Tambopata Jungle

For more info about booking this journey please see http://www.tikatrek.com/en/program/120/tambopata-national-reserve    I did the 4 days 3 nights programme.

I will return to write about my adventures to the Amazon but while I have it clear in my head I would like to write about my latest visit to the jungle of Peru. 

After an apprehensive start to the day we are finally sitting on a BAE 146 on our way to Puerto Maldonado and beyond. We fly over the Andes and down into the jungle over the massive river. I am really excited. 

We are going to stay at 2 different lodges as part of our ever increasing efforts to search out the best vacations in Peru. 

The first is the Explorers Inn in the Tambpata/Candamo reserve it has about 50kms of trails and a wealth of monkeys, birds and all sorts of flora and fauna. 

Upon arrival to the airport we are taken on a small van for the 45 mins to the jungle port of Infierno (literally hell) and onto our motorized canoe for the one and half hour journey through the rain forest to the Explorers Inn. 

The EI (Explorers Inn) is the oldest lodge in the area and they are the custodians of the park, there are around 1200 types of butterfly and 103 mammals, quite impressive i say. 

Upon arrival you are given a bit of time to relax and visit their medicinal garden or just hang out and watch the bird and animal life in the main garden before trekking approx 1 km to the 43metre high view tower that was built by a local University for research purposes. It took 15 men 5 months to bring all the material from the river to the erection site. 

The view is spectacular with the mountains of Puno in the background.  On the way back to the lodge a bit of night time wildlife spotting, lots of spiders, toads and frogs. 

Also the best site we had was a porcupine which was under one of the huts. Here you go to bed really early due to the 4.30am start. 

Just as well I was sleeping at 8.30pm as it is 4.40am and time to get organized, its breakfast and out the door by 5.30am for our 11km walk to the lake and back. 

The path is pretty muddy due to the it being the end of the rainy season but all is forgiven as we see a family of Tamarind monkeys playing in the trees. 

About 5 mins after arriving to the lake the resident family of giant otters makes a fleeting appearance, there is meant to be a healthy family of 8 living at the lake. 

We head back without the guide and the other clients through the forest along the main trail with all its very fun mud. 

I spend the afternoon listening to the sound of the jungle, there is nothing quite like it. 

In the evening we are out and about for some caiman searching in the canoe along the banks of the river. Saw a couple of big ones. 

The following day a lie in for our 5 am start to the parrot clay lick. This is quite a site to see, so much noise many different parrots and also toucans until a Manco comes out of the bushes and scares them all away. 

Later in the day we head off to a local farm, we see Tapir footprints apart from any different types of fruit and vegetable that are grown in the jungle. In the afternoon not a lot as it is ridiculously hot. Another early night for our departure tomorrow morning. 

I would like to thank the owner and staff of Explorers Inn for the fantastic time that we had at the lodge and hope to be back again in the not so distant future. 

www.tikatrek.com