DAY 1 : Immersion in the Amazon Rainforest: Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica
Arrival in Puerto Maldonado, known as the Biodiversity Capital. Transfer by road to the dock, where your Amazon adventure will begin with an approximately 45-minute boat trip along the Madre de Dios River, which flows through the lush rainforest.
The motorized wooden boat will navigate along the winding banks of the river until reaching Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica, an ecological lodge located in the middle of the jungle.
Upon arrival, you will receive a brief welcome talk presenting the available à la carte excursions, allowing you to design your itinerary according to your interests. Afterward, you can enjoy lunch or head to your cabin, located within Peru’s first private ecological reserve, protected by Inkaterra since 1975 due to the fragility of its natural environment.
After a short rest in your cozy, rustic-style luxury cabin, whether taking a nap or relaxing in the hammock, you will be ready to begin the exploration accompanied by an Inkaterra Explorer guide.
We recommend taking a walk along the Trail System, an introductory experience that will allow you to learn about the complex biodiversity of the Amazon basin and the different levels of the rainforest.
You’ll walk among towering trees, like the shihuahuaco, while listening to the croaks, rustles, and songs of the exotic wildlife that inhabits this rich ecosystem. During the walk, you’ll have excellent opportunities to observe birds and a wide variety of flora. Keep your camera ready, as sloths or monkeys might appear among the treetops.
As evening falls, we recommend taking the tranquil River at Sunset excursion, during which you can observe the rainforest’s transformation from a daytime world to a nighttime one. The animals and birds of the day give way to species specially adapted to the darkness.
You will also have the opportunity to observe nightjars, owls, capybaras and caimans hidden among the riverbanks.
The Amazonian-inspired dinner is served in the main dining room between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. A complimentary pisco cocktail is served with your meal.
Upon returning to your comfortable cabin, you can relax listening to the fascinating sounds of the animals that inhabit the jungle around the lodge.
DAY 2 : Lake Sandoval and Adventure Above the Rainforest Canopy
Sunlight filters through the dense vegetation as the jungle inhabitants awaken. Those who wish can start their day very early, as the breakfast buffet is served from 5:00 a.m.
In the morning, we will visit Lake Sandoval, a tranquil horseshoe-shaped lake located within the protected Tambopata National Reserve. To reach it, we will hike along a trail through the rainforest, illuminated by the sun’s rays filtering through the foliage.
We’ll board a traditional wooden canoe to paddle silently along a small channel until we reach Lake Sandoval, surrounded by beautiful palm trees. This tranquil lake is home to numerous bird species, endangered giant river otters, red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-necked turtles, black caimans, and many other species.
We will return to Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, we recommend ascending the exciting Inkaterra Canopy Walkway, a sophisticated and safe network of ecologically constructed suspension bridges, connected between eight observation platforms located above the treetops.
This experience offers an unforgettable opportunity to contemplate the rainforest from above and appreciate its immensity. We will ascend the first tower, located 42 meters above the ground, while searching for colorful toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys, and three-toed sloths.
You can also extend your experience by enjoying sunset drinks from atop one of the towers or spending a unique night in a specially designed treehouse cabin, equipped with amazing amenities. These experiences are available at an additional cost.
Back at the lodge, you can book a relaxing treatment at the rejuvenating ENA Spa. This service is available at an additional cost.
À la carte dinner is served from 7:00 pm.
DAY 3 : Gamitana and Hacienda Concepción: Nature and Amazonian Wisdom
We will take a 25-minute boat trip to Gamitana Farm and Creek, where we will discover new wonders of the rainforest. The Amazon is a nearly inexhaustible source of exotic fruits and vegetables, many of them with medicinal properties that benefit local communities living in remote areas of the rainforest.
At the Gamitana model farm, surrounded by the sounds and aromas of the Amazon, we will learn how local farmers cultivate a wide variety of products and have the opportunity to taste some seasonal fruits.
Next, we’ll follow a trail through dense vegetation until we reach the Gamitana Ravine. This winding, dark-watered stream is home to abundant flora and fauna. Along its banks and in its waters, we may see piranhas, caimans, turtles, and numerous bird species.
We will return to Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, we will sail approximately 35 minutes upstream to Hacienda Concepción, Inkaterra’s sister lodge, built on an old cocoa and rubber plantation.
In the 1950s, this place functioned as a medical center run by Catholic missionaries and also as an ecological research center.
Over 200 plant species have been recorded in this area. During the visit, we will understand why the rainforest is considered one of the world’s largest natural pharmacies and learn firsthand about the uses and benefits of various plant species.
Afterwards, we will enjoy a relaxing canoe ride of approximately 30 minutes, during which we will look for turtles, diving birds, nightjars and herons, before returning to the lodge.
DAY 4 : Medicinal Plants and Exploration of the Nocturnal Rainforest
After breakfast at the lodge, we will discover the tropical plants of the rainforest and the interesting medicinal uses that local communities give them during a visit to our organic bio garden.
Afterwards, we will continue to our 30-hectare Palmetum , a collection of Amazonian palm trees located in an area designated for the restoration and conservation of the rainforest.
As night falls, we will embark on the Night Jungle excursion within our Ecological Reserve. Equipped with flashlights, we will walk beneath the canopy of trees, our senses heightened to perceive the movements among the vegetation and the nocturnal sounds emanating from various points within the jungle.
Accompanied by an Inkaterra Explorer guide, we will observe animal activity and discover species that only appear after nightfall.
DAY 5 : Farewell to the Amazon and Return to Puerto Maldonado
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Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica and its surroundings are home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. Within the lodge grounds alone, approximately 540 species of birds have been recorded.
Enjoy your last morning in this wonderful natural setting while listening to the parakeets singing among the trees and watching the agoutis moving between the cabins.
Check-out time is 10:00 AM. Depending on your flight schedule, lunch may also be available for this day. This service is subject to an additional charge.
Afterward, you will board the boat waiting for you for the approximately 45-minute return trip along the winding waters of the Madre de Dios River. Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.
Please note that this five-day program is a suggested itinerary. Activities and excursions can be selected à la carte upon arrival at the lodge and are subject to change depending on weather conditions during your visit..