ayahuasca and Life's Fate, Tambopata

 intiqori Says:  While visiting the Peruvian rainforest, my group had the opportunity to visit one of the local medicine men. We took a boat downriver to the plot of land on which the medicine man had cultivated several gardens containing dozens of local medicinal plants. His assistant took... 

Animal watching

Animal watching, Tambopata

 bluedook Says:  Twice daily treks and canoe trips to see the wildlife. these are included in the price of the Sandoval lake lodge. The most spectacular animals were the giant otters and the macaws but unfortunately these were the worst pictures. A great way to spend the last few days of a... 

Pirahna Fishing

Pirahna Fishing, Tambopata

 CrazyShoes Says:  All you need is some meat. Yes, chunks of beef. Put them on your rod and watch your line get yanked over and over. Sometimes they swipe a whole chunk of meat from under your nose. Sneaky buggers. We caught a few along with some catfish. The guides were better fishers than... 

Hitting the trails

Hitting the trails, Tambopata

 CrazyShoes Says:  Your guide will surely take you on a day and night walk through the jungle. Stay close to your group. We almost got lost in the dark by not paying attention. Scary.Keep your eyes and ears peeled and you should see some interesting stuff. From uh, ahem, interesting trees to... 

Looking for a Caiman (OK crocs!)

Looking for a Caiman (OK crocs!), Tambopata

 CrazyShoes Says:  At night hopefully your tour guide will take you out on the motorized canoe to look for caimans. The canoe will slowly cruise down the river while someone aims a powerful spotlight towards the banks. If there is one out there you will see it's eyes glowing. It can be hit and... 

Colpa Colorado

Colpa Colorado, Tambopata

 CrazyShoes Says:  There exists approximately 1,300 species of birds in the Amazon. Among them we find the rare harpy eagle as well as countless migratory birds, and a great diversity of parrots and macaws. The latter give us the opportunity to see, at the Colpa Colorado, a Macaw Clay Lick,... 

Sunset at the Sandoval Lake

Sunset at the Sandoval Lake, Tambopata

 ryuhome Says:  We ran into some rain when we got there. But I think the sea otters were very active after the rain. The rain might have lessen the beauty of the sunset a little bit, but still pretty good. 

Restaurants  

Posadas Amazonas: Watch out for Extra Protein
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GoogleGuru 23 reviews

Eating at the jungle lodges can be a bit of a challenge. Dinner especially - Usually held after sundown, the candles lighting the tables are magnets for insects. Make sure you cover your glass and/or plate when eating to avoid unwanted protein :)

Written Nov 19, 2004

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Nightlife  

Spotting for caimen at night
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ryuhome 115 reviews

This is quite an exiciting adventure. Our guide caught one and let us feel its skin.

Dress Code: Dress appropriately for bugs!

Written Sep 4, 2005

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Transportation  

Torpedo Canoe

Torpedo Canoe, Tambopata

 CrazyShoes Says:  Well you really have no other option, you will ride in one of these. This is the only way to get to the various lodges in the jungle. They go pretty fast and keep your eyes open for wildlife. Here's a tip: everyone on the same side of the canoe should't get up at once ;) 

Wasai truck

Wasai truck, Tambopata

 ryuhome Says:  This converted truck with thatched roof and bucket seats is fun to ride. But watch out for bumps on the way to the boarding place for the boat. 

Local Customs  

Gold miners
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ryuhome 115 reviews

You'll see goldminers sifting through sand with thier simple apparatus. They'll find a few grams of gold each week , but these people are quite poor.

Written Sep 4, 2005

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Warnings and Dangers  

DEET advice

DEET advice, Tambopata

 ryuhome Says:  Insect repellent with 30-40% DEET should protect you adequately. More concetration only length the time of protection. DEET is a pretty strong stuff, avoid getting it into your eyes and mouth. Spray some on your hand and then aplly to you face. I got some spray on my... 

Beware of mosquitos when you swim

Beware of mosquitos when you swim, Tambopata

 ryuhome Says:  I was unscathed for the first 2 days wearig long sleeves and using a moderate amout of DEET. Then we went to the waterfall. It was OK while you're in the water. But when I got up and walk on the top of the fall, that's when I got massacred! Actually these damages were done... 

What to Pack  

A few vital things

A few vital things, Tambopata

 CrazyShoes Says:  Pack light. There could be restrictions on the canoe based on how many people are on it. Some places let you leave bags at their office before you depart to the lodge. Most trip to this area are only a few days anyway. Remember, there aren't any malls in the jungle.. OK the... 

Bring a pair of good binoculars

Bring a pair of good binoculars, Tambopata

 ryuhome Says:   You'll be watching the macaws from a distance. Good binoculars will help. A tripod will really help. 

Off The Beaten Path  

Waterfall At Cat River
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

ryuhome 115 reviews

A small waterfall - its fun to play in it in the hot afternoon. The bottom is consisted of very mushy mud with a few occasionly shrp rocks at the bottom. Get under the fall, the water will give you a good shoulder and back massage. You can also jump off the fall from the deep end.

Written Sep 4, 2005

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Favorites  

An Amazonian heaven

An Amazonian heaven, Tambopata

 roaming-mosh Says:  3 hours boat ride from Puerto Maldonado but it can be 30 hours away.. the Refugio Amazonas is where I stayed and the place was magical. To start with, the lodge itself is an amazingly beautiful building. It is situated about 0.5 miles from the Madre de Dios river. It is... 

Pepe!

Pepe!, Tambopata

 CrazyShoes Says:  Pepe the howler monkey. He's the lodge mascot and a real friendly kinda monkey. Maybe he just wants you to get him a banana off one of the trees. He howls like an old truck starting up once or twice a day. We were warned that he did that but when I finally heard him do it I... 

Taking closeup of the macaws

Taking closeup of the macaws, Tambopata

 ryuhome Says:  Our guide showed us how to take photos of the macaws by zooming the camer into the viewer in the binocular. A cool trick. The picture came out so so only. 

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Map of Tambopata