Compare Tambopata Research Center Kayaking & Canopy Climbing by Rainforest Expeditions vs Peru in 10 days - Sacred Inca & Ultimate Amazon Experience - Charm by Exoticca

Day 1:

Meals: Breakfast and Boxed Lunch

Accommodation: Classic Room at Refugio Amazonas

Arrival & Reception by Guide Our guides are tourism professionals, or community members. Unless noted otherwise, our guides speak English. We assign guides at 6:1 ratio in Tambopata Research Center. This means groups smaller than 6 people will be merged with other groups under one guide. If you would like a private guide or a guide in a language other than English please let us know.

Transfer Airport to Puerto Maldonado Headquarters Upon arrival from Lima or Cusco, we will welcome you at the airport and drive you ten minutes to our Puerto Maldonado headquarters. While enjoying your first taste of the forest in our gardens we will ask you to pack only the necessary gear for your next few days, and leave the rest at our safe deposit. This helps us keep the boats and cargo light.

Transfer Pto Maldonado Headquarters to Tambopata River Port Skirting Puerto Maldonado, we drive 20 kilometers to the Tambopata River Port, entering the Native Community of Infierno. The port is a communal business.

Transfer Boat - Tambopata River Port to Refugio Amazonas The two and a half hour boat ride from the Tambopata Port to Refugio Amazonas will take us past the Community of Infierno and the Tambopata National Reserve´s checkpoint and into the buffer zone of this 1.3 million hectare conservation unit.

Orientation Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips.

Caiman Search We will be out at the river’s edge at night, scanning the shores with headlamps and flashlights to catch the red gleams of reflection from caiman eyes.

Day 2:

Accommodation: Classic Room at Refugio Amazonas

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Canopy Tower A thirty minute walk from Refugio Amazonas leads to the 25 meter scaffolding canopy tower. A bannistered 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.

Oxbow Lake Visit We will paddle around the lake on a canoe or a catamaran, looking for lakeside wildlife such as hoatzin, caiman and hornerd screamers, hoping to see the otters which are infrequently seen here. You will also be rewarded with overhead sightings of macaws.

Jungle Mountain Biking Enjoy the forest from a different perspective, and get on a mountain bike. Our ride begins 10 minutes from the lodge, and then loops 10 kilometers thru mature forest and numerous creekbeds. The muddier it is, the more fun we will have!

Farm Visit Five minutes downriver from the lodge lies a farm owned and managed by charismatic Don Manuel from the neighbouring community of Condenado. He grows a variety of popular and unknown Amazon crops - just about every plant and tree you see serves a purpose.

Day 3:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Tambopata Research Center

Sea Kayaking the river in lodge surroundings We will paddle up a portion of the Tambopata River that presents no difficulty. At the shores we will observe fragmented parts of the forest accompanied by nature sounds and some wildlife we may observe, like birds, caimans and turtles. To finish our experience, we´ll stop on a sandy beach and take a well deserved bath. No experience required, only swimming knowledge.

Transfer Boat - Refugio Amazonas to TRC 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 our boat journey, as we cross the confluence with the Malinowski River, we will leave the final traces of human habitation behind. Within the 700,000 hectare uninhabited nucleus of the reserve, sightings of capybara, caiman, geese, macaws and other large species will become more frequent.

Chuncho Clay Lick Two hours from Refugio Amazonas, deep in the Tambopata National Reserve we will stop at the Chuncho claylick. After a brief walk (~5 minutes) we will have the chance to see dozens of large macaws feeding on the special sodium rich clays of the riverbank. The Chuncho claylick probably attracts more large macaws than any other claylick in the world and the sight of dozens of macaws taking flight is truly unforgettable. The details of our stopover will depend on the weather and the amount of macaw activity, as the birds don’t visit the clay lick when it is raining.

Orientation Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips.

Overlook Trail A three to five kilometer hike will lead us 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.

Day 4:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: 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, we 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.

Floodplain Trail This five kilometer trail covers the prototypical rain forest with immense trees criss-crossed 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.

Canopy Climbing Replicating the daily work of macaw researchers, we will climb a 30 meter tree with a rope, harness and jumar. From this vantage point we will have a macaws eye view of the forest. This demanding exercise is perfectly safe and requires no previous experience.

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.

Day 5:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Tambopata Research Center

Terra Firme Trail An entirely different habitat characterized by smaller, thinner trees atop hills and slopes is covered by this five kilometer trail. Saddleback tamarins are frequently found here. As we walk near the limits of the swamp we will also keep our eyes open for rare tapir tracks.

Palm Swamp Trail Growing on the remains of an oxbow lake and providing both arboreal as well as terrestrial mammals with fruits throughout the year, the aguaje palms are one of the most important food sources in the rainforest. Demand for these fruits and great conditions for planting rice, makes the palm swamp also one of the most threatened habitats.

Day 6:

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer Boat - TRC to Tambopata River Port

Transfer Tambopata River Port to Pto Maldonado Headquarters

Transfer Puerto Maldonado Headquarters to Airport We retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado, our office and the airport. Depending on airline schedules, this may require dawn departures.

Day 1: US - Night on board

Arrive at your US departure airport ready to check-in for a flight to Lima*. Night on board. * Important: If your outbound flight leaves at dawn (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the selected departure day.

Day 2: Lima

Arrive in Lima, the capital of Peru, situated on the Pacific Coast. Transfer to the hotel, and spend the rest of the day exploring the city's colonial streets and magical plazas at your leisure. Overnight stay in Lima.

Day 3: Lima

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy an informative and interesting city tour of Lima, including its Historic Centre and the Santo Domingo Convent. Start by exploring the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro before heading to the Historic Center. Visit the impressive Convent of Santo Domingo and walk to the Plaza de Armas to admire the exquisite colonial architecture that surrounds it. Next, stop in the Parque del Amor, from where you can take beautiful photos of the Peruvian coastline. Overnight stay in Lima.

Day 4: Lima - Cuzco - Sacred Valley

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Cuzco. Arrive in Cuzco, the former Inca capital, and transfer to the Sacred Valley, on the way stop at Awanakancha and savour the opportunity to explore this living museum, where ancient customs and traditions have been preserved across the centuries. Watch local communities creating beautiful handmade textiles and soak up the beautiful views, unchanged by time. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, exploring the lively immaculate scenery of this iconic region. Overnight stay in Sacred Valley.

Day 5: Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu

Breakfast at the hotel. An exciting day at Machu Picchu awaits you this morning as you set off for the train station to board the Expedition Train to Aguas Calientes, admiring the landscape along the way. Arrive and transfer to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu*, a true wonder of the world and one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Spend some time discovering the ruins and being amazed by the terraces and enjoying a tour of the different sections of the site. Return to Sacred Valley. Arrive and overnight stay in Sacred Valley. Note: The baggage policy on board the Expedition train is 1 bag or backpack per person weighing a maximum of max. 5kg / 11lb. * Backpacks or bags taken into Machu Picchu must not exceed 40x35x20cms or have a capacity larger than 20Lts and must not contain single-use plastic bottles or bags. Backpacks or bags that exceed the indicated measurements can be left in storage for approx. $2 per bag.

Day 6: Sacred Valley - Cuzco

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off towards Cuzco, with the opportunity to enjoy optional Sacred Valley excursions along the way, to experience the best of the region.* Arrive in Cuzco and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, enjoying the lively plazas at night. Overnight stay in Cuzco. * Optional Essence of the Sacred Valley Excursion: Visit Chinchero and the PARWA Centre, to appreciate the colourful traditional textiles. Next, visit the church of Chinchero before heading to the Racchi panoramic viewpoint for a fantastic view across the valley. Explore Ollantaytambo and its Inca fortress. Lunch and 'Boleto Turisitco' included granting entrance to the Sacred Valley and surrounding sights.

Day 7: Cuzco

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off on a fascinating half-day tour of Cuzco. Begin in the iconic Plaza de Armas, and visit the Cathedral. From here, walk to the Koricancha Temple, an impressive ancient Inca palace, in honour of the Sun God. Today, a Dominican church stands on the site. Finally, visit the lively San Blas neighbourhood, known for its artists, shops and artisan workshops. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, soaking up the atmosphere of the city and sampling the local cuisine. Overnight stay in Cuzco.

Day 8: Cuzco - Puerto Maldonado

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado*, nestled in the dense Amazon rainforest, close to the Bolivian border. Be picked up and taken to the local office where you'll have the chance to unload any unnecessary luggage to lighten the load for your journey into the Amazon**. From Capitania Port, take a 50-minute boat ride on the Madre de Dios River, enjoying your first glimpse of the dense Amazon rainforest. On arrival at the lodge, get inmmerse in the middle of the pristine nature and get settled in your room. After lunch, take some time to relax before heading off in the mid-afternoon on a guided jungle-walk*** to get to know the tropical trees and abundant nature of the local area to come face-to-face with the beauty of this diverse ecosystem. Look out for rare and unique bird species and weird and wonderful insects during your first Amazon experience. Back at the lodge, hang out in the hammocks or enjoy a cocktail at the bar before enjoying an unforgettable Caiman Safari**** boat trip, to get up-close to the emerging nocturnal wildlife as night begins to fall over the Amazon. Witness the transformation as an orchestra of sounds emanates from the nocturnal wildlife of the rainforest. You'll have a great chance of spotting larger animal species once night falls. Dinner and overnight stay in the Amazon. * Please, note that the order and times of the excursions may be modified as your guide sees it convenient in coordination with the management, considering the physical condition of the passengers and the weather conditions at the time of your visit. **Luggage left behind is kept in safe storage. *** Duration: 1/4 day / Physical rating: light. **** Duration: 1/4 day / Physical rating: light.

Day 9: Puerto Maldonado

Full-board. Your first adventure of the day is a visit to the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway*, composed of numerous hanging bridges, platforms and observation towers, from which you can get a great view of the dense rainforest and gain a different perspective of this complex ecosystem. Look out for treetop dwelling wildlife such as monkeys and birds. Afterwards, visit the Carachamayo Natural Pool**, to learn about the significance of water sources such as this and about local fishing techniques. Return to the lodge to relax a while before heading off in the evening on a night-time jungle walk*** to enjoy the cacophony of animal sounds and to search for the Amazon's more elusive animals. Soak up this once-in-a-lifetime experience, surrounded by the dense rainforest, alive with activity! Overnight stay in Puerto Maldonado. Please, note that the order and times of the excursions may be modified as your guide sees it convenient in coordination with the management, considering the physical condition of the passengers and the weather conditions at the time of your visit. * Duration: half day / Physical rating: moderate. ** Duration: half day / Physical rating: moderate. *** Duration: 1/4 day / Physical rating: light.

Day 10: Puerto Maldonado - Lima

Breakfast at the hotel*. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Lima. Arrive, transfer to the hotel and spend your last evening in Peru at your leisure. Overnight stay in Lima. * Check-out is aproximately at 10:00am. Lunch is not included on your day of depature, but can be requested in advance (additional cost).

Day 11: Lima - Night on board

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Night on board.

Day 12: US

Arrive in US and end your trip.