Peru Amazon Rainforest Tour - RESERVA AMAZONICA LODGE

Your driver will be waiting for you at Padre Aldamiz, Puerto Maldonado international airport. After a 15-minute transfer to the port of Puerto Capitanía, you will board a motorized riverboat to access your lodge.

Enjoy the fantastic river views, the surrounding lush forest and the fleeting wildlife on the 45-minute boat ride to your lodge. 

Check-in and installation in your cabaña. 

Take a walk on one of the many tracks of the 4,5-mile circuit (7,3 km) within the Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica Natural Reserve and discover the incredible ecosystem of the Amazon rainforest. The trails offer an excellent introduction to the jungle, as you walk past exotic rainforest trees, such as the kapok (Ceiba pentandra) and the beautiful iron wood (Dipteryx micrantha). Look down and spot the tiny lizards that rustle the leaves as they dart about on the forest floor. Turn your gaze to the treetops where birdlife abounds and observe the teeming insect life everywhere. Learn about primary and secondary rainforests, how humans use and process its resources and understand the relevance of these ecosystems for the world. 

On this guided afternoon boat ride, you will witness the magical transformation of the rainforest as diurnal activity gives way to the nocturnal animals and species specially adapted to the night come out. As you enjoy their paradise, you will learn about the habits and distinctive biological characteristics of nightjars, owls, capybaras and caimans. Immerse yourself in the nocturnal sounds of the Amazonian rainforest under the southern stars. 

In the morning, a 30-minute ride by motorized canoe will take you to the Tambopata National Reserve, where you will hike for one and a half hour to Lake Sandoval. Glide in a canoe, across a beautiful, mirror-like oxbow lake, home to the endangered giant river otter, red howler monkeys, macaws, the prehistoric-looking hoatzins, locally known as 'shanshos', point-tailed palmcreepers and yellow spotted side-neck turtles. 

Take a 15-minute walk along the trail towards the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway Interpretation Center. A short briefing will be given about the project history, structure and the highlights in this unforgettable adventure at the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway. Climb up the tower and set out on an exciting adventure through the treetops, across hanging bridges, 95 feet off the ground (30 m) with extended views of the giant Amazon Basin. This network of towers, bridges and platforms will open views that would not be accessible otherwise and as you make your way through the canopy, your guide will point out the different species of birds, such as toucans, woodpeckers ,or trogons that can be identified from their unique songs. Learn about the interaction between flora and fauna at the various levels of the forest and its integration into the rainforest ecosystem. 

Back on the firm land explore the Anaconda trail, a 15-min walk on a wooden bridge over the wetland. In this lush ecosystem, you may observe the various species of amphibians, birds, mammals and abundant flora and trees of this seasonal flooded marshland. 

Enjoy a morning walk to Gamitana creek. The sights, scents and sounds of the jungle will surround you as you walk for one and a half hour, rambling through the rainforest along the banks of this winding, dark-water creek that is home to caimans, turtles and an abundance of brightly colored birds, towards the embarkation point. Sail one hour on a canoe downstream to the Gamitana Model Farm, where you will take a short guided walk and learn about an Amazon model farm. 

Walk along the trails of the lodge to the Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica Rainforest Garden just around the cabañas. This interesting native garden was started by the locals more than ten years ago and it showcases native plants, trees and orchids. Hear about the fascinating local stories and legends and the practical and beneficial use of indigenous plants. An in-depth explanation will cover the process, traditional use and highly interesting benefits of the plants and trees that were used to build the lodge. 

Walk through the Inkaterra Ecological Reserve after dark and experience the mystery that awakens in the rainforest at night, learning about the animals' adaptation mechanisms. Listen to the nocturnal sounds of the forest and spot the southern constellation in the sky above. 

A 35-minute boat ride up the river will take you to the Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, home to a remarkable Botanical Garden with over 200 different species of rainforest plants. Your guide will give you an in-depth explanation about the processing, uses and benefits of these traditional indigenous plants, including fascinating native medicinal uses. Then paddle out on a small lake where turtles, sun grebes, nightjars and herons coexist peacefully. End with a visit of the cacao and rubber tree plantations nearby. 

Walk through the remarkable wetlands system on the 650-foot long (200 m) boardwalk over the Aguajales (Mauritia flexuosa) rainforest swamps. 3 feet off the ground, the footbridge allows for the water to rise during the wet season. See the transition of the forest ecosystem from dry grounds to marshlands, and observe the various species of amphibians, reptiles, snakes, birds and mammals. Learn about the lush flora and trees, how they have adapted to the wetland ecosystem and their benefits and uses. 

Early breakfast, then boat transfer back to the port of Puerto Maldonado (45 min). 

Transfer by bus to the airport (15 min).