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This is one of Peru's most important ecological areas. This Reserve also has the Macaw Licks that extend 1,500 feet along the Tambopata River. This Reserve, considered one of the most diverse on the planet, includes 547 species of birds, 200 species of reptiles and amphibians, mammals, and 24,000 acres of virgin forest. In this area you can see river otters, peccary, deer, parrots, harpy eagle, monkeys, pacarana, falcons and much more.
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| ESSENCE OF THE AREA |
The advantage of the southern Amazon is that it is a lot more accessible than Iquitos, a 30 minute direct flight from Cuzco, and you are in Puerto Maldonado or Manu. This will save you a day of travel at least and will cut down on expenses and your jungle experience will be so much richer since the southern jungles are more unexplored with a larges diversity of wildlife. The regions two principal protected areas are the Manu Biosphere Reserve and the Tambopata-Candamo Nature Reserve. Both are excellent for jungle expeditions though they are different in their remoteness and their lodging options.
Lodges near Puerto Maldonado are generally cheaper and more accessible than those deeper in the Tambopata Nature Reserve or Manu. Of course the farthest you go from the city, the more pristine the jungle will be.
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| RECOMMENDED STAY |
| If you stay closer to Puerto Maldonado, 2 or 3 nights is enough to have a good feeling of the jungle, but for deeper jungle expeditions you need about 4 nights. |
| RECOMMENDED SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES |
Tambopata Reserve.
The Tambopata Reserve is one of the most pristine rainforest areas of Perú.
Manu Reserve
The Manu Biosphere Reserve is the most important rainforest park in the world because it protects an entire virgin watershed from Andean grasslands to elfin forests, and cloud forests to high and low elevation rainforest.
Madre de Dios River Area
This area is located in the southeastern corner of Peru, near the border with Bolivia and Brazil. It is the most accessible rainforest from Cusco; 98% of the territory is comprised of virgin forests. It is the territory with the lowest population density, 60,000 inhabitants in 80,000 km2 (19,768,400 acres) of jungle. There are three protected areas located in this territory including Manu National Park and Reserved Zone, Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone and Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. Together they comprise 3.5 million hectares (8,648,500 acres) of protected rainforest ecosystems, and represent the greatest and richest area for biodiversity in the world. The capital of the region is Puerto Maldonado, is the most important town of the southern rainforest. It is located at 210 m.a.s.l. at the junction of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers. River access is available from the towns of Riberalta in Bolivia (5 hours) and Assis in Brazil (242 kms.). Recently, both government and non-government agencies have proposed the development of tourist services and attractions in Puerto Maldonado, "The Capital of Biodiversity". The height of the tourist season in Puerto Maldonado is from May to November. Puerto Maldonado is the starting point for trips to Tambopata, Piedras and the lower part of the Madre de Dios Rivers regions. Sandoval Lake is an exceptional place to observe a diversity of wild fauna including macaws, small parrots, herons, kingfishers, hoatzins, caimans, turtles and giant otters. Sandoval Lake is located 8 km (4.97 miles), or about one hour away, from Puerto Maldonado (including 15 minutes by speedboat down the Madre de Dios river). Valencia Lake offers excellent opportunities to watch birds and observe nature. It is located 60 km (37 miles, 3.5 hours by boat) from Puerto Maldonado, close to the Bolivian border, down the Madre de Dios River. On this trip it is possible to visit nearby indigenous communities. This is the only area showing these unique features within the Peruvian rainforest and because of this, it was initially considered as a National Sanctuary. Native Communities you can find here more than five language groups and over thirty racial Types spread out throughout the entire province. Some of these groups live away from their original clans and have mixed with the outside population, but there are still large groups who live in their own reserves or communities. Other Lakes exist many lakes that they do not form part of the tours routes, generally those are smaller than Sandoval and Valencia Lake but have great quantity of fish and fauna.
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| MUST SEE |
It boast a great diversity of wildlife. You will see, macaws, parrots, hereon, kingfishers, caimans and even otters. Guided hike though the forest and paddle the lake to see the otters. Nocturnal hikes to see the caimans.
Posada Amazonas: About 2 hours upriver from Puerto Maldonado, it is located near the Ese'eja indigenous community and promotes cultural interaction with the group. 22 large and attractive rooms with bathroom, hot showers, Dining and lounge areas are designed for 80 people, offering ample space to rest and socialize.
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| RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATIONS |
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