Stories
Wild Scarlet Macaws in the Amazon
The first time I arrived at Tambopata Research Center was in January 2014. In the boat was only the boat driver, a crew member, me, and all the food supplies for a whole week of the lodge. The day was beautiful, sunny with a lot of clouds moving throw the light-blue sunny sky. Never thought about the amazing species I will meet there like wild scarlet macaws.
You’ll take in spectacular views of the endless Amazon rainforest, even while flying into Tambopata.
Was also my first time traveling to the Amazon of Tambopata – Peru, I’ve never seen a forest like this before. In the boat drive upstream to Tambopata Research Center, we cross throw 3 clay licks.
On each, up to 100 macaws eating clay, making flashes in the sky of red, green, blue, and yellow, screaming so loud that you couldn’t listen to someone talking next to you. Was incredible, I was feeling in paradise!!
Macaws (Ara macao) – Photo by Paul Bertner
Laid in my bed that night I remembered the last meeting I had with Eduardo Nycander – Founder of Rainforest Expeditions and of the Tambopata Macaw Project – where he told me the history of how he came for the first time to Tambopata and how he decided to the dream of saving the macaws population of the region. Immediately I thought “how someone couldn’t get in love with this wonderful place?”
Amazon Rainforest. Image by Paul Bertner
Macaws are the most endangered large bird family in the world. Some threats are hunting, selective logging, and the illegal pet trade. That’s why the Rainforest Expeditions start here with the conservation of macaws. To accomplish this goal they designed and implemented artificial nests for macaws that hang down on three branches.
In 1999, the Tambopata Macaw Project led by Dr. Donald Brightsmith inherited from its founder Eduardo Nycander a group of 12 natural and artificial nests around the Tambopata Research Center. Since then the total number of nests has grown to over 30.
Since 1999, 985 eggs have been laid and 516 chicks have hatched.
In a continuation of the dream of Rainforest Expeditions, Brightsmith’s team has developed, tested, and scientifically documented new methods that can be used for the conservation and management of macaws in Peru and the Americas.
Learn more about macaws and the Macaw Project through the MacawCam. Meet Molinero, the closest nest to the Tambopata Research Center lodge entrance.
By Juan Diego Shoobridge
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What our guest say
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- Valuation Excellent
- 5/5
Jacob Shama May 2024
Yaacov May 2024
secaBoulder May 2024
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A user Apr 2024
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Dreamer627120 March 2024
The lodge is located in the middle of the forest accessible only by boat. The experience was very unique and exciting. Service is great, and the fun part are the nature activities and tours the hotel offers for free. We had an amazing tour guide that had a lot of knowledge and was fun to spend time with. The rooms are totally open to the forest which is really cool the struggle is the there is no privacy at all in between the rooms, also food was pretty basic. All together a very unique experience. Read all
This hotel is the perfect blend of comfort and hospitality, with the natural experience. The hotel is reached by a hours boat ride from Puerto Maldonado, expertly organized and accomplished. Most staff are members of the local Esa Ejja community. The food is good and plentiful. Hot water is always available and lovely bedding features mosquito nets. There is of course no air conditioning (one side wall is open in rach room) and the electricity is off for a few hours at night affecting overhead fans, so I was glad to have brought a small battery powered fan for sleeping. But the best of the experience is the wildlife. Our expert guide Oscar Mishaja introduced us to nearly 100 bird species, along with caimans, river otters, poison dart frogs and capybara. A trip of a lifetime. Read all
Excellent experience overall— really kind and welcoming staff at every point of the journey. All transfers were well organized and smooth. Excellent and educational excursions all around the rainforest. Delicious food for every meal. We had wonderful guides- Freet and Alvaro. Enjoyed our time here! Read all
We had a surreal experience at Refugio Amazonas. From the well organized transportation to the warm welcome, hospitality and the experience of living in nature - we loved it all. Huge shout out to our guide Boris who went out of his way to ensure we had a good experience and got to watch all kinds of wild life. The meals and cocktails were delicious. And even though this place is smack in the middle of the jungle there was super fast WiFi available. We made unforgettable memories. Read all
We had an amazing time in TRC. From the guide, tours, lounge staff, food and room, everything has exceeded our expectation and like an amazing dream came true. We highly recommend to directly book with the lounge website, so that you got a private guide for your group. Special thanks to our guide Saul, who made this experience extra special! We were so impressed by his knowledge about all the animals and the rainforest. Read all
We had an amazing time in TRC. From the guide, tours, lounge staff, food and room, everything has exceeded our expectation and like an amazing dream came true. This is the only lounge available in Tambopata national park, and this eco lounge takes environment seriously. We highly recommend to directly book with the lounge website, so that you got a private guide for your group. Special thanks to our guide Saul, who made this experience extra special! We were so impressed by his knowledge about all the animals and the rainforest. If you are a natural lover, you can’t miss this place Read all
Excellent and luxurious place, wonderful experience and our guide Boris was first class, he had a unique patience with my 8 year old son. An experience in the tropical rainforest that marks the life of its visitors. In addition to the scientific research that takes place in the place: a whole research center. Rooms: Very comfortable and luxuriou Read all
El mejor hotel para visitar la Amazonia peruana. Hotel eco turístico metido en medio de la selva, equipado para visitar y vivir la selva, su flora y fauna, en todas sus facetas. Todo incluido, con guías preparados y amables, resultó una experiencia increíble para mi familia. Dentro de las opciones no se debe perder el Canopy de 45 metros de altura para observar y escuchar la selva, así como el lago de las tres Chimbadas, lugar único para ver caimanes, nutrias gigantes, monos y aves exóticas. Recomiendo mínimo dos noches!!! Read all
Wunderbare lodge mit freundlichen Menschen. sehr persönliche guides, tolle Tourangebote und super kulinarische Verpflegung ! Wir wurden herzlichst von Caesar empfangen und unser guide JuanJo hat uns phantastische Dinge gezeigt. Wir können die lodge nur wärmstens empfehlen! Read all
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