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IN THE AREA
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We hope that the following assists you with your plans to visit the Tambopata area. There are currently 5 main lodges along the Tambopata river and several others along the river Madre de Dios downriver from P.Maldonado.
In total there are now about 25 lodges, of one sort or another, in the Tambopata area !
The lodge that you chose will depend very much on the nature and length of your trip. Please find below details of those along the Tambopata river -
* Explorer’s Inn, operator - Max Gunther, Peruvian Safaris S.A., P.O. 10088, Lima, Peru. Tel - 00 51 1 4478888 Fax - 00 51 1 241 8427
E-mail - safaris@amauta.rcp.net.pe
Adjoining the original Tambopata Reserved Zone (TRZ), the longest established of the lodges - 1975. Considerable research has been undertaken in the TRZ over the
last 25 years - the species data in the TReeS leaflet was recorded in the TRZ. The lodge is just over 2 hours upriver from P.Maldonado. Facilities are described as good. Guiding is usually done in english. Extensive trail system, most groups visit lake Cocacocha. Capacity - up to 80 people.
* Tambopata Jungle Lodge, operator - Tom Hendricksson, Peruvian Andean Treks, P.O. 454, Cuzco, Peru. Tel - 00 51 84 225701 Fax - 00 51 84 238911
E-mail - postmast@patcusco.com.pe
More high forest and larger bamboo thickets in the vicinity than at the EI. Opened
10 years ago with quite reasonable facilities. Nearly 4 hours upriver. Guiding nearly always in english/ spanish. Quite good trail system around lodge, most groups visit
lake Condenado, some also go to lake Sachavacayoc. Capacity - about 50.
* Posada Amazonas Lodge, operator - Eduardo Nicander, Rainforest Expeditions, Galeon 120, Lima 41, Peru. Tel - 00 51 1 4218347
Fax - 00 511 4218183 E-mail - rainfore@amauta.rcp.net.pe
Opened in 1998 and about 2 hours upriver from P. Maldonado. The lodge is unique
in the area in that it is run in conjunction with the local community. This lodge has good facilities; the current capacity is for about 40 people; it is slightly more expensive than
the others. Guiding in various languages.
They also run ‘Colpa’ lodge - a ‘Colpa’ is a Macaw salt-lick - a basic facility with mosquito nets. Located 6-9 hours upriver from Posada Amazonas and a costly trip because boat fuel is very expensive in the jungle. Capacity - only about 20 people.
* Wasai Lodge, operator - Freddy Troncoso, Wasai Hotel, Plaza Grau 1, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru. Tel - 00 51 84 572290 Fax - 00 51 84 572825
E-mail - lima@wasai.com OR maldonado@wasai.com
A newer lodge, opened in 1998, and sited just downriver from the Tambopata/ Malinowski confluence, halfway to the Colpa, 4-5 hours from P.Maldonado. It’s set
within the forest, has a capacity is for about 40 people and an adjoining trail system.
The facilities are described as reasonably good. It is the nearest lodge to a new
colpa - Chuncho colpa - to which trips are organised. Guiding in spanish or english.
This lodge also owns Hotel Wasai - the best in Puerto Maldonado.
* Picaflor lodge -
A rustic lodge, opened in 1999, sited 3.5 hours upriver and adjoining TJL. Capacity - 20 pax. There is a limited trail system around the lodge, visits are made to lakes Condenados and Sachavacayoc. The lodge is basic but adequate and suited to travelers with a more limited budget, who are also interested in knowing more about
life in the forest. Guiding in english and spanish. This lodge charges less than the others.
All the Tambopata lodges can offer camping trips to the ‘Colpas’.
The fee to enter the Tambopata conservation area is about $5 per person, if going
to any of the lodges, and about $20/day, if camping at any point.
There are daily flights from Lima and Cuzco to P.Maldonado (about $200 ex-Lima return and $80 ex-Cuzco, including airport taxes). Your lodge package includes pick-
ing you up and returning you to PM airport. The usual package at a lodge is 2 nights, costing about $150-200 per person per night, with extra nights costing about $50.
A lower rate may be offered for those wanting to stay longer, ie. to spend a week
bird-watching.
If you arrange your trip directly with a lodge operator, book your own flights and make your own accommodation arrangements in Lima and anywhere else you are thinking of staying, you will find that it costs a lot less than travelling there with a tour. However,
June to September are very busy months and also Xmas; some of the lodges may
be almost fully booked in advance.
There are a few independent guides in P.Maldonado. We could advise details of a couple of the most reliable ones - with local tourist office cards. However, they would only be spanish speaking. You need a group of at least 4 people to organise a camping trip and split the costs - Cuzco is the best place to look for fellow travellers. Camping on beaches can prove difficult in the rainy season (Oct-April). We are not aware of local guides taking people up as far as the Colpas. They would take you
on paths through the forest used by local people to gather brazil-nuts, for example. Officially, camping is not permitted within protected areas without permission but
most local guides will probably ignore this directive.
This is the standard information we send out about visiting the area. It is believed
to be correct at the time of writing but some changes are possible for which TReeS
cannot be held responsible.
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