As you walk down the path, the quiet is broken by the sound of Capuchin Monkeys in the fruit trees above. Nearby, a Morpho Butterfly flutters its bright blue wings, and hundreds of insect types march along the forest floor. This unbelievable sight should come as no surprise: you’re in the world’s most biodiverse place, the Amazon, after all! And just as the animal world here is incredibly diverse, so too are jungle plants. Along our Medicinal Plants Trail, you’ll discover the amazing variety of Amazon plants — and learn about their traditional uses for healing.

Near the lodge, you’ll discover how the jungle contributes to local healing. Plants play a key role to native people — as food, medicine, clothing, and building materials.

In the Peruvian rainforest, people have used plants for medicinal purposes long before formal scientific treatments were developed. In fact, here in Tambopata, many native people still visit their local shaman, a traditional healer. With the shaman, they can receive treatments for everything from insomnia to cancer. As you walk along the trail, we’ll teach you about these plants and their ingenious uses.

Why You’ll Love the Medicinal Plants Trail

• Marvel at the Miracles of the Amazon: There are thousands of plant species in the Amazon, many with incredible uses. These plants developed compounds to defend against the animals who ate their leaves and tunneled into their trunks. As a result, native peoples have studied and used these natural chemicals for thousands of years.


• Explore Traditional Shaman Culture: Long before European and American scientists realized Amazon plants’ medical potential, the cultures of the rainforest had amassed a vast knowledge base. In learning about the traditional uses of Amazon plants, we can begin to understand and respect native cultures.