An Amazon Ecolodge Experience
I can’t believe it has already been 3 months since our incredible adventure to Peru. I’ve wanted so badly to share about our experience in the Amazon Rainforest but the spring season has been busy with sports, end of school year activities, and home projects making it hard to find the time. Well I finally found some free moments and I plan to take full advantage to give you all the details!
First of all, this part of our Peruvian adventure definitely complicated things a little bit. It added in an extra domestic flight and took away some of the time we would have otherwise spent in the greater Lima and Cusco areas. It also meant pre-travel preparation with vaccinations and prescriptions for prophylactic medications as well as packing additional gear such as raincoats, binoculars, headlamps, and clothes pre-treated with permethrin. That all to say, it was 100% worth the extra effort and such an unforgettable experience (and we still somehow managed to not check any luggage on our flights!).
As soon as I came across Rainforest Expeditions online during my initial Peru research several years ago, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t miss out on. Rainforest Expeditions is a collection of ecolodges in and surrounding the Tambopata National Reserve in the Amazon Rainforest in Peru. You have the option of staying at 1 of 3 different locations - Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas, and Tambopata Research Center - all of which provide an immersive all-inclusive experience. During your visit you are provided a personal guide and the opportunity to select your activities including but not limited to visiting a parrot clay lick, climbing a breath taking (in more ways than one!) canopy tower, searching for giant river otters, taking a sunset river cruise, and going on jungle night hike. Between your excursions you are provided delicious meals and plenty of time to relax while listening to the sounds of the jungle around you.
Our journey started with a domestic flight from Lima to a tiny little airport in Puerto Maldonado where we were met by our personal guide (hi Jos!). From there we were taken to their headquarters where we repacked the belongings we needed for the next 3 days into smaller duffel bags and then safely stored our extra luggage before hopping into a van where we drove an hour through the countryside. Next, we took an hour long boat ride down the Tambopata River to arrive at our ecolodge, Posada Amazonas, which is the shortest distance down the river and the most family friendly of the 3 lodges.
Upon our arrival we were greeted with cold towels and refreshments before being escorted to our beautiful open air room to settle in. We had lunch and then later that afternoon took a guided hike to a canopy tower where we climbed to the top and watched macaws flying overhead, monkeys playing in the tree tops, and the sun setting over the river. Our hike back to the lodge for dinner was already quite dark due to the jungle canopy above, but with the help of our trusty guide and some headlamps we saw scorpions, spiders, and colonies of leaf cutter ants. The rainforest sure is a different place after dark! Pro-tip: don’t lean on the trees or pick up leaves off the ground to avoid painful creature bites and stings (which we were easily able to avoid even with an inquisitive 6 year old boy in tow).
The next morning we had a 5 AM wake up call for our Oxbow Lake excursion although we didn’t even need to set an alarm because the howler monkeys are generally quite active and loud by this time of day. During our leisurely cruise we saw more macaws and other bird species, monkeys, capybaras, caiman, and at the very end we were lucky enough to spot a family of giant river otters playing and eating piranhas. Just as we were about to turn back we got caught up in a quintessential Amazon downpour without any shelter. We had another hour boat ride back to the trail and then a hour hike back to the lodge in the rain where we had to wade through puddles that went over the tops of our boots at times. I can’t even begin to describe how incredibly soaked we were from head to toe despite raincoats and waterproof hiking boots but it made for one heck of an adventure and a core memory with our little guy. Unfortunately the humidity in the rainforest made it nearly impossible for our clothes and boots to dry out before it was time to pack up to head back to the airport and our next destination the following day.
After a much needed afternoon break including a shower, dry clothes, and lunch we took an incredible jungle river cruise before dinner where we of course saw more wildlife and another beautiful sunset. After dinner we opted for one more activity to end our day which was a jungle night hike and probably the most memorable moment of our entire trip. On a trail just adjacent to our lodge we saw adorable little tree frogs, tarantulas that get as big as dinner plates, and giant bullet ants climbing trees. But the biggest prize of all was coming across a stunning ocelot that observed us just as closely as we did her for almost 5 magnificent minutes. This ocelot was only the 4th one our guide Jos has seen in the 14 years of his profession and it is even more rare to see than a jaguar. We went to bed that night feeling incredibly grateful for the chance to travel and explore this beautiful world.
The next morning, our last, we had another early wake up call at 4:30 AM to head to a parrot clay lick. We did get to see a few beautiful birds, but unfortunately on this particular morning there wasn’t a large turnout which is just part of the unpredictability of nature. After our morning bird watch, we had breakfast and then started our journey back down the river to head to the airport and fly onto Cusco, wet boots and all. I cannot say enough amazing things about our experience with Rainforest Expeditions at Posada Amazonas and their fantastic staff. Before our trip we were paired with a team member who ensured the booking process was seamless and that we were fully prepared for our Amazon adventure. Once we arrived we were met by the friendliest staff and guides, including lodge manager Cesar, who made sure we were safe and well taken care of at all times. They even went out of their way to cater to our son’s food allergies. This trip will stay in our hearts forever. If you are looking for a unique travel experience, then please check out Rainforest Expeditions!
