Tambopata Research Center

The boat journey is exciting and comfortable despite being 8 hrs up river and 5 back. If lucky u meet the researchers and hear about their ingenious projects focused on the flora and fauna and the staff are attentive and wonderful as is the food. We were up at 4.30 most mornings which is no sweat as u go to bed about 9 pm. The clay licks are disappointing this time of year as the Macaws come rarely and the smaller birds fear the hawks without the macaws on the lick...but the birds accumulate round the Licks anyway and It is exciting to see them all arriving. There are also local pools full of caiman and turtles and sometimes constrictors. We saw several groups of spider monkeys. Extraordinary with their long muscular tails from which they often swing unsupported. We saw saddle back tamarind, a Titi monkey and the Howlers. What a noise they make...intimidating if you do not know what it is. We also saw and photog' Anaconda and large caiman. My highlight however was an evening trip with our guide further up river to a relatively new roosting sites where Scarlet and Yellow Chested Macaws had gathered in their hundreds simply to socialise before bedtime. All the smaller parrots join in. Their is some competition for roosts and lots of groups fly off as the sun is setting. The boat journey home was a bit exciting in the dark...but thrilling. You must go if you can.

I was looking for an amazing Amazon jungle experience and TRC did not disappoint. You cannot get to the hotel in one day, but must stay overnight at another lodge on the way. The amenities in the first lodge are incredible. There is a definite step down in luxury when arriving at the TRC lodge, but it is mind boggling how they can maintain such a comfortable hotelito and accomodations so far removed from civilization. Staff - excellent. Tim, the guy in charge of guest services - just an amazing, friendly, and competent person. There are rows of shared bathrooms instead of private baths, and rooms are open to the jungle, with mosquito netting over the beds. It is very rustic, but so very beautiful and surreal! The many trips into the jungle and to the clay lick are amazing. The guides were excellent. The food was decent, and interesting. Full bar available with fun drinks. Warm water showers!! Not much in the way of electricity, but a little, at times, to charge camera batteries, and have moments of a little light. There is a sacrifice in comfort, but was one of the best vacations I have ever taken. The scientists living there are a little wierd, but funny wierd - kind of jungle primadonnas.

We wanted to see the amazon basin rain forest. I read good reviews about the lodge. The accommodation, food are very spartan. No private bathroom, no hot water. Food 3 times a day at 8, 1 and 7 with no possibility to have a snack. My 6 year old was hungry many times. But it was fascinating experience in the woods to see wild animals in their habitat. We had our own guide and went to walks morning and afternoon to the jungle. In the evenings we had lectures about macaws and spiders. It is defiantly not a couples hotel. I could not sleep with my boy friend. We had single beds for each of us.