Safari to Tambopata Amazon

wildlife is concentrated around the blackwater lagoons

Tambopata is the name that we use to describe the whole section of the Amazon Basin which lies in the southeast of Peru. It’s an area of the tropical rainforest that is most commonly combined with the popular Andean areas of Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lago Titicaca.

This fabulous conservation area represents the largest uninhabited, unhunted area of forest in the world.

Wildlife viewing in tropical forests is notoriously difficult and the majority of lodges simply do not have the knowledge or expertise to deliver. However there are a handful of properties in this area that take their safari rather more seriously and are able to produce good and reliable sightings.

There are three key elements that you need to include in your visit …

1. 1. A good black-water lake (an oxbow or small tributary) where you can spot caymans, giant otters and various important species of monkeys.

2. A good clay-lick where you can spot macaws and other parrots reliably and up close.

3. A remote lodge in an unhunted part of the forest where you can achieve at least a 30% chance of an encounter with a jaguar (at most lodges the chances are virtually zero).

1. 
   The vast majority of people visiting this area simply fly in and stay at a single lodge for 2 or 3 nights. But to deliver on all three of those major highlights you need to spend 5-6 nights in two or even three different lodges.
2. 
   Please note that if you are not so concerned about major wildlife sightings, but are instead looking for an easier and more luxurious Amazon experience, then it’s usually better to fly to Iquitos in the northeast of Peru and undertake one of the fabulous river cruises in that area.
   
   The Ese Ejja and Pukirieri native peoples inhabit the buffer zones surrounding the reserve and there are even some uncontacted tribes in the region.

The best time to visit Tambopata is generally considered to be the Apr-Oct dry season.

Although this area is dominated by tropical rainforest (which is usually indicative of a pretty stable year round climate), Tambopata actually experiences quite a considerable seasonal range.

Temperatures are quite stable year round, with peak daytime temperatures typically rising to around 31C/88F (peaking around 37C/98F), with nighttime temperatures dropping to 17C/63F. Given the high year round humidities, these night conditions can be quite sticky and uncomfortable (yet air conditioning is notable by its absence). During the Nov-Mar rainy season those nighttime temperatures can be a few degrees higher, which doesn’t help.

If you don’t enjoy high temperatures, then Jun-Jul is the best bet, since southerly winds can bring in slightly cooler fronts.

But the biggest seasonal difference is rainfall. During the Nov-Mar rainy season the precipitation rises to around 300mm/6” per month, which is pretty high. Downpours can be torrential and enduring. Whilst there’s still a lot of sunny weather around, it is possible to have consecutive days of overcast weather.

During the converse Apr-Oct dry season rainfall drops to around 75mm/3” per month, which means there are still regular showers, but they tend to be light and intermittent, with sunny weather prevailing.

Getting there

The Tambopata area can be easily accessed by internal flights into Padre Jose Aldamiz Airport in Puerto Maldonado, notably with regular connections from both Lima and Cusco.

The more accessible lodges can be reached by road from the airport, but all of the better and more remote properties are accessed by motorboat.

In some cases, for the more remote (and therefore usually better) properties, these motorboat transfers can take 5-7 hours.

Where to stay

When choosing where to stay in the Tambopata area you are faced with a rather unfortunate black-and-white decision …

1. 1. Stay at a more upmarket and comfortable lodge, where the wildlife viewing and activities are likely to be a bit lightweight.

2. Stay somewhere much simpler and more remote, where the wildlife viewing and activities are likely to be much stronger.

1. 
   One day there will be a lodge down here that combines elevated levels of comfort and service with excellent guiding and wildlife, but until such time we are left with that awkward decision.
2. 
   The best option from a wildlife perspective is undoubtedly to combine Sandoval Lake Lodge and Heath River Wildlife Center over 5-6 nights. If you really can’t stay that long then 3 nights at Sandoval Lake Lodge would probably be the best option. In both cases you need to be ready to rough it a little in terms of accommodation.
3. 
   If you’re looking for a more upmarket lodge option and are happy to live with what will probably be a much less intense wildlife experience (albeit still very atmospheric and interesting), then Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion is almost certainly the best option, usually for 3-4 nights.
4. 
   However, if you are very much focused on experiencing greater levels of comfort and service, then you may also like to look at luxury riverboat options in the Iquitos area to the northeast of the country.

easily accessed by air from Cusco and Lima