FAQs
Services included: Our all-inclusive ecotourism programs include: all fully escorted transport from our guests’ arrival at Puerto Maldonado airport to their return to the airport; cabin-style accommodation with all the comforts of a hotel, in cabins set apart among our extensive tropical gardens; all meals (most are buffet-style with a selection of traditional Peruvian cuisine) from lunch on day one of each itinerary to breakfast on the final day; all excursions described as part of our responsible ecotourism programs; the services of a professional, experienced bilingual naturalist guide.
Services not included: Flights or land transport between Cusco or Lima and Puerto Maldonado; entrance fee to Tambopata National Reserve, any drinks ordered at the Ecolodge bar; tips
Clothing: For walks in the forest we recommend that you bring: light clothing, long loose-fitting trousers, long-sleeved shirts, a wide-brimmed hat and walking boots or tennis shoes. Around the lodge you can wear: shorts, T-shirts and sandals. The early mornings can be cold, especially when on the river; you should bring along a windbreaker or a sweater. Please use footwear at all times when walking around the lodge complex.
Rain gear: Come prepared with an impermeable jacket or rain poncho, as heavy rain may fall at any moment. We have rain ponchos at the lodge but they can only be used on the lodge's trails. You should also bring swimwear for bathing at Gallocunca and other forest streams. For excursions on the Ecolodge’s trail system, wellington boots are available in a selection of sizes for use by our guests.
Personal items: We recommend that you bring the following items: sun block, flashlight and batteries, a daypack, water bottle, medical kit, sunglasses, pocket knife, passport, waterproof bags, insect repellent.
Valuables: Tambopata Ecolodge cannot be held responsible for the loss of valuables within the lodge facilities that have not been declared and locked in the safe deposit boxes provided in each room. Also, it is the responsibility of each guest to report to the lodge staff any problem they may encounter when using the safe deposit box in their room.
Low temperatures can occur in the rainforest: Temperatures can fall in South America’s tropical forests. The occasional phenomenon known in Peru as a “friaje” (“cold spell”) can occur at certain times of the year, usually lasts for just a few days, and affects both the southern highlands and the southeastern Amazon forests of Peru.
At Tambopata Ecolodge we always recommend that our guests arrive with some warm clothing. We offer this seemingly counterintuitive suggestion because at any time of the year in the forests of the Amazon basin temperatures can be low during the early morning, particularly when traveling by river. Many of the Amazon jungle trips we offer involve early starts, as do transfers from the lodge to the airport. And so, we always say that our guests should remember to pack something warm when visiting the rainforest!
Single-use plastics: In the National Reserve where we operate our ecotourism programs, the use of single-use plastics is prohibited. Therefore, we recommend that our guests travel with their own sports bottle, canteen, or similar, with a minimum capacity of between 750 ml and 1 liter.
Luggage: Our team meets all our guests from the airport or bus terminal. After picking you up, they’ll take you to our office in Puerto Maldonado, where we’ll provide you with a luggage storage service. The idea is that you leave your non-essential luggage in our office, before embarking on the boat trip to the Ecolodge, and that you take only what you’ll need during your stay. We supply each guest with a duffel bag for this purpose. For your convenience, you should ensure that you arrive in Puerto Maldonado with what you’ll need during your stay packed in the upper part of your suitcase or backpack, and in our office we’ll give you enough time to transfer those essential items to the duffel bags that we provide for you.
Photography: It is a good idea to bring waterproof casings for all your photography equipment. Protect your cameras, binoculars, documents and any other valuables that could be damaged by moisture in any form. You will be visiting a rainforest; we will cross lakes, walk on muddy trails, embark and disembark from boats, and so there is a constant threat of moisture/water damage to gear. Wrap items in plastic bags and only take them out when you are actually going to be using them. A slip, trip, or splash by you or a companion could do damage you'll regret for the rest of your vacation.
We are located in a remote area: Our eco-lodge is located in an area of protected Amazon rainforest. Ours is a remote location, accessible only by river, in the midst of primary forest in its natural state. This means that, at time of booking, it is important that all guests inform us regarding any physical condition, medical treatment, allergy or dietary restriction that they may have, and which they consider may require adequate management in the event of an emergency.
Health and safety: When you arrive at the lodge your guide will inform you about what you should and should not do while you are at the lodge or in the forest. We suggest that you come with insect repellent and malaria prophylaxis. Yellow fever is present but uncommon. If you have a vaccination certificate bring it with you.
Vaccinations: None are mandatory for entering Peru, but several are recommended. For general travel, typhoid, infectious hepatitis, and polio are commonly advised. Consult your physician or local traveler's clinic.
Yellow fever: While yellow fever vaccination is not officially required for travel to Peru, the disease is known to be present in the rainforest, and vaccinations are recommended for those traveling to all South American, Central American and Caribbean tropical forest destinations. Those seeking vaccination before travel should remember that they must receive their shot at least 10 days before arrival in the rainforest. Those already vaccinated should remember they will require a “booster” vaccination every ten years.
COVID-19 health protocols: To ensure that our guests are safe when traveling with us, we have implemented Covid-19 preventive health measures, in accordance with the guidelines of international organizations. While we have relaxed earlier restrictions, we continue to maintain the very highest health and hygiene standards.
Fire: On every cabin balcony you will find a fire-extinguisher. Remember that we are far from the nearest town and emergency services, so please be especially vigilant.
Water supply: Water comes from a holding tank behind the Ecolodge and is precious. Any leaks should be reported to the administration, for immediate repair. The water used at the lodge is pumped from Gallocunca stream into a 20 cubic meter tank, where it is allowed to settle to remove any sediment. Once chlorine has been added to this water, it is supplied under its own pressure to the Ecolodge’s rooms, for use in showers and washbasins. In the kitchen, part of this water is stored in a one cubic meter tank, where it is purified and filtered before being transferred to an upper tank. It is this water which is used for cooking. In addition, part of this water undergoes an ozone purification process before being used to prepare soft drinks and fill the water cooler in the dining room, as well as to fill the pitchers placed on the night tables in guest rooms. This water can be used for drinking and for brushing teeth. Water straight from the faucet should only be used for washing and showering. Bottled water is also available for purchase from the bar, in 620 ml and 2.5 liter bottles.
Food: Our eco-lodge has its own dining room, where we serve both typical Peruvian and international food as part of the full board all-inclusive itineraries we offer. Peru is famous throughout the world for its excellent food, and at our jungle lodge we do everything possible to honor that tradition. All meals (most are buffet-style with a selection of traditional Peruvian cuisine) are included, from lunch on Day 1 of each itinerary to breakfast on the final day. We are used to catering to the needs of vegetarians and vegans.
(Please remember that rodent species are a part of tropical forest life. Species may be attracted by the smell of food. To avoid unwanted visitors, be sure to store any food items in your room’s safe deposit box.)
Electricity supply: The 06 SUITE rooms at the Ecolodge have a 220-volt (7 amps) power supply, although this is only available until 10:00 pm. However, the Lodge also has a 12-volt supply in those same rooms, supplied by solar panels. The 220-volt electricity supply at the Ecolodge is available at the following times and in the following areas: 1. From 10:00 to 13:00 hours in: Administration, kitchen, dining room, bar (this supply can be extended to the SUITES if necessary). 2. From 17:00 to 22:00 hours in all areas of the Ecolodge, including the 06 SUITE rooms. There is no electricity supply in the SUPERIOR rooms. The Ecolodge’s 12-volt supply is generated by solar panels and is available 24 hours a day in its SUITE rooms, although consumption should be limited as much as possible. A multitude of rodent species live within the forest. Many are attracted to the smell of food. To avoid any unwanted visitors, store any food you may have in the safety deposit box in your bungalow.
Botflies: Clothes should not be left to dry outside overnight. Botflies, the larvae of which are parasitic, tend to lay their eggs in wet clothing, after which the eggs hatch on contact with warm skin. All clothing should be hung up inside your room at night.
Forest walks: Do not walk in the forest alone, and do not stray from marked trails. It is easy to get lost! When on trails we recommend that you cover up fully (long-pants and long-sleeves), use insect repellent and tuck pants into socks. When walking, keep an eye on the ground ahead of you for snakes and swarms of army ants. If a snake is spotted, do not approach it, inform your guide. The vast majority of snakes are harmless, although species identification can be difficult, so it is better to be safe than sorry! On no account must snakes be molested. If confronted by a swarm of ants, step across them carefully and then check footwear and socks thoroughly before continuing. Please do not intentionally pursue or unduly disturb any animals you may spot on trails or in and around the lodge. Remember that we are sharing this environment with them and they deserve our respect. Plants and flowers should also not be taken from their environment.
Children and infants: Tambopata Ecolodge welcomes children and infants accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Children under five years of age visit free of charge. They do not have an automatic right to a seat on the boat or bus, and should share a bed with their parents or legal guardians. During walks in the forest, those children unable to maintain the pace of the rest of the group should be carried by their parents or legal guardians, in their arms or in a backpack or other type of baby or toddler carrying device. Children aged from five years to under thirteen will be subject to payment of 50% of the adult rate. They have an automatic right to a seat on the boat or bus, a full meals service, and during walks in the forest will be expected to maintain the pace of the rest of the group. Accommodation: In SUITE rooms, children with a 50% discount have the right to an additional single bed, up to a maximum of two additional beds, in the SUITE room shared with their parents or legal guardians.
Groups: For rainforest excursions, we limit the size of groups. Although our boats can carry up to 30 guests, with two guides assigned to those groups exceeding 10 members, on forest trails guests are divided into separate groups, each with their own guide, and they walk different trails. Each of our guides will escort a maximum of 10 guests during excursions. For transfers between the town of Puerto Maldonado and the Ecolodge, our boats can carry up to 18 passengers, and our bus seats 30 passengers.
Tipping: Tips may be offered to the guides or staff at the lodge, at your own discretion.
