Expertise and Specialisation

At Rainforest Expedition we develop contextual educational experiences that generate the sustainable development of the natural destinations where we operate. We have developed activities and programmes for six segments that we have identified: Soft Adventure, Nature Enthusiasts, Families, Cultural, Birdwatchers and Academic.

Licences and Associations

Rainforest Expeditions (est. 1989) operates three award winning Amazon lodges: Posada Amazonas (30 rooms), Refugio Amazonas (24 rooms), and Tambopata Research Center (18 rooms). Each Amazon lodge uncovers a wide array of fascinating ecotourism experiencies in the middle of our jungle, in the Amazon Rainforest.

Posada Amazonas is a 30 bedroom lodge owned by the Community of Infierno and managed with Rainforest Expeditions. Thanks to its accessibility, excellent wildlife observation opportunities, cultural context and comfortable accommodation, Posada Amazonas is ideal for a two night introduction to Amazonia´s richest rain forests and jungle.

Refugio Amazonas is built on a 200 hectare private reserve on the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve. It is becoming integrated to the communities of Brazil nut extractors that surround it, attempting to extend the benefits of ecotourism to the families that commit to the sustainable use of the forest within this buffer zone.

The Tambopata Research Center (TRC) is a spartan yet comfortable 18 bedroom lodge which was built fifteen years ago with the object of lodging tourists and researchers alike and of protecting the adjacent macaw clay lick. Because of its remote location in uninhabited wilderness housing stable populations of endangered wildlife, the small scale of its infrastructure and operations and the presence of researchers and naturalist guides, Tambopata Research Center is an excellent headquarters for in depth explorations of Amazonian nature and wildlife.

Responsible Travel

Rainforest Expeditions was born out of a conservation ethic. Posada Amazonas, one of our lodges, was therefore a project directed towards generating sustainable development and conservation. Both the Native Community and the company are aware that our clients come to see natural resources as much as cultural ones. Attractions such as the giant river otters, harpy eagles and macaws are key. Charismatic fauna such as monkeys and caiman are important. Therefore we keep an eye not only on the impacts of tourism on these species, but on how we can work to assure their populations over the long term.

Soft Adventure Activities

Season: Year round

We offer kayaking (the silent progress doesn’t intimidate the wildlife), canopy climbing (safe, but challenging exercise to have a “macaw perspective” of the forest), fishing (The El Gato creek is one of the best places in Tambopata for Catfish) and camping.

 

Nature Enthusiasts

Season: Year round

We have several activities that fit the requirements of this segment. Parrots and macaws at the claylicks, giant river otters at a lake, a canopy tower, a giant ceiba and different habitats in walking distant of each the lodges.

Family Activities

Season: Year round

We have designed two short trails for children with the help of ANIA, an environmental education NGO. Kids aged 6-12 hike with a guide through a challenging (but short) trail where they follow maps, solve riddles and find clues that will lead them to Ania's "gifts".

The trail teaches kids how people live in the rainforest and leave a valuable message from Ania, "a girl born in the depths of the rain forest to fill our hearts with hope". For teens there are activities that are found on our Soft Adventure activity list. For both kids and teenagers there is the Rainforest Tattoo activity, where they can paint their bodies with natural colorants produced from fruits.

Also there is a safe camping activity near a mammal clay lick.
 

Cultural Activities

Season: Year round

Cultural Activities include the visit of an Ethnobotanical Center, a visit to a Farm, a Soccer Game with members from the Native Community, a Handicraft Workshop, between other options.

Academic Activities

Season: Year round

For this segment, we have three different kinds of activities. There are the Lectures about the Partnership between Rainforest Expeditions and the Native Community of Infierno, the ethnic groups in the Peruvian Amazon and the history of Madre de Dios, as well as on opportunities and chances in the region. Workshops include activities in the field such as recollection of insects and amphibians, or the observation of mammals and recollection of data.

Field trips include a visit to a farm to understand the problematic of tropical agriculture or the visit of a dredge that is used by gold miners.
 

Food and Beverages

We provide self-serve three course meals at each of our lodges. Meals consist of soup or appetizers, salad, main course, and desserts combining Peruvian and international cuisine.

All fresh fruits and salads are thoroughly disinfected before serving. We also provide at all times unlimited amounts of boiled, filtered, cooled drinking water, coffee or tea and we provide fruit juices during the meals. If any visitor has special dietary requirements, we are happy to make individual arrangements, but please notify us.

Accommodation

Refugio Amazonas, Posada Amazonas and the Tambopata Research Center were built using a combination of traditional native materials (wood, palm fronds, wild cane and clay) and architecture and modern day eco-lodge technology.

Each room at Posada Amazonas and Refugio Amazonas has a private bathroom with cold water only. Rooms and bathrooms are separated by drapes. The Tambopata Research Center has shared bathroom facilities. Each room has beds, mosquito nets, bedside tables and hammocks or lounge chairs. Rooms are decorated with bas- relief wood-carvings representing stories and characters from Ese-eja traditions.

The walls dividing each room are built using cane, and extend from the floor to about 2.5 meters height making each room private. The side that looks out to the forest does not have a wall or screening of any kind, acting as a large window facing the forest. The reason we have been able to incorporate this "luxurious" design into our lodge is because mosquitoes are not really a problem around the lodge clearing and the open section allows for an intimate contact with the rain forest. A second small window on the opposite side, set up very high, keeps the rooms well ventilated. Doors are replaced with drapes. Rooms are not soundproof.

Transport

Land Transportation

We own two twenty seat buses that operate the daily scheduled routes to and from the port, synchronized with our boats and airport arrivals and departures. If additional routes are required because of airplane delays or private schedules, we rent station wagons or buses, depending on group size. If you would like to book private land transportation please let us know.

Boat Transportation

Our boats are 20 foot long, roofed canoes with with 55 hp outboard motors. They have scheduled arrivals and departures from each port. These schedules are programmed daily so that they fit seamlessly with airport arrivals and departures. There is no need to worry about whether your plane fits our schedule. We do that for you with a maximum two hour wait. If you would like to book private boat transportation please let us know.

Guests are protected by the sun and rain by the roof but we suggest keeping your rain gear and sun block handy in case the sun's rays or raindrops come in slanted. There are life vests in every seat.

Local Guides

NATURALIST GUIDES

Our guides are biologists, tourism professionals, or community members. All are trained in-house with a four month process that includes one month of field classes and a three month internship. Unless noted otherwise, our guides speak English. We assign guides at 10:1 ratio in Posada Amazonas and Refugio Amazonas, and at a 6:1 ratio at Tambopata Research Center. This means groups smaller than 10 people (or 6 people in TRC) will be merged with other groups under one guide.

If you would like a private guide, a specialist guide or a guide in a language other than English please let us know.

SPECIALIST GUIDES

Specialist guides are experienced naturalist guides who have developed a set of skills in a specific area that allows them to lead guests with very specific interests. These guides lead our workshops and expeditions but can also be hired by request.

Birding guide.

Although all of our guides have basic bird identification skills, only a handful truly qualify as birding guides – able to identify hundreds of species by sound and sight. Our birdwatching expeditions include a trained birding guide.

Community guide.

An English-speaking guide from the Communities of Infierno or Condenado on the Tambopata River provides unsurpassable wildlife spotting skills and an insight into daily life in the forest. Cultural programs are run by community guides.

Photography guide.

Photography in the rainforest requires a lot of patience and luck. Our photography guides help with your equipment, provide subtle tips for improved use of blinds and maximize breaks with the weather and wildlife. Photography guides assist guests in photography expeditions.

Parrot Guides.

All parrot guides have worked in the Macaw Research Project for at least one season. In this manner they are not only familiar with the different species of psittascines, but are also well acquainted with macaw biology and conservation. They also have plenty of anecdotes of life as a macaw researcher. All parrot lover programs are assigned parrot guides.

Age Restrictions

No age restrictions. Although we recommend kids to be at least 4 years old. Families with members younger than 18 sharing a triple or quadruple get a Family Discount.

What to Bring

Good binoculars

Camera gear

Tight-weave, light colored, long cotton pants

Long sleeved, tight-weave, light colored cotton shirts

Ankle-high hiking boots and sneakers

Flashlight with batteries

Sunblock lotion

Sunglasses

Broad-brimmed hat

Rain suit or poncho

Insect repellent

Small denomination bills

Small daypack.

Yellow fever inoculation is required for travel to Tambopata.