Do you dream of being immersed in a tropical rainforest where lush green tapestries unfold accompanied by an orchestra of nature’s melodies? Or perhaps you are a wildlife lover hoping to set sight on some of the world’s coolest species? Perhaps it’s adventure, culture or meaningful connections you seek while traveling? Let me introduce you to the captivating Peruvian Amazon where all such dreams can come true.

Whether you are an adventure seeker, citizen scientist, culture enthusiast, or wildlife aficionado, the Amazon offers a myriad of opportunities for discovery.

Where to stay

Only accessible by boat, and nestled along the banks of the mighty Tambopata River, are secluded sister eco-lodges Posada Amazonas and Refugio Amazonas. Boasting many amenities, both lodges offer unparalleled wildlife viewing, immersion into Peruvian culture and traditions, local gastronomy, adventure and luxurious accommodations, all designed to connect travelers with nature at every turn. 

Where nature meets culture meets adventure

Run by Rainforest Expeditions, in partnership with the Ese’Eja Indigenous guides and elders, the boutique lodges offer guests traditional learnings and cultural exchange. Through the eyes of these guardians of the rainforest, guests will embark on a truly transformative travel experience. 

Guests will easily connect to nature in diverse ways while contributing to efforts to help preserve and protect the pristine land and wildlife. Tambopata is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and best places in the Amazon to encounter wildlife from macaws to jaguars.

Getting there 

Both lodges are located in southeastern Peru in the region of Madre de Dios, which translates to “Mother of God.” Welcome to a remote paradise. 

The adventure begins as guests travel from Lima to Puerto Maldonado, southeast of Peru. After a 1.5-hour road trip and a 1-hour boat ride along the Tambopata River, guests arrive at Posada Amazonas immediately immersing them in the heart of the rainforest. 

Traveling to Refugio Amazonas from Puerto Maldonado is also an hour by boat, or 1.3 hours from Posada Amazonas.

Posada Amazonas is found within the Native Community of Infierno and built inside 9,500+ hectares of rainforest, while Refugio Amazonas is found adjacent to the Tambopata National Reserve within a natural growth Brazil nut concession. 

What to expect

Awe, inspiration and immersion into nature without the sacrifice of comfort awaits you. After a short trek filled with the sounds of the forest, guests will arrive at the impressive traditional wooden boutique eco-lodge blended beautifully into its surroundings. Open-air walls are found throughout the property (including in rooms) allowing guests to connect with nature and the pristine forest at all times. 

Let’s get to the rooms

Marvel at hummingbirds flitting outside feasting on colourful heliconias while taking in the beauty of an open-air room. Spacious suites are more than 600 square feet equipped with two king-sized beds, sitting area, showers with a view, biodegradable toiletries, cozy bathrobes and an in-room hammock to enjoy the view. Comfort rooms range from 400 square feet, with two double beds and nearly all the same conveniences found in the suites. Despite the remote locations, Wi-Fi is available throughout the lodges.

What to do

With an abundance of experiences at both, guests will face the delightful challenge of deciding what to do and how best to spend their time. Here’s the great news: You can’t go wrong. 

For adventurers, there are hikes along the Brazil nut forest’s soft terracotta understory to view a massive Ceiba tree, jungle mountain biking, night walks, or a climb up the canopy tower to gaze atop the primary forest. The tower makes spotting wildlife, from titi monkeys to soaring bird species such as toucans, macaws and raptors, easy.

For those seeking a sense of culture and tradition, a visit to on-site farms offers a look at locally sourced foods, crops and growing techniques. Another fascinating option at Posada Amazonas is an elder-guided medicinal walk to learn about plants and their healing properties still used today by shamans and the Ese’Eja. These include flora, like the psychedelic plant Ayahuasca; Chuchuhuasi, a pain reliever; and the Para-Para, nature’s Viagra, to name a few. 

Wildlife lovers can see (and hear) an abundance of species, such as adorable agouti, howler monkeys, dart frogs or even an emerald boa, without leaving the lodge. However, excursions will reveal even more species. They can search for a family of giant river otters via a paddled catamaran on an oxbow lake, which doubles as a tranquil spot for birdwatching. They may even catch sight of the magnificent Harpe eagle. Colorful hoatzin, kingfishers, osprey, anhinga, cara cara and more can be added to one’s life list with ease.

Heading to parrot clay licks is another recommended adventure as guests can see as many as three varieties of macaws. The Chuncho macaw clay lick, two hours from Refugio Amazonas, is the largest found on earth. Cruising the Tambopata River offers boundless opportunities to spot other locals from capybaras to caiman.

Conservation meets adventure as guests can also learn about, and become, citizen scientists! At night, they can grab a cocktail and attend lectures from Wired Amazon researchers who run conservation projects including citizen science projects that visitors can take part in. From there, they can choose to help install a trail cam, give aerobotany a go, or venture out for a night walk where they may just discover a new species of tiger moth that can be named after them.

Rainforest Expeditions recently received the Responsible Travel Award at the World Travel Mart in San Paolo for their sustainability efforts with the Wired Amazon Citizen Science program.

Taste the Amazon

Some might believe a buffet cannot be luxurious, but the offerings and high-quality cuisine of both eco-lodges will surely change that perception. Focused on sustainability, the lodges offer meals suitable for almost any diet, from vegan to gluten-free. Vibrant dishes feature a rich assortment of local Amazonian fruits and vegetables, many sourced from the property’s own gardens. 

Try the Patarashca, cooked with either fish or chicken. This traditional dish features meat topped with simple spices and wrapped in a bijao leaf, and then stuffed into bamboo and cooked over an open fire. Another must-try is the Tacacho with pieces of jerky, a staple dish of the Peruvian jungle. Made from fried and crushed plantains with wooden tacacho, the dish is accompanied with cecina (smoked pork) colored with achiote – a natural pigment from the tropical fruit’s plant seeds – still used traditionally in food, fabric painting and as body art.  

When visiting somewhere exotic, it’s only customary to order a drink with locally sourced ingredients, too. Spice up a pisco sour by swapping in Chuchuhuasi, a tree with anti-inflammatory properties you may have seen during the medicinal walk, or sip on a Peruvian margarita made with agave de los Andes.

Take it all in and chill 

After exploring the rainforest, indulge and wind down with a massage at Posada Amazonas’ Kuaii Wellness or Refugio Amazonas Eya Wasija Wellness. Both properties offer exceptional treatments, including an intense jungle therapy massage that allows you to blissfully melt away to the soothing sounds of the forest. This treatment uses hot stones and the local plant Matico, known for its ability to revitalize the body, soften skin and reduce muscle swelling.