Peruvian Amazon

HEATH RIVER WILDLIFE CENTER - Sample 3-night Itinerary:

• Day 1 Puerto Maldonado – Heath River Wildlife Center

  Depart from Lima or Cusco, Peru this morning and fly to Puerto Maldonado, a bustling frontier town and the gateway to the Tambopata National Reserve. Here, one the resident naturalist guides will meet you and escort you to the river port. Together, you will take a motorized canoe two hours down the Madre de Dios River and then two more up the Heath River to the lodge. The canoes are equipped with cushioned seats and protection from the sun and rain.
  
  About Heath River Wildlife Center: Heath River Wildlife center is constructed almost entirely of ecologically-harvested "driftwood" mahogany trees collected from the floods that naturally carry logs downriver out of Manu National Park. The Lodge consists of one large screened main dining room/lounge and 10 double (or triple) bungalows with private bathrooms with hot shower and toilets. Main room area has electricity and the rest are supplemented by kerosene lamps and candles. Camcorders can be recharged from our generator, but please note that guests may need to bring a special adaptor to plug into the generator.
  
  After receiving your cabin assignment and a general orientation, the afternoon is spent exploring some of the unspoiled forest trails that surround the lodge. After dinner, we'll take a walking excursion to search for the nocturnal rainforest wildlife. Lunch and dinner included.

• Day 2 Heath River Wildlife Center – Macaw clay lick

  We rise early in the morning to board a motorized canoe for the 10-minute journey up the Heath River to the macaw and parrot clay lick. Brightly-colored parrots and macaws fly in by the hundreds to feed on the clay that detoxifies certain seeds and nuts they eat. Marvel at the cacophony of sound and color as Red-and-green macaws vie for the best clay-eating position. A specially-designed floating blind allows for proximity and complete concealment -- so you can even have breakfast and coffee while the birds are performing their morning ritual.
  
  When we return to the lodge, the guide leads us on an ethno-botanical walk through the forest, pointing out flora used in the daily lives of rainforest people. The guide explains how certain plants are used for medicinal or healing purposes, which ones can be made into the best bows and arrows, and how to select trees and leaves for home construction.
  
  After lunch and a short rest, we hike through the rainforest to the Pampas del Heath, the largest remaining undisturbed savanna in the Amazon. The contrast is striking as we emerge from the mature rainforest onto the grassland plain of the Pampas. All meals included.

• Day 3 Heath River Wildlife Center – Ese'Eja native community

  We will have breakfast in the floating blind at the macaw and parrot clay lick for a last round of looks and photos. Then we return to the lodge to explore some nature trails. After lunch we could visit the Ese'Eja native community of Sonene, where there will be an opportunity to interact with the community and purchase local handicrafts or explore more trails. After dinner we'll explore the forest by flashlight, including a visit to a small mammal clay lick if it is active. All meals included.

• Day 4 Heath River Wildlife Center – Puerto Maldonado

  Early morning departure to Puerto Maldonado. During the river trip back downstream, families of Capybaras are often spotted on the banks of the river.
  
  Weighing up to 120 pounds (55 kilograms), this giant, three-toed relative of the guinea pig is the largest rodent in the world. Upon arrival at the port, we'll transfer to the airport for the flight back to Cusco or Lima. Breakfast included.
  
  Note: Longer itineraries include additional days of wildlife viewing, jungle hiking and opportunities for local cultural interaction.

• Prices $830 - $990

  2012
  4 days: from $830*
  *discounted price of $575 available for Monday departures

  5 days: from $990*
  *discounted price of $745 available for Thursday departures

  2012
  Single Supplements:
  4 days: $150
  5 days: $200

SANDOVAL LAKE LODGE - Sample 3-night Itinerary:

• Day 1 Travel the Madre de Dios River to Sandoval Lake Lodge

  Depart from Lima or Cusco, Peru this morning and fly to Puerto Maldonado, a bustling frontier town and the gateway to the Tambopata National Reserve.
  
  We have a 15-minute bus transfer from the airport to the Tambopata River port, and then take a motorized canoe for 30 minutes down the Madre de Dios River to the trail access to Sandoval Lake Lodge. Our boats are equipped a roof to protect from the sun and the rain, and cushioned seats. From the Madre de Dios River we walk for 45 to 50 minutes along two miles of flat, rain forest trail. Once we reach a channel, we board canoes and are paddled 220 yards through a flooded forest of 100-foot tall Mauritia palms. As the canal opens onto the shimmering surface of the lake, we transfer to a catamaran and are leisurely paddled across the lake to the lodge.
  
  About Sandoval Lake Lodge: Sandoval Lake Lodge is constructed almost entirely of ecologically-harvested "driftwood" mahogany trees collected from the floods that naturally carry logs downriver out of Manu National Park. The Lodge is one extended structure consisting of a large screened main dining room/lounge with 25 fully-screened double-occupancy rooms (50 beds) with private bathrooms with hot shower and toilets, arranged in two wings. One wing features 16 rooms (32 beds) while the other includes 9 rooms (18 beds). All rooms and communal areas have electricity, supplemented by kerosene lamps and candles. Camcorders can be recharged from our generator, but please note that guests may need to bring a special adaptor to plug into the generator. Recently Conde Nast Traveller has chosen Sandoval lake Lodge as one of the top 8 rainforest lodges in South America.
  
  After lunch and a brief rest to avoid the early afternoon heat, we once again board the catamaran and set off to explore the entire west end of the lake. Here, in the flooded palm forest we drift to the sounds of hundreds of Red-Bellied Macaws as they return to the palm forest for the night. We return to the lodge around nightfall for dinner.
  
  After dinner we will return to the canoes to look for the large and extremely rare Black Caimans. If it is a clear starlit night, we will also be able to float in the middle of the lake and marvel at the brilliance of the sky. Lunch and dinner included.

• Day 2 Search for Giant Otters or forest excursion

  A pre-dawn wake-up call will enable us to be on the lake for sunrise and a hopeful encounter with the family of Giant Otters which frequent the lake and are most active at this time of day. Most of the fish-eating water birds around the lake actively fish in the early morning as well, and this outing should provide excellent views, and photographs, of the prehistoric- looking Hoatzins.
  
  After returning for a late breakfast we set off into the cool under story of the tall virgin forest near the lake to see some towering wild Brazil Nut trees and a demonstration of how our hosts collect, open and commercialize this important natural product.
  
  After lunch and an hour or so to relax we once again board the catamaran to explore the eastern part of the lake, where we might see one or more of the five species of monkeys which live in the forest near the lake, such as the Brown Capuchin Monkey.
  
  There are opportunities after dinner to try and spot some Black Caimans on the lake, or to go on a short night walk through the primary forest. All meals included.

• Day 3 Explore a rainforest trail or tour the beautiful oxbox lake

  Rising once again at dawn, we have a quick snack before boarding the catamarans to explore the western end of the lake in the hope of an encounter with Giant Otters.
  
  After a late breakfast we explore some of the rain forest trails with our knowledgeable resident naturalist guide. As we walk the forest will be brought to life as your guide explains the ecology of the rain forest and its diverse flora and fauna.
  
  We return for lunch, and then there is an optional rest for those who would like to escape the early afternoon heat. For those still full of energy, there is an option to independently explore some of the forest trails.
  
  In the cooler late afternoon we will once again board the catamaran to explore the eastern end of the lake, and hopefully experience a spectacular sunset over the lake before returning to the lodge for dinner.
  
  Evening options are viewing Black Caiman on the lake, or going on a short night hike through the forest. All meals included.

• Day 4 Return to Puerto Maldonado

  After a dawn breakfast we take a final, shorter paddle around the west end of the lake to try and glimpse the Giant Otters before returning to Puerto Maldonado to catch the flight to Lima. Breakfast included.
  
  Note: Shorter itineraries have less days of wildlife viewing and jungle hiking.

• Prices $245 - $475

  2012
  2 days: $245
  3 days: $325
  4 days: $475

  2012
  Single Supplements:
  2 days: $50
  3 days: $100
  4 days: $150

TAHUAYO LODGE - Sample 4-night Itinerary:

• Day 1 Arrive in Iquitos and travel up the mighty Amazon River

  Our trip today begins very early this morning in Iquitos, Peru where you will rendezvous with our local transfer guides at the airport (your exact air itinerary can be worked out with a member of the REI Adventures air department). Our guides will facilitate the transfer of your luggage to the waiting boats and, upon reaching the docks; we begin the four-hour trip to the Tahuayo Lodge. We travel along the mighty Amazon River for 50 miles before turning up the Tahuayo tributary for another 40 miles and reaching the lodge by mid-afternoon.
  
  About the Tahuayo Lodge: The entire 15-cabin lodge is screened and features a dining hall, areas to socialize and relax and a conservation education library. There are showers and flush toilets that use a sanitary septic system. There is some electricity provided by solar panels and batteries; however a small generator is available for re-charging camera batteries. Delicious food is prepared by the staff and special diets can be accommodated with prior notice. Daily laundry service is available for a small fee.
  
  After receiving your cabin assignment and a general lodge orientation including staff introductions, you can begin your exploration of the surrounding trail network and begin adjusting to your tropical surroundings. This evening, participate in a boat excursion to a nearby lake to search for nocturnal wildlife and view the southern constellations or just relax in your cabin to the night music of the jungle. Lunch and dinner included.

• Day 2 From the Main Lodge-canoe, zip line, visit a native village and more

  Today will have guided excursions in and around the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve. Every day your guide will discuss a selection of activities that you can sign up for. Among activities that you can select are: canoeing in rivers, lakes and flood forest, hiking in a variety of different ecosystems, boating, wildlife viewing and photography, visit native villages, have a session with a native shaman, learn about native culture, canopy exploration on zip lines (longest canopy zip line in the Amazon), swimming in blackwater lake, fishing for piranha, etc. All meals included.*

• Days 3-4 Amazon Research Center Lodge (ARC)-wildlife viewing, hiking and canoeing

  On Day 3 we travel 10 miles down the river to the ARC. We will take about 3 hours for the journey as this section of the river has lots of wildlife to view such as dolphins, sloth, toucans, monkeys, bats, raptors etc. Once settled at the ARC you can set out hiking some of the conservation trail grid (85km over 500 hectares, largest trail system in the Amazon) where some 40 troops of primates representing 12 different species are being habituated. You can also choose to Canoe or swim in Dolphin Lake. Exploring this Area de Conservaction Regional Comunal de Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo (ACRCTT), has been shown to have the greatest mammal and tree diversity of any site studied in the Amazon; also boasting 599 different species of birds. All meals included.*

• Day 5 More things to explore – the choice is yours

  We spend another morning exploring the incredible rainforest before boarding the lodge boats for the trip back to Iquitos. A late afternoon arrival is scheduled allowing participants to catch evening flights to Lima connecting to overnight flights back to the U.S. Breakfast and lunch included.

  *Note: For 4day/3night itineraries all time will be at the Main Lodge only.

  You can reserve time at either or both lodges according to your interests—reservations must be made in advance

  The Main Lodge:
  Cabins have private bathrooms
  Greater variety of activities
  Canopy zip line
  Native culture—close to villages
  Better canoeing—close to flood forest (Tahuampa ecosystem)
  Hiking restricted to Varzea ecosystem—limited wildlife

  The Research Center:
  Cabins have shared bathrooms
  Better hiking, over 50 miles of trails through a variety of ecosystems
  More wildlife
  Lodge is more remote, in more pristine forest

• Prices $995 - $1,295

  2012
  4 days: $995
  5 days: $1,095
  6 days: $1,195
  7 days: $1,295

TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTER - Sample 4-night Itinerary:

• Day 1 Puerto Maldonado – Refugio Amazonas

  Your trip begins today in Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival from Lima or Cusco, you’ll be welcomed at the airport and transported to the Puerto Maldonado headquarters. While enjoying your first taste of the forest in their gardens, you’ll be asked to pack only the necessary gear for your next few days, and leave the rest at the office in a secured area. By doing so, this will help keep the boats and cargo light.  The two and a half hour boat ride from the Tambopata Port to Refugio Amazonas will take you past the Community of Infierno and the Tambopata National Reserve’s checkpoint and into the buffer zone of this conservation unit that is over 3 million acres. During the voyage, you may see bird species typical of the river or forest edge such as: Black Skimmer, Pied Lapwing, Capped Heron, Jabiru Stork, Roadside Hawk and several species of kingfishers, swallows and fly-catchers. Upon arrival at the lodge, you’ll receive a short orientation and a complete briefing on the lodge. After dinner, there will be an opportunity to be out at the river's edge, scanning the shores with headlamps and flashlights to catch the red gleams of reflection from caiman eyes. Overnight in Refugio Amazonas. Boat transfer: 2 ½ hours. Boxed lunch and dinner included.

• Day 2 Refugio Amazonas – Tambopata Research Center

  A thirty minute walk from Refugio Amazonas leads you to the 25 meter scaffolding canopy tower. A staircase running through the middle provides 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 canopy flocks as well as toucans, macaws and raptors are likely.  After breakfast, a few minutes hike from the lodge 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. There will be a demonstration of the whole process of the rain forest's only sustainable harvested product from collection, through transportation to drying.
  
  Four and half hours by boat from Refugio Amazonas, in the pristine heart of the reserve, lies the Tambopata Research Center. One and half hours into your boat journey, as you cross the confluence with the Malinowski River, you will leave the final traces of human habitation behind. Within the 1.7 million acres uninhabited nucleus of the reserve, sightings of capybara, caiman, geese, macaws and other large species will become more frequent. A boxed lunch will be served during your journey.
  
  Upon arrival at the Tambopata Research Center, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips. A possible activity today will be the Overlook Trail. The trail is a three to five kilometer hike that will lead you to overlooks commanding magnificent views of the Tambopata winding its way into the lowlands. The forest on this trail, regenerating on old bamboo forest, is good for Howler Monkey and Dusky Titi Monkey.
  
  Macaw Project Lectures: After dinner scientists will provide an in depth look at the biology of macaws, their feeding habits, the theories for clay lick use, their breeding and feeding ecology, population fluctuations and the threats to their conservation. Overnight in Tambopata Research Center. Hiking: Up to 3 miles; Boat transfer: 4 ½ hours. All meals included.

• Day 3 Tambopata Research Center

  Macaw Clay Lick: On most clear mornings of the year, dozens of large macaws and hundreds of parrots congregate on this large river bank in a raucous and colorful spectacle which inspired a National Geographic cover story. Discretely located fifty meters from the cliff, you will observe Green-winged, Scarlet and Blue-and-gold Macaws and several species of smaller parrots descend to ingest clay. Outings are at dawn when the lick is most active. Other activities today may include:
  
  Floodplain Trail: This five kilometer trail covers the prototypical rain forest with immense trees crisscrossed by creeks and ponds. Amongst the figs, ceibas and shihuahuacos we will look for Squirrel, Brown Capuchin, and Spider Monkeys as well as peccaries. TRC is located within this habitat.
  
  Pond Platform: Ten minutes upriver from the lodge is a tiny pond with a platform in the middle. It is a great place to spot waterfowl such as Muscovy duck, sunbittern and hoatzin along with the woodpeckers, oropendolas, flycatchers and parakeets that call this pond their home.
  
  Night walk. You will have the option of hiking out at night, 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 Tambopata Research Center. Hiking: Up to 3 miles. All meals included. 

• Day 4 Tambopata Research Center – Refugio Amazonas

  After breakfast, a three and a half hour boat ride brings you back to Refugio Amazonas. A forty minute hike takes you Condenado Lake. You’ll paddle canoes around the lake looking for lakeside wildlife such as hoatzin and caiman, hoping to see the otters which are infrequently seen here. You will also be rewarded with overhead sightings of macaws. A boxed lunch will be served during your journey.
  
  After dinner, nightly lectures prepared by the staff of Refugio Amazonas cover conservation threats, opportunities and projects in the Tambopata National Reserve.
  
  Overnight in Refugio Amazonas. Boat transfer: 3 ½ hours. Hiking: 1 mile. Canoeing: Up to 3 hours. All meals included.

• Day 5 Refugio Amazonas – Puerto Maldonado

  Breakfast first before your transport back to the Tambopata River Port.  You’ll head back to the office in Puerto Maldonado to retrieve any personal belongings before heading out to the airport. Breakfast included.
  
  Boat Transportation - All the boats are 20 foot long, roofed canoes with 55 hp outboard motors. Daily arrivals and departures from every port are scheduled to meet every airline’s arrival and departure with a maximum two hour wait.

• Prices $785 - $1005

  2012
  5 days: $785
  6 days: $895
  7 days: $1005

  Park fee: $60

  2012
  Single Supplements:
  5 days: $210
  6 days: $265
  7 days: $320

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

Rates for single travelers vary based on lodge.

Bungalow accommodations with private or shared bath; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; motor-canoe transfers to the lodge; local English-speaking naturalist guides; daily excursions.

International airfare to Peru; alcoholic beverages or soft drinks; guide gratuities; excess baggage charges or insurance of any kind.

This trip is rated Easy Active [2] and contains a variety of activities ranging from easy day walks to moderate hikes in a warm, tropical climate, canoeing (Tahuayo Lodge only) and swimming. Participants should be in good physical condition and consider beginning a regular exercise regimen 1-2 months prior to departure consisting of walking/hiking, running and/or swimming to prepare for this adventure. The better shape you're in, the more you'll be able to take advantage of the lodges' nature trails and optional activities.

The average temperature in the Amazon Basin is 82°F, with daily highs reaching the low 90s and nightly lows in the upper 60s. During the dry season (May-October), cold fronts from the South Atlantic (freajes) occur once every month or so, causing daily temperatures to drop into the mid to high 50s. As we are in the tropics, rainfall in the lowlands can occur during any month of the year, however, most of the prolonged rainy weather patterns arise during the wet season from November-April.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To obtain maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you choose your clothing and gear for this trip. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

The average temperature in the Amazon Basin is 82°F, with daily highs reaching the low 90s and nightly lows in the upper 60s. During the dry season (May-October), cold fronts from the South Atlantic (freajes) occur once every month or so, causing daily temperatures to drop into the mid to high 50s. As we are in the tropics, rainfall in the lowlands can occur during any month of the year, however, most of the prolonged rainy weather patterns arise during the wet season from November-April.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, hiking boots, a pair of shorts/shirt/fleece top/sandals and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• Luggage weight limits:
  Tambopata Research Center = 32 lbs for boat ride from Puerto Maldonado.
  Tahuayo Lodge = No limit; pack as lightly as possible please.
  Heath River Wildlife Center = 22 lbs for boat ride from Puerto Maldonado.
  Sandoval Lake Lodge = 22 lbs for boat ride from Puerto Maldonado.
• Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene®, MTS® and Thermax®.
• Bring clothing that is lightweight and protects you from the sun. Muted earthtone colors are best for wildlife viewing. It is always good to have a lightweight, long-sleeve jacket, especially for the evenings.
• Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
• Make sure boots are broken-in. Bring moleskin for foot treatment. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic, not cotton. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip.
• Stuff sacks are great for sorting gear. Use different sizes/colors to differentiate contents.
• Plastic bags are great for keeping clothing and gear dry. Use Ziploc bags to keep wet clothes separate from dry clothes.
• If you wear prescription glasses, use a safety cord and bring an extra pair if possible. Contact lens wearers should also bring an extra set, or bring eyeglasses for a backup.
• Space for luggage is limited. Pack lightly, fitting all clothing into one duffel bag. During the day, plan on carrying a small daypack with sunscreen, raingear, water bottle/hydration system and camera.
• Rubber boots are provided on loan at the lodges.