Unlock the secrets of the Untamed Amazon with Tanit Trails.
Incredible though Peru’s bucket list highlights are, the Peruvian Amazon has so much more to offer than the Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Clients' first time to Peru? Or maybe your guests are planning a return trip to see this incredible country from a different perspective? Look no further than our Peruvian experts, Tanit Trails DMC, for a unique and memorable trip that unlocks the secrets of Peru’s untamed Amazon.
Tanit Trails love to take travellers on epic, sustainable journeys that explore the country’s less charted wonders; untamed regions rich in their incredible biodiversity, fascinating indigenous culture and breathtaking landscapes - including some of the most pristine cloud forest there is.
And, because every trip can be completely personalised to suit individual travel styles, they’ve got an adventure for every traveller, from the most intrepid jungle explorers to those in search of a luxurious immersion in nature.
Join us for a taste as we dip into two of their favourite Amazonian experiences.
Peru with a difference…
Peru boasts a vast expanse of the Amazon rainforest, stretching across a staggering 60% of the country.
This slice of pure paradise remains sparsely populated, exceptionally well-preserved and is remarkably accessible compared to other countries in the Amazon region.
And it can be explored in a myriad of ways - from trekking to biking, kayaking to rafting, by 4x4 or luxury boat (ask us about Tanit Trails’ luxury cruise tour of the Northern Amazon!).
Here we’re going to dive deep into travelling around two unforgettable regions:
The pristine Cloud Forests of Manu
The communities, cuisine and off-trail adventures of the high Amazon
Manu and the Cloud Forest Birds
Shrouded in cool, mysterious energy and pristine in its protection, the high altitude Cloud Forest of Manu National Park sits at 4,200 metres above sea level (and more!) within the 1.5 million hectare Manu National Park.
With the highest biodiversity of any protected region in the world, this incredible terrain has nurtured a hugely diverse bird and animal population.
Some of the wildlife are quite distinct from their lowland Amazon cousins - spectacled bears, yellow-tailed woolly monkeys and capuchins among them. And this is an absolute paradise for bird lovers - from the vast variety of hummingbirds to the impressively-named and spectacularly colourful Cock of the Rock, famous for its showy plumage and intricate mating rituals.
Moving between ecosystems that are often completely different from one another in their flora and fauna, guests are able to truly indulge in a once-in-a-lifetime exploration of these enchanting environments, resting in accommodations cradled by lush rainforest and surrounded by trails ripe for adventure.
After discovering the bird species of Huacarpay lake, Paucartambo and Ajanajo mountain pass, guests can head to Wayqecha Cloud Forest Lodge, whose freshly renovated cabanas face the Amazon and the mountains beyond, offering unrivalled views of the clouds rolling over the Andes - and one of the most peaceful and soulful atmospheres around.
Owned by a conservation group, eco-lodge Cock of the Rock Lodge is the perfect base to launch a wider exploration, with hiking trails that snake the landscape all around - and of course, it lives up to its name, with twice daily courting displays by the Cock of the Rock.
Further down towards the lowlands of the Amazon rainforest, Villa Carmen sits in the Andean foothills.
In this remarkable realm, birdwatchers are presented with a unique opportunity to encounter captivating species such as the blue-headed macaw, hairy-crested Antbird, Rufous-capped Nunlet and the enchanting Hoatzin.
At these lower altitudes, a whole new kind of forest unveils itself, revealing an array of bird species that are distinct from those found at higher elevations.
When to visit Manu and the Cloud Forest
Peru is an all-year-round destination! Technically Manu’s summer season stretches from May to November with full exploration much easier than in the rainier months, when heavy downpours can make road and air access tricky and make forest trails muddy and more complicated to access.
Those willing to be flexible with their itineraries might still travel January - March for a more adventurous experience with fewer other tourists.
Tarapoto and the high Amazon
The high Amazon in Northern Peru is a haven for second-time and seasoned travellers seeking an authentic, off-the-beaten-path experience that blends vibrant culture and delicious cuisine with spectacular nature and thrilling adventures.
Tarapoto, known as the “City of Palm Trees”, serves as the gateway to this enchanting region, with direct flights available from Lima or Iquitos.
Tanit Trails love this region for its profound cultural heritage and the flourishing local communities that have withstood the twin tests of time and the drugs trade.
This high Amazon region offers a fabulous opportunity to explore an alternative Peru, one whose communities have undergone a fascinating transformation since the 1970s and 80s.
Now, thriving with a newfound vitality and teeming with sustainable initiatives and cooperatives, it’s the perfect launchpad for your high Amazon adventure.
In Tarapoto itself, "El Huequito" market is the perfect place for an introduction to Amazonian culture, with its regional array of exotic ingredients and the endless bustle of daily life.
A guided tour of the tobacco factory "Tabacalera del Oriente," run primarily by women, shows how the ladies are making their mark in this traditionally male-dominated culture, while a delicious journey to Tesoro Amazonico chocolate factory lets guests view the transformation from cacao seed to exquisite chocolate bars, with the hope of much testing needed.
And travellers should try and save room for a traditional lunch at La Patarashca, long renowned for its fantastic traditional cuisine.
Where to stay? It’s hard to beat the stunning Bosque Guardian Lodge, set on the fringes of the Cordillera Escalera conservation area in Tarapoto’s San Martin region.
Offering the kind of rainforest views that take your breath away, this off-trail gem is Peruvian sustainability at its best - the management’s main goals being to protect their incredible natural environment through reforestation initiatives, educational activities and wildlife monitoring.
The hotel itself is eco-friendly with an unashamedly luxe touch.
After kicking back in exquisitely crafted bamboo rooms nestled in the verdant rainforest surroundings, guests feast on top Peruvian cuisine, its exotic ingredients harvested fresh from the hotel’s organic farm.
And when it comes to keeping themselves occupied, travellers here are truly spoilt for choice.
Lazy hours spent swimming in the Tiraco River and diving from its beautiful, unique pink rock formations can be followed by an afternoon walking the cacao and Melipona bee trails, exploring the wildlife, watching the birds and visiting the frog pond.
For those wishing to indulge their creative side, the hotel offers a brilliant paper workshop where guests learn to make eco-friendly objects and of course, for travellers who want to learn more about the ecology of the region, there are lots of ecotourism activities offering the chance to discover more of the rainforest and meet the people who work to protect it.
Venturing outside Tarapoto, guests can discover the resilient community of Chasuta, subjected to terrible suffering during the terrorism of the 80s and early 90s.
Here, a few very determined women came together to create initiatives designed to support their families and improve their quality of life - and guests are now welcome to explore their work, which ranges from the innovative cacao products of Misky chocolate factory to an association devoted to reviving traditional, fascinating and mouthwatering Amazonian recipes.
Guests can also engage in a hands-on cooking class, soaking up ancient Peruvian culinary techniques to bring home and savour for a lifetime.
Out into the wilds, Tanit Trails’ itinerary takes guests into the Chachapoyas region, once inhabited by the enigmatic Chachapoya people, also known as the “cloud people”.
This is a true explorer's paradise. Visited by few and brimming with untold secrets from the past, it’s steeped in mystery; boasting lost cities, cliff tombs with mummified warriors, sprawling cloud forests and majestic Andean highlands.
A full-day hike to the awe-inspiring Gocta Waterfalls takes guests through the high-altitude forest to the third highest falls in the world, unveiling a stunning array of fauna and flora on the way that includes monkeys, toucans, orchids, and towering ferns.
The adventurous will love the cable car ride to the remarkable Kuelap Fortress, an ancient Chachapoyas archaeological site dating back to 500 B.C.
Perched at an altitude of 3,000m, this sprawling complex once homed over 3,000 people in its 500-ish structures, making it the largest and most renowned pre-Hispanic site in the region.
In Leymebamba, the community-run Leymebamba Museum is a must-see experience.
Here in this rural museum, you’ll find over 220 mummies recovered from the Laguna de los Condores (Condor Lake) site in 1997 - and the more intrepid guests can take the option to hike to the cliffs where the mummies were found.
And all the while in this most engrossing of regions, guests can continue their rest in the most tranquil of nature-soaked accommodations.
From Kentitambo, the charming Hummingbird Inn, whose cosy bungalows offer stunning views and whose farm-to-table ethos serves up stunning organic Peruvian cuisine to PumaRinri Amazon Lodge at Tarapoto, whose tree lodges sit in a jungle reserve facing the Huallaga River surrounded by waterfalls, rivers and streams, your clients will be completely immersed in their Peruvian adventure from the moment they wake to the moment they leave.
Want to find out more about creating the most memorable, unique and authentic adventures in the Peruvian Amazon?
Get in touch today and discover more about Tanit Trails’ incredible selection of tours and community-focused experiences that will ensure your guests will enjoy the trip of a lifetime.
