Move beyond Peru’s bucket-list highlights with Tanit Trails, Peru DMC and choose a slow-travel experience and more sustainable adventure through three different Amazon areas of Peru.

Peru’s slice of the Amazon is pretty huge, in fact, the Peruvian Amazon occupies a whopping 60% of the country, is scarcely populated, better preserved and more accessible than in other Amazonia countries, yet most travellers to Peru overlook all this and stick to the Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Tanit Trails Peru DMC are passionate about taking guests off the beaten track and into the changing landscapes of ‘real’ Peru. They love to persuade travellers to explore the Amazon region of Peru and have hand-crafted experiences and itineraries that explore the Amazon in three really different ways. Whatever the ‘travel style’ of your clients, Tanit will deliver a unique Amazon experience that exceeds expectations every time.

The 3 main areas of the Peruvian Amazon that your guests can explore with Tanit Trails DMC are:

Puerto Maldeonaldo Area and Tambopata National Reserve

Biodiversity at its most awesome - comfortable, luxury lodges but no AC.

The Northern Amazon by Luxury Boat from Iquitos

The most luxurious way to explore the Amazon…something else…

Tarapoto and the high Amazon

Amazon communities, gastronomy and off-the-beaten-track adventures in Northern Peru - mid-range accommodations.

Let’s explore each in turn…

Puerto Maldonado Area and Tambopata National Reserve - Biodiversity at its most awesome

Let’s explore the Southern rivers and jungles of Puerto Maldeonaldo where more adventurous travelers, interested in conservation and total immersion in nature will find an almost untouched corner of the Amazon. Tanit Trails can take your guests to this pristine corner of Peru and offer them luxury accommodation across a portfolio of river ecolodges, all of which have a strong focus on conservation and sustainability.

Flying directly from Lima or Cusco into Puerto Maldeonaldo, Tanit can offer a range of boutique accommodations depending on your guest's needs. Whether it's a quick ‘dip’ into nature or a complete ‘immersion’ into the deepest depths of the Amazon, Tanit Trails have the perfect solution.

Inkaterra Lodges

Less intrepid travellers will love the short 25-minute boat trip to the wonderful Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, a collection of rustic thatched cabanas, on stilts, or even the eco-luxury wooden cabanas at Inketerra Reserva Amazonica, both lodges are only a short boat transfer from Puerto Maldeonaldo but still feel secluded and remote.

Experiences from the Inkaterra properties include hiking special trails through the rainforest by day and by night, visiting wetlands, birdwatching, visit the Tambopata National Reserve, visit a number of canopy walkways, a local native farm and a botanical garden.

Rainforest Expeditions Lodges

Deeper into the Amazon guests can find the wonderful Posada Amazonas Lodge, right in the heart of the private communal reserve of the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno. This is a special jungle eco-lodge run by a native community of Infierno, where profits are returned directly to the community.

A little further down the Tambopata River, you can find the secluded Refugio Amazonas Lodge, another perfect base from which to hike the jungle trails, observe wildlife and discover ancient indigenous heritage.

To be totally and utterly immersed in nature, guests can make the longer trip to Tambopata Research Centre, located within the Tambopata National Reserve in front of the Bahuaja Sonene National Park, deep in the heart of Madre de Dios. In fact, the journey here is quite the adventure, you will probably have your first sightings of macaws, heron, caiman and capybara along the way. After the short direct flight from Lima or Cusco clients take a 1-hour road trip, followed by a tranquil 2 and half-hour boat trip on the Tambopata River. One of the most secluded lodges Tanit Trails offers, Tambopata Research Centre sits literally at the gateway of the national park and boasts 1000 ft of elevated walkways, directly connecting guests with the forest. Tambopata is a perfect base to explore the Amazon jungle. This is more than just a lodge, it is in fact home to a scientific research centre where researchers have been carrying out groundbreaking conservation research since the 80’s. In fact, at Tambopata, guests can even have the opportunity to become a ‘citizen scientist’ and study jungle insects and discover new species with the researchers.

Experiences at these more remote lodges include visiting a working jungle farm and a real Brazil nut concession, paddling around Lake Condenado on a catamaran, looking for wildlife such as a hoatzin, caiman or horned screamers, kayak and stand-up paddling on the Tambopata River and rappeling from a Canopy platform. Guests can also visit claylicks to see macaws descending to eat and event join a resident scientist and help them with their work finding new species, setting camera traps for wildlife photography and reviewing the fascinating images taken.

When to go to the Puerto Maldonado Amazon area

Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata Reserve is slightly seasonal and whilst it can rain at any time of the year, Tambopata is drier from April to November, with the rainiest months being January and February. Drier months are better, simply because there is very little chance your activities will be affected by rain.

Luxury amazon cruises from Iquitos - Northern Amazon

Just 40 minutes North of Lima by plane sits Iquitos - the world's largest city that is completely unreachable by road! Sat directly on the Amazon river, Iquitos is the starting point for your client's luxury Amazon River cruise and the gateway to a number of protected areas and national reserves - each with remarkable biodiversity.

Tanit Trails understands that many of your guests seek to discover and experience wild and unexplored nature, but still crave luxury and the highest level of service as they embark on their adventure. Taking a luxury river cruise is the perfect solution for the more discerning or less adventurous traveller. With a number of luxury cruise operators at their service, Tanit Trails will hand-pick a provider based on your guests needs and their availability to travel.

Aqua Expeditions

Aqua Nera is a brand new river cruise ship featuring 20 spacious, beautifully designed suites, ready to take guests deep in the Amazon in the comfort of absolute luxury. Aqua Nera will perk the interest of your most demanding luxury guests - the experience on board is incredible, and every need is catered for - executive chefs, spa and gym, sun decks with pools, cinema and games rooms, and even an on-board boutique!

Navigate through the Amazon waterways with experienced naturalist guides, all ready to help you spot wildlife and take you on safe, small-group excursions. With a staff-to-guest ratio of 1-1 you are taken care of with meticulous attention to detail.

For five-star comfort with an eco-friendly ethos, try the Aqua Aria Amazon - total comfort and luxury but all with minimal impact to the delicate Amazon river and rainforest environment. Slightly smaller than the Nera, the Aria has only 16 suites, all with floor-to-ceiling windows for round-the-clock wildlife spotting and glorious river views. With contemporary interiors, all with a natural look and feel, the Aria offers fine dining, beautiful social areas and even an outdoor jacuzzi.

Delfin Amazon Cruises

For a more intimate travel experience, perhaps Defin’s portfolio of 3 vessels will be more suitable for a client looking for a smaller, more personal river cruise.

The ‘Delfin 1’ could even be chartered for a family or small group of friends - with only 4 spacious suites on board the Delfin 1 is the ultimate treat. Private whirlpool tubs, panoramic views and cabin service 3 times a day, guests will feel pampered and treated whilst they head into the river jungle.

For larger families or groups consider the ‘Delfin 2’ comprising 14 suites, or look to the ‘Delfin 3’, the largest of the vessels with 22 suites and the ‘Owners Suite’ the most spacious of all the cabins. Located on the second deck in the front of the ship, guests will enjoy breathtaking views of the expansive river through 180 degrees of floor-to-ceiling windows - a truly decadent accommodation.

Amazon Experiences

For some, the interior of the boats is so alluring they choose to spectate only from on-board, but for most, the real journey begins on the private skiff-boat excursions included on the cruises that journey a little closer and a little deeper into the jungle. Experiences include sunrise cruises, guided trail walks into The Pacaya Samira National Reserve, piranha fishing, kayaking hidden waterways and lagoons or paddleboard around the calm, cool waters. You can also go Pink Dolphin watching to spot these incredibly rare, endangered species of freshwater river dolphin.

Guests can also meet an Amazonian community. It is thought that there are roughly 200 communities within the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, mainly consisting of native residents. Guests have the opportunity to reach out and visit native communities to observe and learn about their traditional way of life.

In Iquitos you can visit a Manatee rescue centre - a not-for-profit centre run completely by the local community. The team are dedicated to rescuing orphaned manatees and rehabilitating these beautiful, gentle creatures. Guests can learn all about manatee rescue and their eventual release back into the wild and given the rare chance to feed the sea giants themselves!

WHEN TO GO ON A PERUVIAN AMAZON LUXURY CRUISE

For most guests, the dry season tends to be more alluring to maximise activities, however worth noting that the wet season opens up opportunities for the boats to access the flooded forests and explore deeper into the amazon. Tanit Trails tend to recommend a 3-4 day cruise as an ample amount of time to explore, however, some prefer a full week of adventure.

Tarapoto and the high Amazon

Considered a perfect destination for guests returning to Peru for a second time and searching for an off the beaten track, culture-rich experience - the high Amazon combines history, nature, food and adventure. Tarapoto is the gateway to Northern Peru’s high jungle area and guests can fly directly to the city from Lima or Iquitos. Often called the ‘City of palm trees’ Tarapoto straddles the base of the Andean foothills, surrounded by lush palms and rainforest trees, rolling down to the flatlands of the Amazon. It’s a perfect starting point for a cultural and culinary adventure away from mass tourism and into the mountain forests.

Tanit Trails Peru DMC loves this area of the Amazon for its rich cultural heritage and the fact that so many very old communities still live and thrive here. It’s a fabulous opportunity to explore ‘alternative’ Peru - to see how the local communities have transformed since the 1970’s and 80’s when Tarapoto and the surrounding area had a less than favourable association with the drug trade. Now, it’s teaming with sustainable projects and cooperatives and is the perfect place to start a high Amazon adventure.

Let’s start in Tarapoto. Tarapoto market, with a trip to the tobacco and chocolate factory.

"El Huequito" market is the perfect place for an introduction to the Amazon culture, not only to the wide variety of exotic ingredients that are produced in this region but also to the daily life of the locals. Then head onto a guided tour of “Tabacalera del Oriente” tobacco factory, mainly run by women to promote independence in a culture often dominated by men. During the visit you will see the slow process that is carried all the way from the collection, fermentation, drying and handcrafting of each cigar. Finally, Tesoro Amazonico chocolate factory, where you will be able to witness the elaboration of the chocolate from the seed to a great quality chocolate bar. Finish with a traditional lunch at La Patarashca, one of the best restaurants of traditional food in Tarapoto.

Now let’s head out of Tarapoto to the Chasuta Community. Women’s Cooperatives & Cooking Class: Recovering traditional culinary recipes from the Amazon

Chasuta is an Amazon Village that suffered terribly during the terrorism of the 80s and early 90s, however a few very determined, strong women decided to organize themselves in small associations and build interesting initiatives in order to support their families and improve their quality of life. Guests can visit Misky chocolate factory, where women are making innovative cacao products and then on to an association where women are recovering traditional culinary recipes from the Amazon. Participate in a cooking class, learn about typical ingredients and ancient recipes.

Where to stay:

Stay out of the hustle of Tarapoto at PumaRinri Amazon Lodge, nestled in the jungle, facing the Huallaga River. This collection of tree lodges sits in 62 hectares of reserve, surrounded by waterfalls, rivers and streams. Choose from a Penthouse tree lodge or a family suite, the PumaRini offer total comfort directly from the middle of the jungle!

Head to the hills - Gocta Waterfalls - 3rd Highest Falls in the World

Travelling out into the Chachapoyas now - once the land of the pre-Inca, the Chachapoya, or 'cloud people', this is a fascinating area of Peru, still shrouded in many mysteries. Lost cities and cliff tombs with recently-discovered mummified warriors, huge and largely uninhabited cloud forests and Andean highlands - this a real explorer's paradise, visited by few, and only just beginning to offer up secrets from the past.

Tanit Trails Peru DMC will take your guests on a guided hike to the Gocta waterfalls, the third-highest waterfall in the world. This day-long hike takes guests across a landscape of forests at altitude, with a wide variety of fauna and flora, including monkeys, tucans, orchids and giant ferns, among others.

Kuelap Fortress, Chachapoyas Archaeology Site

Take a cable car to Kuelap fortress, a famous archaeological site of Chachapoyas dating back to 500B.C. Located at an altitude of 3000 meters on a plateau dominating the Utcubamba Valley, this fascinating archaeological complex features about 500 structures and apparently housed more than 3000 inhabitants during the height of Chachapoyas culture. It is the best-known prehispanic archaeological site and the largest one in the region.

Leymebamba Museum with 220 Mummies

Travel deeper in the Amazonas region and head to Leymebamba, where you will find The Museum of Leymebamba on the edge of the village. This is a community-run rural museum that was built to house and preserve over 200 mummies, recovered in 1997 from the Laguna de los Condores (Condor Lake) site. For the more adventurous, guests can even choose to take the long hike up to the cliffs where the mummies were found. Leymebamba is a fascinating visit - you can roam in the orchid gardens outside and take a moment in the cafe opposite to watch the incredible endemic Hummingbirds flitting around the feeders.

Where to stay:

Rest up at Kentitambo, The Hummingbird Inn, high up in the cloud forest - a true bird watchers paradise. Comprising 3 bungalows nestled into the hillside, the inn has a collection of incredibly cosy, comfortable rooms, all with incredible views of the gardens and hills. With a farm-to-table kitchen offering international and Peruvian cuisine and an organic kitchen garden, guests will love the homely feel of this country-style inn.

Get in touch if you want to know more about designing and selling trips to the Peruvian Amazon with Tanit Trails.

If you want to offer more unique and authentic experiences in Peru, Tanit Trails has an incredible selection of tours and community-focused experiences that will ensure your guests will have an authentic Peruvian experience.

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Back to Nature - Peruvian Amazon with Tanit Trails