 |
PERU B FIELD COURSE (Tambopata-Candamo Reserve
Zone)
Introduction:
Our PERU B FIELD COURSE partner is a local Peruvian
tour operator, Rainforest Expeditions, with offices
in both Lima and Puerto Maldonado. They own and operate
3 separate Lodges adjacent to or in the Tambopata-Candamo
Reserve Zone (TCRZ) of SE Peru….Posada Amazonas
Lodge (shared ownership with the Ese'eja Native Community),
Refugio Amazonas Lodge and the Tambopata Research
Center. Descriptions, along with activities available
at each site are outlined below. Information about
the TCRZ is also included. We have included a “sample”
PERU B FIELD COURSE itinerary below of 8 Days/7 Nights.
It should be emphasized that this is only a sample.
We can customize an itinerary for any group/individual
based on interests, needs, time available and budget.
After you read about Posadas Amazonas Lodge, Refugio
Amazonas Lodge and the Tambopata Wildlife Center,
you can decide what combination is best for you. We
will also be pleased to make recommendations after
learning more about your interests and needs. While
we use 3 Lodges located in this region of Peru, some
choose to use just one or two. It is our recommendation
that you plan a trip to SE Peru for a minimum of 7
days and 6 nights. There is too much to see and do
to make your visit here any shorter, even though it
is possible. It should also be noted that our profits
are not based on the length of your trip, we make
the same per person on a 3 Day/2 Night itinerary as
we do on longer programs. It is also a fallacy that
you can arrange your travel plans “direct” and
save money. Our prices are lower than “published
rates” to all of these Lodges. You also have biologists/researchers,
experienced instructors and travelers at Rainforest
and Reef to assist in planning your trip. Our PERU
B FIELD COURSE is designed to educate participants
regarding the challenges presented by field research
in this unique rainforest environment. We use professional
data collection techniques and in the case of “Giant
River Otter Observation” and “Macaw Census”
data, that you will personally collect, it will become
part of a larger, long-term data base being used for
authentic scientific research. Aside from gaining
an introduction to the Biology of flora and fauna
found in the rainforest of the Peruvian Amazon Basin,
you will be exposed to the interrelationships and
laws that govern this complex ecosystem and the difficulties
facing researchers here and elsewhere in the tropics.
We also hope that you return home with a greater appreciation
for the need to preserve our rainforests and all habitats
on earth.
Tambopata-Candamo Reserve Zone
The Tambopata-Candamo Reserve Zone (TCRZ) is located
~400 miles NE of Cuzco and ~20 miles SW of Puerto
Maldonado, Peru. The latter is one of the most important
cities in the southeastern jungles of Peru. It’s
the capital of the Madre de Dios Department and has
a population of ~25,000 people. Puerto Maldonado sits
on the banks of the Madre de Dios River, which connects
it with Assis, Brazil and Rivera Alto, Bolivia. Today,
Puerto Maldonado is still what it has been for centuries,
a dynamic and bustling frontier city. The main economic
activities here are forestry, gold panning, farming
and ecotourism. Upstream from Puerto Maldonado, the
TCRZ is a massive tract of subtropical rainforest
comprised of 3.7 million acres (one-third the size
of Costa Rica). Created by the Peruvian government
in 1990, most people access the TCRZ and adjacent
lands by boat from Puerto Maldonado. It covers the
entire watersheds of the Candamo and Tavara Rivers,
along with much of that of the Tambopata River. The
Reserve is thought by many to have the highest biodiversity
of any place on earth. Over 1300 bird species, ten
percent of the world’s total, 200 different types
of mammals, 90 frog species, 1200 kinds of butterflies
and 10,000 species of vascular plants are protected
within the Reserve. At least 13 endangered species
are found here, including the jaguar, giant river
otter, ocelot, harpy eagle and giant armadillo. The
TCRZ's great biodiversity is due to its location at
the convergence of lowland Amazon forest and several
higher elevation life zones. The world's largest known
mineral clay-lick (Collpa de Guacamayos), is located
on a 130 foot, vertical river bank, where hundreds
of brilliantly colored macaws and other parrots congregate
daily to ingest a beak-full or two of mineral rich
clay is also found within the TCRZ. This is a vital
part of their diet and its’ purpose is still being
studied today. The phenomenon was well documented
by Charles Munn in the January 1994 issue of National
Geographic. This is truly one of the most dazzling
wildlife spectacles in the world. The clay-lick is
located less than less than 550 yards from the Tambopata
Research Center (see our PERU B FIELD COURSE itinerary
below). Visits to jungle lodges in or on the outskirts
of the TCRZ are generally more accessible and less
expensive than those in neighboring Manu Biosphere
Reserve (see our PERU C FIELD COURSE). Adjacent to
the northwestern corner of the Reserve is Infierno
(Ese'eja Native Community), adding ~25,000 acres of
communally-owned and managed rainforest to what is
also protected by the TCRZ. Posada Amazonas Lodge
is found on land that makes up part of this Community
and is run in conjunction with our PERU B FIELD COURSE
partner, Rainforest Expeditions. Refugio Amazonas
Lodge (located in the buffer zone of the TCRZ) and
the Tambopata Wildlife Center (located in the heart
of the TCRZ). are all options for our PERU B FIELD
COURSE and described below.
Lodges:
Posasda Amazonas Lodge (PA):
Location: Posada Amazonas is located on Infierno (Ese'eja)
Territory and within the boundaries of the Ese'eje’s
private 24,700 acre Reserve. It is owned and operated
in conjunction with Rainforest Expeditions through
a unique ecotourism partnership and is directly adjacent
to the 3.7 million acre Tambopata-Candamo Reserve
Zone in the Amazon Basin of SE Peru.
Access: You must fly from Lima (90 min.) or Cuzco
(45 min.) to Puerto Maldonado, Peru on a daily scheduled
commercial flight. Upon arrival, you will be met by
our PERU B FIELD COURSE Staff and be driven (10 min.)
to the Rainforest Expeditions Puerto Maldonado office.
While enjoying your first taste of the forest in their
gardens, you will be asked to pack only the necessary
gear for your Field Course experience. Extra luggage
can be left in the office, where it will be stored
safely. Your group will then be driven ~12 miles to
the Tambopata River port and board a boat for the
ride to Posada Amazonas Lodge (~1 hour). On the journey
you will enter the Native Community of Infierno (Ese'eja)
and their 24,700 acre primary rainforest Reserve.
Upon arrival, the Lodge is located about 15 minutes
walking distance from the River. Because of the short
trip, your group can begin exploring the surrounding
rainforest on the same afternoon you arrive.
Facilities: Posada Amazonas is a comfortable, 30 bedroom
Lodge. It is jointly owned and operated by the Ese'eja
Native Community of Infierno and local tour operator,
Rainforest Expeditions. The Lodge was built using
a combination of traditional native materials, including
wood, palm fronds, wild cane and clay. Local architecture
used by native communities throughout the Amazon was
also employed along with low-impact, modern, ecolodge
technology. The Lodge itself consists of a complex
of four sections: rooms, dining area and kitchen,
relaxation area and internal support facilities. The
roof of the Lodge was constructed using high quality
crisneja palm fronds, whereas the floors are made
out of tropical mahogany. The 30 rooms hold three
beds comfortably, they are typically set up for two.
The walls dividing each room were built using cane
and clay, this combination acts as a thermal regulator
and provides for a charming appearance. Each room
has a bathroom with showers and flush toilets. There
is no hot water. Mosquito nets, bedside tables and
hammocks or lounge chairs are also included. Each
room has a large window facing the forest and a second
small window on the opposite side, set up very high,
to keep the rooms well ventilated. The side that looks
out to the forest does not have a wall or screening
of any kind, allowing for a great view of primary
rainforest. This “open-air” design was possible because
mosquitoes are not a problem around the Lodge clearing.
Between the five room modules there is an open, roofed
structure with hammocks where people can relax and
socialize. The dining area can hold 80 people and
is designed to be used as a conference room, as well
as for audio-visual presentations. Self-serve three
course meals are provided at Posada Amazonas. Meals
consist of soup or appetizers, salad, main course
and deserts combining Peruvian and International cuisine.
All fresh fruits and salads are completely disinfected
before serving. Unlimited amounts of water are provided
at all times, while coffee or tea, fruit juices are
served at all meals. The water used is boiled and
cooled. Special meal requests or needs that you or
members of your group may have are fulfilled upon
request. Please let us know prior to your arrival.
Posada Amazonas is in daily HF radio contact with
Puerto Maldonado and Lima. From both of these locations
connections to the outside world by fax, phone and
e-mail are available. Posada Amazonas has no electricity.
Light is provided by numerous kerosene lamps and candles.
A generator is turned on once a day for participants
to recharge camera batteries and for Lodge facilities.
At night it is very dark, we recommend that each participant
bring a good flashlight or head-lamp.
Activities: Because of its’ accessibility, excellent
wildlife observation opportunities, potential for
local cultural interaction and comfortable accommodations,
Posada Amazonas is ideal for individuals/groups looking
for an introduction to the rainforests of SE Peru
lasting from 2-5 days. Included below is a list and
brief description of activities available at Posada
Amazonas.
Canopy Tower:
Twenty minutes walking distance from Posada Amazonas
Lodge is a metal tower ~120 feet high, which provides
safe and effortless access to the rainforest canopy.
Here visitors can walk up a banister staircase, stopping
on any of the tower’s twenty platforms to observe
the myriad of life forms not visible from ground level.
It also provides spectacular views of vast expanses
of standing rainforest, with the Tambopata River winding
through the middle.
Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake:
Tres Chimbadas, an oxbow lake, is 30 minutes by boat
and 45 minutes hiking distance from Posada Amazonas.
Once there, you will paddle around the lake in a catamaran
searching for a resident family of 9 giant river otters
and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman, turtles,
hoatzins, horned screamers and wading birds. Otters
are most active from dawn to 8 or 9 am. If giant river
otters are spotted during our outing you will fill
out our standard Frankfurt Zoological Society otter
monitoring cards. Using these you will register their
location on a map of the Lake, track and time their
activities (swimming, fishing, resting, alarm calls,
etc.). Their white throat marks will also noted, as
they are distinct for each individual. The otters
are seen by ~60% of visitors to Tres Chimbadas. As
noon approaches, animal activity decreases and the
tropical heat makes it irresistible to take a swim
in the Lake, so pack your swimsuit.
Parrot Clay-licks:
Two parrot clay-licks are found less than a mile from
Posada Amazonas Lodge. From a blind located about
70 feet away you will see dozens of parrots and parakeets
here on most clear mornings. They come to ingest clay
on the river bank. Species such as mealy and yellow-headed
Amazons, blue-headed parrots and dusky-headed parakeets
are common sightings. The clay-licks are usually active
at dawn, during the late mornings and mid-afternoons.
The noise level and superb photography at this distance
complements the increased diversity and abundance
of parrots and parakeets you can experience at the
famous clay-lick found near the Tambopata Research
Center (see our sample itinerary below).
Ethnobotanical Tour:
The community of Infierno’s (Ese'eja Native Community)
hub is located about 45 downstream from Posada Amazonas.
Although homes are scattered over ~25,000 acres, the
“hub” centralizes a shared infrastructure, including
a school, store, small medical clinic and meeting
room. A communal organization, the Centro Ñape is
found another 20 minutes downstream. Staff members
here have designed a trail that explains the different
medicinal and practical uses of selected plants. Many
of these plants are used to provide traditional herbal
medicines to community members who come to the medical
clinic of Infierno. A Guided tour here is one of two
cultural activities that have been integrated into
options out of Posada Amazonas (see information on
the “farm visit” below). It is also possible to hike
the trails around Posada Amazonas with an Ese´eja
Native Guide, who will explain the everyday uses of
forest plants for medicine, construction, food and
fiber.
Farm:
A 30 minute boat ride down-river will take you to
the most complete farm in the community of Infierno.
The owner grows a diverse variety of popular and unknown
Amazon crops. In his garden, just about every plant
and tree serves a purpose. You will also visit a Native
slash-and-burn farm. Slash and burn agriculture systems
are often thought of as wasteful because the fields
are burned, cultivated for a few years and then abandoned.
Many resident studies, however, have shown that there
are some exceptions. The secret of the success here
is through mixed planting in small patches. Using
this technique, crops are not decimated by disease
and pests, which spread easily through monocultures.
Plantings are also made up of a mixture of herbaceous
and woody crops with genetic diversity. After your
visit, you will better understand why the Ese´eja
cultivation system has been sustainable over the long-term.
Trail Hikes:
There is an extensive trail system within easy walking
distance of the Posada Amazonas Lodge. You will be
able to use the trails during guided and unguided
hikes at any time. Guided hikes will include interpretation
of rainforest natural history, along with identification
of flora and fauna that you may encounter. You will
also learn from Ese´eja Native Naturalist Guides the
way in which they utilize forest resources in everyday
life.
Nocturnal Walks:
You will have the opportunity to hike on the same
trails mentioned above at night. Certainly a head-lamp
or flashlight will come in handy. Many animals of
all sizes and shapes are only active and observable
after the sun goes down. Sounds from nocturnal birds,
frogs and insects are also a special part of the experience.
These outings will provide excellent opportunities
for macro-photography, especially when it comes to
frogs, insects, spiders and a variety of other invertebrates.
You can also scan the river’s edge with flashlights/head-lamps
to catch the reddish reflections from the eyes of
caimans.
The Ese'eja Ecoturism Project and Cultural Interaction:
The Infierno Community Ecotourism Project has been
an attempt to prove that business and communal joint
ventures in tourism are not only successful in empowering
local communities and conserving natural resources,
but also sound business practices. Posada Amazonas
was built on a ~25,000 acre Reserve set apart 25 years
ago within communal grounds by Community members to
protect primary rainforest and wildlife populations.
The Reserve is an ideal location for the Lodge, not
only is it uninhabited, preventing travelers from
disturbing the Community’s everyday life, but it
also contains beautiful and wildlife-rich forests.
This partnership was formed by the signing of a 20-year
contract between Community Members and Rainforest
Expeditions in 1996. Posada Amazonas opened in 1998.
The use of Communal cultural resources to enhance
Posada Amazonas has incredible potential, but the
Community and Rainforest Expeditions have been very
careful in integrating them into itineraries. A fundamental
concept of the project has been a shared participation
in decision-making processes, work procedures, project
policies, marketing strategies, infrastructure and
itinerary development. All decisions must be approved
by the Native Community, as represented by its’
10 member Ecotourism Board, and Rainforest Expeditions.
Other fundamental concepts include the training of
Community members to occupy all Lodge positions, purchase
community products and the gradual incorporation of
cultural resources into itineraries. Cultural tourism
resources are identified through mechanisms that allow
the Community to evaluate and decide which ones to
share with visitors. Handicraft, cultural rescue and
education projects have already produced economic
and social benefits. We only visit the community with
their authorization and reasons to do so, aside from
natural history options in the Reserve, include educators
and students meeting with Community instructors and
Field Course participants wanting to hear community
leaders speak first hand about the project. While
you are here, the Project Director will go over the
environmental, social, and economic impacts of Posada
Amazonas from their perspective. Environmentally,
results have also been important and, in the case
of wildlife conservation, very clear. The realization
that Posada Amazonas success depends in great measure
on visitors seeing wildlife has generated a variety
of conservation schemes. For example, eight large
eagle nests located within Community grounds have
been assigned Native guardians who receive money for
every traveler that visits a nest. For years, although
Community members respected them, they hunted these
birds for feathers. Today, these same people are their
principal protectors. The Community has attempted
to curb poaching on their Reserve, a difficult endeavor
because of its’ sheer size and vegetation density.
Preliminary studies have shown that tourism and conservation
in the Community are connected. The amount of land
under annual cultivation and employment at Posada
Amazonas have been inversely related, meaning that
the more Community members work in tourism, the less
they cultivate land or hunt. To date Posada Amazonas
has been a good business decision and quoting anthropologist
Amanda Stronza, "we can be cautiously optimistic
that ecotourism at Posada Amazonas is helping to protect
the rainforests of Tambopata while meeting the economic
needs of the people in the Community of Infierno".
A presentation on the Infierno Ecotourism Project
is available every night from one of the Staff members.
Published research papers on this project are available
upon request.
Presentations:
Lectures and/or video presentations are available
every night at the Interpretation Center. Topics include
the Tambopata-Candamo Reserve Zone; the Macaw Project;
the History and Geography of the Department of Madre
de Dios, from pre-Columbian times, through the rubber
boom and oil exploration to current conservation and
ecotourism interests.
Note: Many optional activities, such as hiring a private
birding Guide to making arrangements for a Community
Craft Workshop are available upon request.
Costs:
Posada Amazonas Lodge:
3 Days and 2 Nights: 205.00USD per person; Single
supplement 70.00USD
4 Days and 3 Nights: 295.00USD per person; Single
supplement 105.00USD
5 Days and 4 Nights: 385.00USD per person; Single
supplement 140.00USD
Extra Night: 90.00USD; Single supplement: 35.00USD
Refugio Amazonas Lodge (RA):
Location: Refugio Amazonas is located on a ~300 acre
private Reserve surrounded by the Native Community
of Condenado, 2.5 hours by boat from Puerto Maldonado
and 1 hour up-river from Posada Amazonas. The Reserve
is located in the “buffer zone” of the 3.7 million
acre Tambopata-Candamo Reserve Zone in the Amazon
Basin of SE Peru. It is owned an operated by Rainforest
Expeditions.
Access: You must fly from Lima (90 min.) or Cuzco
(45 min.) to Puerto Maldonado, Peru on a daily scheduled
commercial flight. Upon arrival, you will be met by
our PERU B FIELD COURSE Staff and be driven (10 min.)
to the Rainforest Expeditions Puerto Maldonado office.
While enjoying your first taste of the forest in their
gardens, you will be asked to pack only the necessary
gear for your Field Course experience. Extra luggage
can be left in the office, where it will be stored
safely. Your group will then be driven ~12 miles to
the Tambopata River port and board a boat for the
ride to Refugio Amazonas (~2.5 hours). If you choose
to include Posada Amazonas Lodge in your trip, Refugio
Amazonas it is ~1.5 hours upstream by boat. Upon arrival,
the Lodge is located about 10 minutes walking distance
from the river. Most of your first afternoon is spent
on the river. Therefore, we recommend that you spend
a minimum of 2-3 nights at Refugio Amazonas. This
will give you a chance to fully explore the surrounding
primary rainforest.
Facilities: Refugio Amazonas is a comfortable, 24
bedroom Lodge. It was built using a combination of
traditional native materials, including wood, palm
fronds, wild cane and clay. Local architecture used
by native communities throughout the Amazon was also
employed along with low-impact, modern, ecolodge technology.
The roof of the Lodge was constructed using high quality
crisneja palm fronds, whereas the floors are made
out of tropical mahogany. The 24 rooms hold three
beds comfortably, they are typically set up for two.
The walls dividing each room were built using cane
and clay, this combination acts as a thermal regulator
and provides for a charming appearance. Each room
has a bathroom with showers and flush toilets. There
is no hot water. Mosquito nets, bedside tables and
hammocks or lounge chairs are also included. Each
room has a large window facing the forest and a second
small window on the opposite side, set up very high,
to keep the rooms well ventilated. The side that looks
out to the forest does not have a wall or screening
of any kind, allowing for a great view of primary
rainforest. This “open-air” design was possible because
mosquitoes are not a problem around the Lodge clearing.
The Lodge consists of 3 wings, which house 8 rooms
apiece. They are connected by raised boardwalks to
a 2 story, 20 foot high “common area”. The common
has area has a dining room, bar, shop, lobby and lounge.
It provides great canopy views of the surrounding
rainforest. Self-serve three course meals are provided
at Refugio Amazonas. Meals consist of soup or appetizers,
salad, main course and deserts combining Peruvian
and International cuisine. All fresh fruits and salads
are completely disinfected before serving. Unlimited
amounts of water are provided at all times, while
coffee or tea, fruit juices are served at all meals.
The water used is boiled and cooled. Special meal
requests or needs that you or members of your group
may have are fulfilled upon request. Please let us
know prior to your arrival. Refugio Amazonas is in
daily HF radio contact with Puerto Maldonado and Lima.
From both of these locations connections to the outside
world by fax, phone and e-mail are available. Refugio
Amazonas has no electricity. Light is provided by
numerous kerosene lamps and candles. A generator is
turned on once a day for participants to recharge
camera batteries and for Lodge facilities. At night
it is very dark, we recommend that each participant
bring a good flashlight or head-lamp.
Activities: As with Posada Amazonas, because of its’
accessibility, excellent wildlife observation opportunities,
potential for local cultural interaction and comfortable
accommodations, Refugio Amazonas is ideal for individuals/groups
looking for an introduction to the rainforests of
SE Peru lasting from 2-5 days. Basically, the same
activities are available here as at Posada Amazonas,
with the addition of an authentic Brazil Nut Trail
and Camp. By working together with surrounding river
communities a more effective “buffer zone” conservation
plan is being established to protect the fragile habitat
bordering the TCRZ. Involving the communities with
tourism and Refugio Amazonas, alternative sources
of income based on conservation and sustainable development
are being used rather than on exploitation, poaching
and habitat destruction. This Lodge also makes a great
stepping-stone for longer programs to the even more
remote Tambopata Research Center. Included below is
a list and brief description of activities available
at Refugio Amazonas.
Note: There is also a rainforest
canopy and ethnobotanical garden at Refugio Amazonas.
They are not discussed below.
Sachavacayoc Oxbow Lake:
Sachavacayoc Lake is an oxbow lake, a 1.5 hour hike
from Refugio Amazonas. While canoeing around the Lake,
you will be on the lookout for giant river otters,
turtles, hoatzin, and wading birds.
Parrot Clay-lick:
You will have the opportunity to visit a clay-lick
near Refugio Amazonas. Species such as mealy and yellow-headed
Amazons, blue-headed parrots, orange-cheeked parrots,
cobalt-winged parakeets, dusky-headed parakeets and
sometimes even the rare rock parakeet are found here.
The clay-lick is usually active at dawn, during the
late mornings and mid-afternoons. The noise level
and superb photography at this distance complements
the increased diversity and abundance of parrots you
will experience at the famous clay-lick found near
the Tambopata Research Center (see our sample itinerary
below). This congregation creates a riotous and colorful
wildlife spectacle where the greens, oranges, reds
and blues of the parrots and parakeets dance around
the bank as each individual parrot competes for their
choice beakful of clay.
Peccary Clay-lick:
About 20 minutes hiking distance from Refugio Amazonas
is a peccary clay-lick. Peccaries are seen here about
15% of the time. These wild rainforest pigs show up
in herds of five to twenty individuals to eat clay
in the morning.
Farm:
Five minutes down-river from the Lodge, you will travel
to a farm owned and managed by a charismatic local
farmer from the neighboring community of Condenado.
He grows a wide variety of popular and unknown Amazon
crops. You will also visit a Native slash-and-burn
farm. Slash and burn agriculture systems are often
thought of as wasteful because the fields are burned,
cultivated for a few years and then abandoned. Many
resident studies, however, have shown that this is
far from the rule. The secret of their success is
through mixed planting in small patches. Using this
technique, crops are not decimated by disease and
pests, which spread easily through monocultures. Plantings
are also made up of a mixture of herbaceous and woody
crops with genetic diversity. After your visit, you
will better understand why, in some cases, this cultivation
system is sustainable over the long term.
Brazil Nut Trail and Camp:
A few minutes walk from the Lodge is a beautiful
old growth patch of Brazil nut forest that has been
harvested for decades. The remains of a camp used
two months a year by Brazil nut gatherers is still
present. You will witness the entire processing of
Brazil Nuts, one of the rainforest’s few sustainable
harvested products, including collection, transporting
and drying.
Trail Hikes:
There is an extensive trail system within easy walking
distance of the Refugio Amazonas Lodge. You will be
able to use the trails during guided and unguided
hikes at any time. Guided hikes will include interpretation
of rainforest natural history, along with identification
of flora and fauna that you may encounter. You will
also learn from Peruvian and Native Naturalist Guides
the way in which they utilize forest resources in
everyday life. There will be a chance to hike the
Children’s Rainforest Trail built by children from
this part of the Peruvian Amazon.
Nocturnal Walks:
You will have the opportunity to hike on the same
trails mentioned above at night. Certainly a head-lamp
or flashlight will come in handy. Many animals of
all sizes and shapes are only active and observable
after the sun goes down. Sounds from nocturnal birds,
frogs and insects are also a special part of the experience.
These outings will provide excellent opportunities
for macro-photography, especially when it comes to
frogs, insects, spiders and a variety of other invertebrates.
You can also scan the river’s edge with flashlights
and head-lamps to catch the reddish reflections from
the eyes of caiman.
Presentations:
Lectures and/or video presentations are available
every night at the Interpretation Center. Topics include
the Tambopata-Candamo Reserve Zone; the Macaw Project;
the History and Geography of the Department of Madre
de Dios, from pre-Columbian times, through the rubber
boom and oil exploration to current conservation and
ecotourism interests and the Community Ecotourism
Project.
Note: Many optional activities, such
as hiring a private birding Guide or making arrangements
for a Community Craft Workshop are available upon
request.
Costs:
Refugio Amazonas Lodge:
3 Days and 2 Nights: 205.00USD per person; Single
supplement 70.00USD
4 Days and 3 Nights: 295.00USD per person; Single
supplement 105.00USD
5 Days and 4 Nights: 385.00USD per person; Single
supplement 140.00USD
Extra Night: 90.00USD; Single supplement: 35.00USD
Tambopata Research Center (TRC):
Location: The Tambopata Research Center is located
on a one acre clearing in the middle of an uninhabited
portion of the Tambopata-Candamo Reserve Zone. It
is adjacent to Bahuaja National Park and ~550 yards
from the world’s largest known macaw clay-lick.
Access: You must fly from Lima (90 min.) or Cuzco
(45 min.) to Puerto Maldonado, Peru on a daily scheduled
commercial flight. Upon arrival, you will be met by
our PERU B FIELD COURSE Staff and be driven (10 min.)
to the Rainforest Expeditions Puerto Maldonado office.
While enjoying your first taste of the forest in their
gardens, you will be asked to pack only the necessary
gear for your Field Course experience. Extra luggage
can be left in the office, where it will be stored
safely. Your group will then be driven ~12 miles to
the Tambopata River port and board a boat for the
ride to Refugio Amazonas (~2.5 hours). We recommend
that you spend a minimum of 1 day/night at Refugio
Amazonas Lodge after arrival and before your final
departure from Puerto Maldonado. Posada Amazonas Lodge
can also be included in this itinerary as well. The
TRC is ~4 hours upstream from Refugio Amazonas. Upon
arrival at the TRC, it is a short walking distance
from the River. Located in the middle of the 3.7 million
acre Tambopata-Candamo Reserve Zone, regarded as one
of the premier nature destinations in the world, we
recommend a minimum stay of 4 nights at the TRC.
Facilities: The TRC was built using a combination
of traditional native materials, including wood, palm
fronds, wild cane and clay. Local architecture used
by native communities throughout the Amazon was also
employed along with low-impact, modern, ecolodge technology.
It consists of one wing of 18 rooms, connected by
raised boardwalks to 8 shared bathrooms with showers
and flush toilets, the research quarters and dining
room. Each room has beds, mosquito netting, bedside
tables and a rack of clothes hangers. Each room has
a large window facing the forest and a second small
window on the opposite side, set up very high, to
keep the rooms well ventilated. The side that looks
out to the forest does not have a wall or screening
of any kind, allowing for a great view of primary
rainforest. This “open-air” design was possible because
mosquitoes are not a problem around the Lodge clearing.
There is no hot water at the TRC. The Research Center
is a 2 story building, where Researchers and their
Assistants do their work on the Macaw Project. The
dining room is an open building that also serves as
a meeting room and has a bar. Meals consist of soup
or appetizers, salad, main course and deserts combining
Peruvian and International cuisine. All fresh fruits
and salads are completely disinfected before serving.
Unlimited amounts of water are provided at all times,
while coffee or tea, fruit juices are served at all
meals. The water used is boiled and cooled. Special
meal requests or needs that you or members of your
group may have are fulfilled upon request. Please
let us know prior to your arrival. The Tambopata Research
Center is in daily HF radio contact with Puerto Maldonado
and Lima. From both of these locations connections
to the outside world by fax, phone and e-mail are
available. The TRC has no electricity. Light is provided
by numerous kerosene lamps and candles. A generator
is turned on once a day for participants to recharge
camera batteries and for Lodge facilities. At night
it is very dark, we recommend that each participant
bring a good flashlight or head-lamp.
Activities: The Tambopata Research Center was built
in 1991 to house researchers and travelers, as well
as to protect the nearby, world renowned macaw clay-lick.
Upon arrival, you will be ~100 miles up-river from
Puerto Maldonado and in the uninhabited heart of the
CTRZ. Here, the surrounding wilderness is untouched.
The TRC is an excellent location for in-depth exploration
of the rainforests in SE Peru. The forest surrounding
the Tambopata Research Center is unique in that seven
different life zones are found here. Over 15 miles
of trails are cut in concentric loops around the Lodge,
designed to allow visitors easy access to all of them.
Within a 30 minute walk from the Lodge there are well-studied
areas of 3 types of terraced floodplain, terra firme
and bamboo forests, palm swamps, as well as the TRC
clearing. An abundance of wildlife viewing opportunities
exist here, such as the macaw clay-lick and frequent
encounters with troops of dusky headed titi, spider,
brown caphuchin, squirrel and red howler monkeys,
along with saddle-back tamarins. Capybara, agouti
and caimans are also seen on a regular basis. Although,
difficult to see, jaguar and herds of white-lipped
and collared peccary, as well as tapir are all at
their carrying capacity in this part of the Reserve.
It should be noted that a portion of each visitor's
fee contributes to ongoing research and conservation
here.
Macaw Clay-lick:
On most clear mornings of the year dozens of large
macaws and hundreds of parrots congregate on a nearby
Tambopata River bank in a raucous and colorful spectacle
which inspired a National Geographic cover story (January
1994). It begins with a description of the daily event:
"When the morning sun clears the Amazon tree
line in SE Peru and strikes a gray-pink clay bank
on the upper Tambopata River, one of the world's most
dazzling wildlife gatherings is nearing its riotous
peak. The steep bank has become a pulsing, 130-foot-high
palette of red, blue, yellow and green as more than
a thousand parrots squabble over choice perches to
grab a beakful of clay, a vital but mysterious part
of their diet. More than a dozen parrot species will
visit the clay-lick throughout the day, but this midmorning
crush belongs to the giants of the parrot world, the
macaws.” You can expect to see ten to twelve of the
following members of the parrot family, including
red-and-green, blue-and-gold, scarlet, red-bellied,
chestnut-fronted and blue-headed macaws; mealy and
yellow-crowned Amazons; blue-headed, orange-cheeked
and white-bellied parrots; dusky-headed, white-eyed,
cobalt-winged and tui parakeets, along with dusky-billed
parrotlets. This show will continue until the macaws
sense danger, usually in the form of an eagle, and
depart simultaneously in an explosion of sound and
color. The clay-lick is ~1600 feet long and only ~550
yards from the TRC. Tapir, capybara, howler monkeys
and pigeons are also commonly spotted here. By visiting
the clay-lick, you will be taking part in the long-term
Macaw Project. This will include counting macaws every
fifteen minutes, estimating and recording how many
fly in, how many are perching, how many are on the
clay lick, etc. Any abnormal activities will also
be noted. This data will all be fed into the Macaw
Project data base. Published research papers on the
Macaw Project are available upon request.
Trail Hikes:
There is an extensive trail system within easy walking
distance of the Tambopata Research Center. You will
be able to use the trails during guided and unguided
hikes at any time. Guided hikes will include interpretation
of rainforest natural history, along with identification
of flora and fauna that you may encounter. You will
also learn from Peruvian and Native Naturalist Guides
the way in which they utilize forest resources in
everyday life. The forest surrounding the Tambopata
Research Center is unique in that it presents a tapestry
of 7 distinct rainforest habitats and their respective
transition zones. Included are 3 types of terraced
floodplain, terra firme and bamboo forests, palm swamps,
as well as the TRC clearing. This diversity is all
found within an area of ~3 square miles. Trail hikes
are kept at a 6:1 Participant to Guide ratio, increasing
wildlife encounter opportunities. Each trail near
the TRC focuses on a distinct habitat providing visitors
the opportunity to explore and study each in-depth.
Additionally, a short boat ride away, are trails around
both, thriving and drying oxbow lakes. There is also
a 3 mile trail that leads into the foothills of the
Andes, where a mere 1600 foot increase in elevation
reveals an entirely different forest life zone. In
terms of bird diversity, as one example, all of this
translates into more than 480 bird species on the
16 miles of trails around TRC alone. Other than macaws,
larger birds easily found include pale rumped trumpeteer,
spix´s and common piping guan, razor-billed curassow,
yellow-ridged and Cuviers toucans. Other colorful,
spectacular birds that are commonly seen include the
blue-crowned motmot, six species of trogons, the bluish-fronted
jacamar, scarlet-hooded barbet, band-tailed manakin
and numerous tanagers. Endemics to the Madre de Dios
Department and the TCRZ are also found here. Some
of these include the white-lined antbird, Manu antbird,
white-cheeked tody tyrant and the rufous-fronted antthrush,
to name a few. Over 25 macaw nesting sites have been
identified nearby and are being studied. The Lodge
clearing is almost as good as the trail system for
encounters with certain mammals. These include the
agouti, tayra, nocturnal pacarana and ocelot. The
forest directly in front of the lodge is used by brown
capuchin, squirrel and red howler monkeys. Included
below are brief descriptions of several trails/sites
located near the TRC.
Palm Swamp:
A 30 minute hike from the TRC will bring you to the
palm swamp. Dead aguaje palms serve as nests and preferred
roosts to red bellied and blue-and-gold macaws. An
elevated boardwalk and 65 foot-high scaffolding tower
allow eye-level observation of macaws, as they fly
in and out of their nests. Although there are different
degrees of macaw activity at the swamp year-round,
the most exciting time to visit is from October to
March. This is the nesting season, when macaws will
land on their nests and stand for several minutes,
interacting with other individuals less then 20 feet
from you. These scenes, especially with the late afternoon
sun at your back, make prized photo opportunities.
As you walk near the edges of the swamp keep your
eyes open for the rare tapir.
Toucan Trail:
An entirely different habitat characterized by smaller,
thinner trees atop hills and slopes is covered on
this 3 mile trail. Habitat here is characterized by
smaller, thinner trees atop hills and slopes. The
landscape is also characterized by beautiful, pristine
creeks that wind their way through the hills. Saddle-back
tamarins are frequently found here. The community
of birds and other wildlife that lives in the hilly
terra firme forest is very different from that of
the bamboo or mature floodplain.
Overlook Trail:
This 2-3 mile hike will take you to overlooks commanding
magnificent views of the Tambopata River winding its’
way down from the Andes. The forests on this trail
are good for red howler and dusky titi monkeys.
Floodplain Trail:
This 3 mile trail takes you through lowland rainforest
with immense trees. It is criss-crossed by creeks
and ponds. Amongst the figs, ceibas and shihuahiacos
you will want to be on the lookout for squirrel, brown
capuchin and spider monkeys as well as peccaries.
Ocelot Trail:
This 1.5 mile trail is another example of quintessential
lowland, subtropical rainforest. The surrounding forest,
estimated to be 200-300 years old, includes huge ceiba
trees and strangler figs. It is home to several mammals
commonly sighted, including saddle-back tamarins,
squirrel and brown capuchin monkeys, along with collared
peccaries. It is on this trail that the tracks of
ocelots, pumas and jaguars are often spotted. Seeing
any of these large cats is rare, but it does happen.
Bamboo Trail:
You will have the opportunity to hike the Bamboo Trail.
Three unique species of birds are common sightings
here. During your hike, data will be collected helping
us to determine the territories of birds making this
habitat their home. You will use audio recordings
to assist in mapping out their territories based on
the locations of their responses.
Pond:
10 minutes upriver from the TRC is a small pond, actually
an oxbow lake that is drying up, with a platform in
the middle. It is an excellent site for waterfowl,
such as the muscovy duck, sunbittern, ibis, hoatzin,
along with woodpeckers, oropendolas, flycatchers,
chachalaca and parakeets. Fish studies can also be
done here to relate community characteristics and
abiotic (low oxygen) conditions.
Nocturnal Walks:
You will have the opportunity to hike on the same
trails mentioned above at night. Certainly a head-lamp
or flashlight will come in handy. Many animals of
all sizes and shapes are only active and observable
after the sun goes down. Sounds from nocturnal birds,
frogs and insects are also a special part of the experience.
These outings will provide excellent opportunities
for macro-photography, especially when it comes to
frogs, insects, spiders and a variety of other invertebrates.
You can also scan the river’s edge with flashlights
and head-lamps to catch the reddish reflections from
caiman’s eyes.
Bahuaja National Park Day-trip:
This trip requires a 4 hour boat trip up the Tambopata
River, as far upriver as we can go with an outboard
motor. Here, you will reach the foothills of the Andes
and Bahuaja National Park. We will then paddle up
the Tavara River, and enter a region that has been
uninhabited for decades except for a small research
station. This pristine valley is renown for encounters
with tame tapir and huge catfish catches.
Rainforest Workshops and Independent Research Projects:
Tambopata Research Center is an excellent place for
individuals to come and pursue their own research
projects. Workshops are also run for individuals/groups.
The latter promote hands-on learning experiences about
field research techniques and general rainforest biology.
In either case, standard field research techniques
are used to collect data. Aside from being able to
participate in legitimate scientific work, Peruvian
students are often here, so there is the added benefit
of being able to interact with a different culture.
Independent research projects and our Workshops have
had a large impact on the environmental perspective
of future decision-makers. A sampling of past project
topics include forest regeneration; abiotic water
condition studies; frog surveys; bird territory delimitations;
mammal censuses; tree climbing, forest camping and
trail mapping; botany; role of seed predation on the
natural regeneration of palm trees; ornithology; herpetology;
mammology; ichthyology and entomology. Workshops are
led by Biologists/Researchers conducting their own
research. Individual research projects and Workshops
have yielded incredible results, ranging from the
discovery of a new orchid species during an inventory
of a 5 acre plot, to finding surprising mechanisms
by which freshwater fish survive in local seasonal
ponds. There are professional researchers here most
of the time. This potential interaction provides an
obvious additional benefit, while doing your own research.
Please contact Rainforest and Reef about one of our
Rainforest Workshops or doing your own independent
research project at the TRC. This can be done by e-mail:
info@rainforestandreef.org
or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.
Interaction with Researchers:
In addition to our Staff of Native and Peruvian Naturalist
Guides who conduct on-site research, many experienced
professional Peruvian and foreign researchers conduct
their own research at the TRC. They often share meals
and quiet time with visitors. Additionally, the presence
of researchers throughout the year presents ample
opportunity for interaction. There are two state-of-the-art,
long-term research projects on-going at the TRC. They
are The Macaw Project and the Areas Project. Contact
Rainforest and Reef for detailed information and pertinent
research publications.
Presentations:
Evening presentations by resident researchers and
Staff include past and present research done at the
Tambopata Research Center and surrounding TCRZ. The
on-going Macaw Project is also a popular topic. It
takes an in-depth look at the biology of macaws, feeding
habits, theories for their clay-lick use, breeding
biology and the threats to their survival. A variety
of videos are also available on subjects, such as
Conservation in the TCRZ, Rainforest Ecology, etc.
Other options available at the Tambopata Research
Center:
Sea Kayaking:
After a few practice strokes with our Kayaking Guide
you will be ready to navigate the Tambopata River
at a natural pace for one full morning or afternoon.
Kayaks give you the chance to explore narrow creeks
and river turns our boats can't navigate. Navigating
with kayaks is silent and often produces unique, close-up
opportunities to view wildlife. No previous kayaking
experience required.
Birding Programs:
While our Guides are excellent Naturalists, a trip
that is focused on birds alone requires a Specialist
Birding Guide. Please see the “Birding Tour” link
at our website: http://www.rainforestandreef.org
or http://www.birdingtours.org
(being updated).
Private Guides:
If you want to guarantee that your group receives
exclusive Guiding rather being mingled with other
individuals, please contact Rainforest and Reef.
Note: This will not give you private access to boats
or activities, but will assure your Guide is dedicated
exclusively to your group.
Costs:
5 Days and 4 Nights: 705.00USD per person; Single
supplement 180.00USD
(2 Nights at PA or RA and 2 Nights at the TRC)
6 Days and 5 Nights: 795.00USD per person; Single
supplement 235.00USD
(2 Nights at PA or RA and 3 Nights at the TRC)
7 Days and 6 Nights: 885.00USD per person; Single
supplement 290.00USD
(2 Nights at PA or RA and 4 Nights at the TRC)
Extra Night: 90.00USD; Single supplement: 55.00USD
Note: Add 28.00 per person for Reserve entrance fee
for all TRC programs.
LENGTH: 8 Days/7 Nights
FIXED DEPARTURE DATES: Independent
Participants and Groups can begin our Peru B Field
Course any day of the year, based on availability.
Please contact Rainforest and Reef for details, available
dates and pricing by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org
or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.
Note: All reservations for our PERU B FIELD COURSE
are based on availability at any of the Lodges we
use out of Puerto Maldonado.
*Other dates for individuals, families and groups,
including WINTER INTERIM BREAK and SPRING BREAK, available
upon request.
*Our standard PERU B FIELD COURSE itinerary can be
modified in content and length for SPECIAL INTERESTS
and NEEDS.
*SEA KAYAKING is available out of the Tambopata Research
Center. Please contact Rainforest and Reef prior to
arrival by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org
or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.
*Affordable extensions to CUZCO and the LOST CITY
of the INCAS-MACHU PICCHU; LAKE TITICACA are available
to individuals and groups before or after our PERU
B FIELD COURSE. Description, itineraries and prices
are included below.
*Other extensions available upon request include WHITE-WATER
RAFTING on the URUBAMBA RIVER; PARTIAL and COMPLETE
INCA TRAIL HIKES; INTI RAYMI FESTIVAL; CHOQUEQUIRAU
HIKE; NAZCA LINES; PARACAS NATIONAL RESERVE (BALLESTAS
ISLANDS); AREQUIPA and COLCA CANYON; 4, 5 and 8 DAY
CRUISES to the GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS in ECUADOR. Please
contact Rainforest and Reef for details and pricing
by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org
or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.
*FIELD COURSES for those with SPECIAL INTERESTS, such
as BIRDING and GARDEN GROUPS are available upon request.
Sample itineraries can be seen at http://www.birdingtours.org
(being updated), http://www.gardentours.org
(being updated) and also http://www.rainforestandreef.org.
Please contact Rainforest and Reef for details and
pricing by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org
or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.
*SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAMS for individuals/groups
are also available in Cuzco, Peru. A sample itinerary
can be seen at http://www.iwanttolearnspanish.org
(being updated) and also http://www.rainforestandreef.org.
SPANISH IMMERSION is also available in the rainforest
out of Puerto Maldonado. Please contact Rainforest
and Reef for details and pricing by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org
or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.
FIELD COURSE COST: 8 Days/7 Nights:
995.00USD per person. Based on a minimum of 15 full-paying
participants. One Group Leader FREE for the ground
portion of our PERU B FIELD COURSE with 15 full-paying
participants. Cost is based on double and triple occupancy.
Single occupancy available upon request, please add
250.00 per person. Extra days are 90.00USD per person/day.
Add 28.00 per person for Reserve entrance fee for
all programs using the Tambopata Research Center.
Note: For individuals, families
or groups of less than 10 full-paying participants,
please contact Rainforest and Reef for pricing by
e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org
or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.
Includes: All INSTRUCTION and BI-LINGUAL
GUIDE SERVICES; all MEALS and LODGING as stated in
the itinerary; all GROUND and WATER TRANSPORTATION
between PUERTO MALDONADO, PERU and any of the LODGES
we use in or near the TCRZ and all GROUND and WATER
TRANSPORTATION while at any of these LODGES.
Does Not Include: ROUND-TRIP INTERNATIONAL
AIRFARE to Peru; Round-trip DOMESTIC AIRFARE Lima-Puerto
Maldonado-Lima (presently routing for this flight
is Lima-Cuzco-Puerto Maldonado/Puerto Maldonado-Cuzco-Lima)
or Cuzco-Puerto Maldonado-Cuzco; DOMESTIC AIRPORT
DEPARTURE TAX (10.00US per person/flight); GRATUITIES
and PERSONAL ITEMS.
Note: All PERU B FIELD COURSE participants
must fly to Lima, Peru first and then to Puerto Maldono,
Peru via Cuzco or Cuzco-Puerto Maldonado from Lima.
There are no direct International flights to Puerto
Maldonado. Depending on your International flight
arrival and departure times, overnights in Lima and/or
Cuzco may be required prior to and/or after our PERU
B FIELD COURSE. Hotel reservations and transfers will
be arranged through Rainforest and Reef and are not
included in the PERU B FIELD COURSE cost.
INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE: Rainforest
and Reef uses consolidators/wholesalers for all of
our GROUP and INDIVIDUAL airfares. We are therefore
able to offer the LOWEST RATES available. Please contact
Rainforest and Reef for details and pricing by e-mail:
info@rainforestandreef.org
or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.
ITINERARY:
Note: The itineraries while staying
at any of the Lodges we use out of Puerto Maldonado
are extremely flexible. The itinerary below is only
a partial sampling of the activities available to
our PERU B FIELD COURSE participants. The typical
Field Course Participant to Naturalist Guide ratio
is ~6:1.
MEAL CODES: B-Breakfast,
L-Lunch, D-Dinner
Note: On the MEDICAL INFORMATION
FORM that you will be receiving shortly after registration,
please make us aware of any special meal requests
and/or dietary restrictions….vegan, vegetarian, etc.,
that you or members of your group may have. We will
be pleased to fulfill your requests/needs.
DAY 1 ARRIVAL PUERTO MALDONADO, PERU-TAMBOAPATA
RIVER BOAT TRIP to REFUGIO AMAZONAS LODGE-PERU B FIELD
COURSE ORIENTATION-MOON-LIGHT HIKE to the TAMBOPATA
RIVER. Following your arrival in Puerto Maldonado,
gateway to the Tambopata-Candamo Reserve Zone (TCRZ),
you will be greeted by our Peru B Field Course Staff
and travel by boat up the Tamboapata River to the
Refugio Amazonas Lodge (2.5 hours). Our boat trip
from the Tambopata Port to the Lodge will take us
past the Community of Infierno into the buffer zone
of this 3.7 million acre (one-third the size of Costa
Rica) conservation unit. During our trip, keep an
eye out for bird species typical of the river or forest
edge, such as black skimmers, pied lapwings, capped
herons, jabiru storks, roadside hawks along with several
species of kingfishers, swallows and flycatchers.
Upon arrival, we will hike about 10 minutes from the
river and settle in at the Lodge. Following dinner,
there will be a general orientation session to our
Peru B Field Course, followed by a hike to the edge
of the Tampopata River. Here, we will listen for and
attempt to observe nocturnal birds as well as attempt
to spot caiman with our flashlights/head-lamps. Overnight
Refugio Amazonas. L D
Boat Transportation: All boats used
for transfers are 20 foot long, roofed canoes with
55 hp outboard motors. Daily arrivals and departures
from every port are scheduled to meet each airline’s
arrival and departure time with a maximum two hour
wait.
DAY 2 SACHAVACAYOC OXBOW LAKE HIKE-GIANT RIVER OTTERS-RAINFOREST
CANOPY EXPERIENCE-EVENING PRESENTATION on the TAMBOPATA-CANDAMO
RESERVE ZONE. Following an early breakfast,
a 2 hour hike will take us to Sachavacayoc Oxbow Lake.
Upon arrival, we will paddle around the Lake in a
catamaran, searching for the resident family of five
giant river otters (seen by about 30% of Lake visitors)
and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman, hoatzin
and horned screamers. If we see giant river otters
during our outing we will record their location on
a map of the Lake. We will also track and time their
activity (swimming, fishing, resting and alarm call)
and observe their white throat marks, which are distinct
for each individual. This is all done on standard
Frankfurt Zoological Society otter monitoring cards.
For those who do not want to take the long hike, Condenado
Lake, 30 minutes from the Lodge, is a less strenuous
option. Following lunch at the Lodge, our group will
take a 30 minute hike to the nearby canopy tower.
This 115 foot scaffolding tower is built so that you
can safely climb using the internal staircase with
verandas on each side. Observation platforms are present
every 6 or 7 feet. We hope to see a variety of canopy
birds, including toucans, macaws and raptors, along
with monkeys. We will also have spectacular views
of the meandering Tambopata River below and vast expanses
of the adjacent TCRZ. After dinner this evening, Refugio
Amazonas Staff will speak about conservation threats,
projects and opportunities in the TCRZ. Overnight
Refugio Amazonas. B L D
DAY 3 PECCARY CLAY-LICK VISIT-BRAZIL NUT TRAIL
and CAMP HIKE-NIGHT HIKE. After another early
breakfast, our group will hike for 20 minutes to a
nearby clay-lick. Peccaries are seen here about 15%
of the time. These wild rainforest pigs show up in
herds of five to twenty individuals to eat clay in
the morning. Following lunch at the Lodge, we will
hike to the Brazil Nut Trail and Camp. A beautiful
old growth patch of Brazil nut forest that has been
harvested for decades (if not centuries) is found
here. A local Brazil nut concession manager will lead
us on our visit. He will describe the concession system,
its’ role in the family economy and the future of
the industry. Anecdotes and first-hand accounts will
complete the picture of life as a “castañero”. Our
group will also observe the remains of an old, abandoned
camp used two months a year by Brazil nut gatherers.
While here, the entire process of Brazil nut collection,
transport and drying will also be discussed. In the
late afternoon, we will return to the Lodge. Following
dinner, we will go on a night hike. Many animals of
all sizes and shapes are only active and observable
after the sun goes down. Sounds from nocturnal birds,
frogs and insects are also a special part of the experience.
This outing will provide an excellent opportunity
for macro-photography, especially when it comes to
frogs, insects, spiders and a variety of other invertebrates.
We will also scan the river’s edge with flashlights
and head-lamps to catch the reddish reflections the
eyes of caiman. Overnight Refugio Amazonas. B
L D
DAY 4 RAINFOREST FARM VISIT-RAINFOREST TATOO-BOAT
TRIP on the TAMBOPATA RIVER from REFUGIO AMAZONAS
to the TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTER (TRC)-MACAW CENSUS-EVENING
PRESENTATION on the MACAW PROJECT. Following
breakfast, we will travel 5 minutes from the Lodge
to the farm of Don Manuel. He grows a wide variety
of popular and little-known Amazon crops. In addition
to focusing on the ecology, diversity and productivity
of small rainforest farms, he will help us gain insight
into the challenges presented by markets, politics,
demographics and infrastructure in the Department
of Madre de Dios. At Don Manuel’s farm, we will prepare
a paste from the fruit of huito and achiote to draw
dark blue and red tattoos on ourselves. They last
for several days. Our group will return to Refugio
Amazonas for lunch, say farewells to Staff and depart
by boat for the Tambopata Research Center (~4 hours).
Our trip will take us across the northern boundary
and into the 1800 acre uninhabited, pristine heart
of the Tambopata Candamo Reserve Zone. Sightings of
capybara, caiman, geese, macaws and other large animal
species are common. During our River voyage we will
be given data registration cards to note species of
macaws sited, number of individuals and location as
part of an on-going macaw population census. This
data will be plugged into the general Macaw Project
data set. This Project has been counting individuals
present in trail and river transects in an effort
to estimate macaw population variations on a seasonal
basis. Upon arrival arrive at the TRC, our group will
be greeted by the Chicos, a flock of semi-wild, rescued
macaws. The Lodge is a short walking distance from
the River. After we settle in, there will be a brief
orientation session about the TRC. Following dinner
resident Scientists and Staff will provide an in-depth
look at the biology of macaws, their feeding habits,
theories for use of the clay-lick, breeding and feeding
ecology, population fluctuations and the threats to
their conservation. Overnight Tambopata Reserve Center.
B L D
DAY 5 MACAW CLAY-LICK-PALM SWAMP HIKE-NIGHT
HIKE. At dawn this morning we will hike across
the Tambopata River and visit the world-famous Macaw
Clay-lick. On most clear mornings of the year dozens
of large macaws and hundreds of parrots congregate
on the River bank in a raucous and colorful spectacle
which inspired a National Geographic cover story (January
1994). It begins with a description of the daily event:
"When the morning sun clears the Amazon tree
line in SE Peru and strikes a gray-pink clay bank
on the upper Tambopata River, one of the world's most
dazzling wildlife gatherings is nearing its riotous
peak. The steep bank has become a pulsing, 130 foot-high
palette of red, blue, yellow and green as more than
a thousand parrots squabble over choice perches to
grab a beakful of clay, a vital but mysterious part
of their diet. More than a dozen parrot species will
visit the clay-lick throughout the day, but this mid-morning
crush belongs to the giants of the parrot world, the
macaws.” You can expect to see ten to twelve of the
following members of the parrot family: red-and-green,
blue-and-gold, scarlet, red-bellied, chestnut-fronted
and blue-headed macaws; mealy and yellow-crowned Amazons;
blue-headed, orange-cheeked and white-bellied parrots;
dusky-headed, white-eyed, cobalt-winged and tui parakeets,
along with dusky-billed parrotlets. This show will
continue until the macaws sense danger, usually in
the form of an eagle, and depart simultaneously in
an explosion of sound and color. The clay-lick is
~1600 feet long and only ~550 yards from the TRC.
Discretely located, ~200 feet from the cliff, we will
take part in the Macaw Project. Following Macaw Project
research procedures that have been applied for several
years, we will monitor parrot presence at the clay-lick.
This will involve counting macaws every fifteen minutes,
estimating and recording how many fly in, how many
are perching, how many are on the clay-lick, etc.
Any abnormal activities will also be noted. This data
will all be fed into the Macaw Project data base.
We will return to the TRC for lunch. This afternoon,
participants will hike 2 miles to the Palm Swamp.
Here, dead aguaje palms serve as nests and preferred
roosts to red bellied and blue-and-gold macaws. An
elevated boardwalk and 65 foot-high scaffolding tower
allow eye-level observation of macaws, as they fly
in and out of their nests. Although there are different
degrees of macaw activity at the swamp year-round,
the most exciting time to visit is from October to
March. This is the nesting season, when macaws will
land on their nests and stand for several minutes,
interacting with other individuals less then 20 feet
from us. These scenes, especially with the late afternoon
sun at your back, make prized photo opportunities.
As you walk near the edges of the swamp keep your
eyes open for the rare tapir. Following an exciting
afternoon, our group will return to the TRC to rest
and have dinner. This evening, there will be an opportunity
to participate in a night hike. Night is commonly
known as “the insect hour” because they leave their
diurnal (day-time) hiding places in order to feed
and reproduce. Nocturnal frogs, birds and mammals
are commonly seen on night hikes as well. This is
also a good time for photographers to get outstanding
macro shots of frogs, colorful insects and other spectacular
invertebrates. We can also scan the river’s edge with
flashlights and head-lamps to catch the reddish reflections
from caimans’ eyes. It is highly recommended that
participants bring a good flashlight or better yet,
a head-lamp, some type of magnifying glass and gloves.
Overnight Tambopata Research Center. B L D
DAY 6 HIKE the TERRA FIRME RAINFOREST TRAIL
(Toucan Trail)-OCELOT TRAIL HIKE-FLOOD PLAIN TRAIL
HIKE-EVENING PRESENTATION on the STRUCTURE of the
RAINFOREST. Our main objective today will
be to hike in several different rainforest habitats
fairly close to the TRC. Following breakfast this
morning, we will hike the 3 mile Terra Firme Rainforest
Trail. Habitat here is characterized by smaller, thinner
trees atop hills and slopes. The landscape is also
characterized by beautiful, pristine creeks that wind
their way through the surrounding hills. Saddle-back
tamarins are frequently found here. The community
of birds and other wildlife that lives in the hilly
terra firme forest is very different from that of
the bamboo or mature floodplain. We will then hike
the 1.5 mile Ocelot Trail. Although at this time of
day mammals and birds are not as active as in the
early morning, we will concentrate on the forest itself
and discuss general rain forest ecology. The surrounding
forest, estimated to be 200-300 years old, includes
huge ceiba trees and strangler figs. It is home to
several mammals that are often encountered, including
saddle-back tamarins, squirrel and brown capuchin
monkeys, along with collared peccaries. It is on this
trail that the tracks of ocelots, pumas and jaguars
are often spotted. Actually seeing any of these large
cats is rare, but it does happen. We will then return
to the TRC for lunch. This afternoon, our group will
depart for the Floodplain Trail. This 3 mile trail
covers prototypical rainforest with immense trees
criss-crossed by creeks and ponds. Amongst the figs,
ceibas and shihuahuacos we will look for squirrel,
brown capuchin, and spider monkeys as well as peccaries.
More specific and detailed topics can be discussed/observed
while at the TRC. A sampling includes: seed dispersal
and predation; general botany; social insects….termites
and ants; general insect studies; fish; the ecology
of ponds and their inhabitants; amphibians and reptiles;
birds and bird identification; mammals of the region;
relationships….commensalism, mutualism, parasitism
and adaptations to habitat….stilt roots, feeding niches,succulent
leaves, along with physical characteristics of the
Amazon Basin. After dinner, we will be treated to
an evening presentation on rainforest structure, as
we attempt to relate what we have earlier in the days.
The horizontal and vertical layout of rainforest around
all of our Lodges will be discussed. Included will
be an explanation for the stratification of the forest
in levels….ground, understory, mid-canopy and rainforest
canopy, as well as the properties inherent to each.
Habitat variety will also be considered….palm swamps,
riverine, bamboo, terra firme and flooplain forest,
along with tree fall gaps. Overnight Tambopata Research
Center. B L D
DAY 7 TAMBOPATA RIVER BOAT TRIP from the
TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTER to POSADA AMAZONAS LODGE-CANOPY
TOWER EXPERIENCE-ETHNOBOTANICAL TOUR-FAREWELL DINNER-EVENING
PRESENTATION on the ESE'EJA ECOTURISM PROJECT.
After breakfast this morning, we will depart downstream
by boat to Posada Amazonas Lodge (~5.5 hours). Upon
arrival, we will settle in. Twenty minutes walking
distance from Posada Amazonas Lodge is a metal tower
~120 feet high, which provides safe and effortless
access to the rainforest canopy. Here visitors can
walk up a banister staircase, stopping on any of the
tower’s twenty platforms to observe the myriad of
life forms not visible from ground level. It also
provides spectacular views of vast expanses of standing
rainforest, with the Tambopata River winding through
the middle. The community of Infierno’s (Ese'eja Native
Community) hub is located about 45 downstream from
Posada Amazonas. Although homes are scattered over
~25,000 acres, the “hub” centralizes a shared infrastructure,
including a school, store, small medical clinic and
meeting room. A communal organization, the Centro
Ñape is found another 20 minutes downstream. Staff
members here have designed a trail that explains the
different medicinal and practical uses of selected
plants. Many of these plants are used to provide traditional
herbal medicines to community members who come to
the medical clinic of Infierno. A Guided tour here
is one of two cultural activities that have been integrated
into options out of Posada Amazonas. It is also possible
to hike the trails around Posada Amazonas with an
Ese´eja Native Guide, who will explain the everyday
uses of forest plants for medicine, construction,
food and fiber. After dinner, we will have a presentation
about the the Ese'eja Ecoturism Project. Overnight
Posada Amazonas Lodge. B L D
DAY 8 PARROT CLAY-LICK VISIT-TAMBOPATA RIVER
BOAT TRIP POSADA AMAZONAS-PUERTO MALDONADO DEPARTURE.
Early this morning we will visit one of two parrot
clay-licks found less than a mile from Posada Amazonas
Lodge. From a blind located about 70 feet away you
will see dozens of parrots and parakeets here on most
clear mornings. They come to ingest clay on the river
bank. Species such as mealy and yellow-headed Amazons,
blue-headed parrots and dusky-headed parakeets are
common sightings. The clay-licks are usually active
at dawn, during the late mornings and mid-afternoons.
The noise level and superb photography at this distance
complements the increased diversity and abundance
of parrots and parakeets you experienced at the famous
clay-lick found near the Tambopata Research Center.
We will then return to the Lodge for breakfast, say
farewells to staff and return to Puerto Maldonado
by boat (~1 hour). Upon arrival, you will be transferred
to the airport for your return flight to Cuzco or
Lima. B
Note: Due to weather conditions and
circumstances beyond the control of Field Course Staff,
certain activities may be changed or done on different
days in the best interest of the group.
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