4-Day Native Communities Program Tour in Puerto Maldonado

Overview

1. Day 01

   Puerto Maldonado – Amazon Lodge – Rubber Tapper Camp

   Arrive in Puerto Maldonado and travel by boat along the Madre de Dios River toward the Amazon lodge. After lunch, take a guided rainforest walk to discover medicinal plants, tropical trees and a traditional rubber tapper camp, where you will learn about the artisanal collection of natural latex.

   In the evening, enjoy a night boat safari to look for caimans and other wildlife along the riverbanks.

2. Day 02

   Lake Sandoval – Observation Tower

   Early in the morning, travel to Lake Sandoval inside the Tambopata National Reserve. After walking through the rainforest, explore the lake in a rowing boat while looking for monkeys, tropical birds, reptiles and, with some luck, giant river otters.

   In the afternoon, visit an observation tower for panoramic rainforest views and birdwatching. You will also learn about Brazil nut harvesting at a traditional camp.

3. Day 03

   Matsigenka Family – Amazon Farm

   Visit a local Matsigenka family to learn about their ancestral culture, language, traditional clothing, handicrafts and ways of using natural forest resources.

   Continue to a family-run Amazon farm, where you will discover regional crops and seasonal products such as cacao, bananas, cocona, cassava and breadfruit.

4. Day 04

   At sunrise, walk to a parrot clay lick, where several species may gather to consume mineral-rich clay.

   After breakfast, return to Puerto Maldonado and make a brief visit to the local market before your transfer to the airport.

Itinerary

• DAY 01Puerto Maldonado – Lodge – Shiringuero Camp & Caiman Safari

  Reception at the airport and transfer to our office in the city of Puerto Maldonado. Any luggage you do not need during your stay in the rainforest can be stored in our warehouse to make transportation more comfortable.

  We will then board at Puerto Bolívar and travel to our lodge on a 40-minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River. Upon arrival at the lodge, you will be welcomed with a refreshing drink made from seasonal natural fruits.

  Afterward, your guide will provide the necessary information for your stay and give you the keys to your bungalow. Then, you will enjoy lunch and have some time to rest before the first excursion. For passengers arriving on flights after 1:00 p.m., lunch will be served as a box lunch made with 100% recyclable materials.

  Trail and Shiringuero Camp: 3:30 p.m.

  We will begin your first contact with the rainforest, accompanied by your guide, who will show you tropical trees, medicinal plants, and the lush nature of the lodge’s 60-hectare concession.

  We will also visit a Shiringuero Camp, which represents one of the most important economic activities in the Madre de Dios region. This is a recreation of a real camp where you can observe the traditional process of collecting rubber, also known as latex, which is used in many products. This trekking activity lasts approximately 2 hours.

  Back at the lodge, you will have free time to relax by the pool or in the hammocks on your bungalow terrace, enjoy an exotic cocktail at the bar, receive a relaxing massage from qualified staff, buy a rainforest souvenir at our handicraft shop, or visit the river dock to watch the sunset.

  Caiman Safari: 7:00 p.m.

  Before dinner, we will take a night boat ride for a fun Caiman Safari. With some luck, you may also observe other animals that live along the riverbanks.

  Dinner will be served in our dining room at 8:00 p.m.

• DAY 02Lake Sandoval – Observation Tower – Brazil Nut Camp

  We will wake up at 5:30 a.m. to enjoy a coffee or hot infusion before departing for Lake Sandoval. Your guide will provide a breakfast bag, which will be enjoyed during the excursion. At 6:00 a.m., we will begin the visit to Lake Sandoval.

  After navigating for about 20 minutes along the Madre de Dios River, we will arrive at the Lake Sandoval dock. From there, we will take a 3 km trek through the lush vegetation of the tropical forest, entering the territory of the Tambopata National Reserve.

  Along the way, you may admire giant trees and observe wildlife such as snakes, monkeys, including squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, or capuchins, as well as birds such as hoatzins, kingfishers, and anhingas.

  Once at Lake Sandoval, we will board small rowing boats to search for giant river otters. We may also observe a wide variety of animals, including reptiles, mammals, and birds in their natural habitat.

  When the guide finds a suitable place, and while we enjoy nature at its finest, we will have our breakfast. On the way back, we will make sure all belongings are complete before starting the return walk to the Lake Sandoval dock.

  At 1:30 p.m., we will return to the lodge for lunch.

  Visit to the Observation Tower: 3:30 p.m.

  We will visit one of the two towers located within the lodge facilities. One tower is 20 meters high, and the other is 42 meters high. Both are designed for birdwatching and observing other species from above. From there, you can also enjoy a beautiful sunset. The guide will coordinate which tower to visit depending on the passengers’ preferences.

  Visit to a Brazil Nut Camp

  The Brazil nut, also known worldwide as the Amazon nut, is another of the most important economic activities in the Madre de Dios region.

  Free Time

  You will have free time to enjoy the pool or a massage, have a refreshing drink at our bar, or visit our boutique.

  Dinner will be served at 8:00 p.m. at the lodge facilities.

• DAY 03Visit to a Machiguenga Family

  8:00 a.m. – Breakfast

  We will start the day with breakfast at the lodge.

  9:00 a.m. – Visit to a Native Machiguenga Family

  We will visit a native family from the Machiguenga ethnic group, one of the many indigenous groups found in the Peruvian Amazon.

  During this experience, they will share part of the cultural heritage of their ancestors, including their language, customs, traditional clothing, hunting techniques, handicrafts, and the music they play during their ancestral ceremonies.

  They will also show us how they use natural resources to make tools, build their homes, create clothing, and craft ornaments, all of which are important elements of their daily life.

  11:00 a.m. – Visit to the Local Farm

  After about 20 minutes of navigation along the river, we will visit a local farm cared for by a family from the area.

  Here, we will identify and may even taste different seasonal tropical fruits and native products, such as cacao, banana, cocona, breadfruit, noni, cassava, and lime.

  This farm belongs to a typical rural family from the region, who carefully grow native plants without chemicals. Many of these products are later taken to the main market in Puerto Maldonado for local consumption.

  1:00 p.m. – Lunch

  We will return to the lodge for lunch.

  2:00 p.m. – Free Time

  After lunch, you will have free time to rest at the lodge. You may visit the boutique, refresh yourself in the pool, enjoy a cocktail at the bar, or receive a relaxing massage.

  Dinner will be served at 8:00 p.m. at the lodge facilities.

• DAY 04Parrot Clay Lick

  We will wake up at 5:30 a.m. to enjoy a coffee or hot infusion before starting a walk of approximately 20 minutes to reach the parrot clay lick.

  At this special site, you may observe between 3 and 5 species of parrots that come down to feed on a particular type of clay found in certain areas of the region. This clay is essential for the birds’ metabolism and creates a truly colorful, wonderful, and exciting natural spectacle.

  8:00 a.m. – Breakfast and Free Time

  After breakfast, we will transfer back to the city of Puerto Maldonado in our boats.

  At Puerto Bolívar, transportation will be waiting to take you to our office. Then, we will continue toward the local market, where we will enjoy a short tour lasting approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Here, you will be able to see the different local products that supply the city’s residents.

  After this visit, we will continue to the airport for check-in for your respective flights.

  The order and schedule of the excursions may be modified by your guide, in coordination with the management team, depending on the physical condition of the passengers and the weather conditions at the time.

  Important: Excursion times will be reconfirmed at the destination.

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