Everything you need to know about traveling to Tambopata
In Tambopata you will find one of the wildest and least affected by pollution and human influence habitats in the Amazon and the world. It is considered one of the most “must see” destinations in Peru and South America. That is why we recommend you to travel to Tambopata.
Making your travel plan to Tambopata can sometimes be a bit tedious. Although you can find a lot of information on the Internet about Tambopata, the lodges and tour operators. Also, the name “Tambopata” is given to a River, the Province and the National Reserve.
To get to Tambopata the entrance is through Puerto Maldonado and it is directly adjacent to another great natural destination: Bahuaja Sonene National Park, and Tambopata shares visits with two other good destinations in the Peruvian Amazon: Manu and Iquitos.
In this guide we will give you everything you need to understand how are the tours to Tambopata National Reserve.
What is Tambopata?
Seasoned travelers know Tambopata for the Tambopata River and the huge Tambopata National Reserve to which it belongs. Tambopata is also one of the provinces of the Amazonian state of Madre de Dios (or “Madre de Dios”). In this article we will refer to the Tambopata National Reserve when we say “Tambopata”.
Tambopata is one of the most biodiverse reserves in the country and perhaps in the entire Amazon, here we can find huge protected areas and it is also home to local communities.
Although it is a remote area, it is easily accessible, which makes it a favorite destination for travelers from all over the world.
Tambopata Reserve Highlights
- Puerto Maldonado is the main town in Tambopata, the starting point to explore the jungle.
- Tambopata is close to other rainforest reserves, such as Bahuaja Sonene National Park.
- The aerial view of Tambopata reveals a vast expanse of green jungle and meandering rivers.
- Puerto Maldonado and its surroundings are overshadowed by the immense jungle landscape.
- The jungle is inhabited by a diverse fauna, including monkeys, toucans, macaws and jaguars.
- The Tambopata rainforest experience promises adventure and a once in a lifetime experience.
A brief history of Tambopata
The word “Tambopata” comes from the combination of two Quechua words: “tambo”, which means “lodge” or “lodging place”, and “pata”, which refers to “high point”.
Although the meaning of this name is not exactly known, it may be related to the use that was given to the adjacent Andean areas. Although the name “Tambopata” is of Quechua origin, the Incas had no major presence in this area. This remains a mystery to this day.
Tambopata was inhabited thousands of years ago by Amazonian Indians such as the Ese ‘ja, who lived in small villages who cultivated yucca and hunted in the area’s forests. These people also took advantage of the plants of the rainforests to obtain construction materials and many medicines.
At the time of the Spanish colony, Tambopata was so difficult that the region was largely ignored and left to its own devices. It was not until the 20th century when rubber was exploited in Peru that this area began to become known in addition to other areas, which is why many of the local inhabitants were exploited as slaves who died from diseases brought by the invaders.
Although the rubber boom did not last long, it had a significant impact on Tambopata’s indigenous groups, resulting in a decline in their populations.
What can be seen in the Tambopata National Reserve?
Tambopata National Reserve is huge and covers 274,690 hectares (1,061 square miles) of almost untouched wilderness. Tambopata is similar in size to the iconic Yosemite National Park in the United States. It is home to a great diversity of habitats.
Due to the conservation of these places Tambopata is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with more than 1000 species of butterflies, 100 species of mammals, 600 species of birds and hundreds of species of trees and plants! You will see monkeys, parrots and macaws, caimans, toucans and much more.
Who lives in Tambopata?
In the Tambopata National Reserve live the Ese Eja people, an indigenous nation that has lived in the rainforest region for many years. “Ese Eja” literally means people. There are three native Ese Eja communities around the Tambopata National Reserve: Infierno (about 200 families), Palma Real (about 50 families) and Sonene (about 20 families).
The communities of “Ese Eja” are hunters, fishermen and farmers, although many families are now also involved in tourism activities.
Currently, tourism and Brazil nut collection are the two main economic activities in Tambopata National Reserve.
Tambopata is now one of Peru’s top tourist destinations, but due to its enormous size, it is not crowded. If you like or love nature then Tambopata is for you.
How to get to Tambopata National Reserve
If you wish to reach this reserve your trip starts in the city of Puerto Maldonado. From here you can take flights coming from Lima or Cusco at least three times a day.
Flights from Lima depart from the domestic terminal at Jorge Chavez Airport. Direct flights take approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. There are flights from Cusco departing from the domestic terminal of Velasco Astete Airport. The trip can take between 3.5 hrs and 4.5 hrs, as they make a stopover in Lima.
*As of June 1, 2022, LATAM has 3 weekly frequencies (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) from Cuzco to Puerto Maldonado with a duration of 45 minutes. Please note that this varies by airline. *
**We do not recommend arriving or departing to/from Puerto Maldonado by bus, as the road is unsafe**.
When is it recommended to travel to Tambopata?
Tambopata is very different in terms of climates since at any time of the year, it can be very sunny or rain very hard, or both at the same time, Tambopata is drier from April to November, when the rains stop and start, respectively. The rainiest months are January and February, but even then it rarely rains.
The advantages of visiting during the dry season are that there is very little chance that your activities will be affected by rain.
The advantages of visiting during the rainy season are that the macaws are more active in the clay licks and nest. If you like macaws, come between December and February, when the nesting season is in full swing.
What to do in Tambopata?
This is a key question: no one goes to the Amazon to stay inside the lodge. The vast majority of lodges and tour operators include activities in their nightly rates. In Tambopata you don’t wake up and choose a trail to take.
Every day in Tambopata our travel specialist will offer you a wide variety of tourist activities in Tambopata.
Biodiversity of Tambopata
The lowland forests of Tambopata are some of the most biodiverse areas in the world.
- Birds: 670 bird species have been identified, including the harpy eagle, a large and rare raptor that preys on monkeys and sloths, the rare Hoatzin and eight species of macaws (six of which can be seen at the Tambopata Research Center’s clay lick).
- Mammals: 200 species, including healthy populations of jaguar, giant anteater, Amazonian tapir and, in the savannah habitats of the Heath River, maned wolf.
- Reptiles and amphibians: 210 species, including several species of tree frogs, the colorful Tambopata poison frog and the beautiful rainbow boa.
- Insects and other arthropods: The number of insect and spider species living in the Tambopata rainforests is in the thousands. Many are expected to be species unknown to science.
- Trees and plants: More than 10,000 plant species have been identified in Tambopata, Peru, making it one of the most plant diverse areas on the planet. Some of the most notable plants are the Brazil nut, the huge ceiba and the fast-growing balsa trees.
Wildlife Sightings when you travel to Tambopata
There are more than 1,000 possible sightings of mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian species in Tambopata.
Tambopata Lodges and Tours
All lodges in Tambopata have a tour operator accompanying you. That means that the lodges will have boats to take you to the lodges, will have guides to accompany your activities and will be responsible for everything from picking you up at the airport to taking you back there.
How do you know if your hostel is good? Is it clean? Is the food good? Are the trucks and boats on time? Is the staff friendly? Let visitors who have been there before help you with their voices. For any questions focused on actual service, Trip Advisor is your best bet.
What to pack in your backpack when you make your trip to Tambopata
Here are some suggestions:
- Binoculars
- Camera equipment, bring your long lens!
- Long cotton pants, tightly woven and light-colored.
- Light-colored, tightly woven, long-sleeved cotton shirts.
- Hiking boots and ankle-high sneakers.
- Flashlight (headlamp) with batteries.
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Wide brimmed hat
- Rain suit or poncho
- Insect repellent
- Small denomination banknotes
- Small backpack
- Slippers or sandals for walking around the lodges.