Tambopata National Reserve reopens for ecotourism
27 November 2020 (1311 visits)Tambopata National Reserve, the main ecotourism destination in the Madre de Dios region of southeastern Peru, accessible from the city of Cusco, has resumed today its activities for tourists. The restarting of activities will be introduced in stages, while complying with all new biosecurity measures, according to Peru’s National Service for State Protected Natural Areas (SERNANP).
SERNANP has stressed that the resumption of nature tourism activities has been approved following the successful completion of work to implement strict biosecurity measures that will ensure the health and wellbeing of visitors, tour operators and personnel working in this protected natural area.
According to SERNANP, the resumption of tourism activities within the National Reserve was achieved thanks to the coordinated efforts of the regional government of Madre de Dios and local actors, in order to ensure the implementation of all measures necessary to reduce the risk of the transmission and spread of Covid-19.
The head of SERNANP, Pedro Gamboa, stressed the importance to the local economy of ecotourism in this protected natural area, and the employment opportunities and social development that renewed tourism activities will bring to the entire Madre de Dios region and its residents. He also stressed the role of responsible tourism operators in ensuring respect for and compliance with the measures introduced.
Before tourism in Peru was temporarily suspended, around 80% of the travelers who visited the Madre de Dios region came to see and experience Tambopata National Reserve, an enormous area of pristine tropical and subtropical Amazon basin forest. In total, the reserve protects more than one thousand square miles of forest, including eight different types of Amazon ecosystem. It is this broad range of habitats that makes Tambopata one of the most biologically diverse places anywhere on Earth.
When announcing the reopening to tourists of Tambopata National Reserve, SERNANP reminded the Peruvian public of the environmental significance of this part of southeastern Peru. In total, 45% of the land area of the Madre de Dios department is conserved by six protected natural areas. Of these six national parks and national reserves, Tambopata National Reserve is perhaps the most accessible. These pristine tropical forests can be reached from Cusco via a 25-minute scheduled flight, followed by a fascinating three-hour journey by road and boat from the jungle town of Puerto Maldonado –a trip that feels like an adventure in itself.
At our own Tambopata Ecolodge, we have worked to incorporate all new measures into our health protocol for travelers, which we have published on our website and will be updating periodically as the situation evolves in our country. We are now fully prepared to receive guests at our eco-lodge. The health and well-being of our guests and staff are our top priority, and that is why we are following and adopting the recommendations provided by the WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council) and WHO (World Health Organization).
At Tambopata Ecolodge, as we continue with our conservation activities and our work to protect the forests in our care, we look forward once more to receiving guests and guiding them towards a deeper appreciation of the wonders of this corner of the natural world that is our home.
