Corto Maltes Lodge 5 Days/ 4 Nights

Early in the morning, at 05:30 am, we will go on a 20-minute trek until we arrive at the parrot clay lick. Here, a minimum of five different parrot species feed themselves on a special clay, which is vital for their metabolism. It’s a truly marvellous, multicoloured spectacle!

At 08:00 am, we will have a delicious breakfast and then have some free time to explore the splendid gardens of Corto Maltes Amazonia. There are dozens of varieties of exotic plants and flowering trees waiting for you to discover them!

Afterwards, around 10:30 am, we start navigating the Madre de Dios River. This time, it’s an expedition to Monkey Island, where we can discover a variety of interesting and entertaining animals living in freedom. Next, we embark on a 30-minute boat ride as we enter the territory of the Tambopata-Candamo National Reserve. We will trek around 5 km through the dense vegetation of the tropical rainforest, observing many giant trees, snakes, monkeys, birds, and sometimes even the elusive jaguar!

The trek’s destination is Heavenly Sandoval Lake. Numerous species of animals share their privileged setting: birds (in particular Hoatzins, Kingfishers, and Cormorants) and different species of monkeys (Squirrel monkeys, Howler monkeys, Capuchin monkeys). At the lake itself, we can enjoy the spectacle of Giant River Otters, Black Caimans, and Piranhas (sometimes we can even observe Anacondas in the areas covered by reed). This is also the habitat of the giant Arapaima, a fish that can grow over 2.5 meters in length and weigh up to 200 kg. Travelling by canoe, the sunset on the lake will be a spectacular, unforgettable sight. On our return to the river, we might be able to spot some nocturnal animals as well.

After all these great experiences and an active day in the jungle, our bodies will demand some rest and food. Therefore, we will enjoy the exotic tastes of our meals, especially our desserts, around 08:00 pm. If you still have energy left, you can share some moments of music and conversation in the bar whilst having a cocktail or enjoy the sounds of the rainforest surrounding you from your hammock. After a long day full of activity, you will enjoy the comfort of your bungalow hammocks! You can also recover with a massage by one of the qualified masseurs.

On the morning of our third day, we will have a delicious breakfast at 08:00 am, followed by some free time to enjoy a bath in the pool or to explore our shop, where you can find exclusive Amazon handicrafts and jewellery.
At 10:00 am, we will follow the course of the river for approximately 1.5 hours to visit a native community. Occasionally, we can see monkeys, river turtles, caimans, and various birds in the dense vegetation of the riverbanks. We will also see some medicinal plants like Sangre de Grado, Oje, and Capirona.
The Project for the Rescue of Cultural Values supports the local native community of Palma Real. It is the biggest one with approximately 200 families of the Eseeja tribe. Two families, working on the project located at Gamitada island, will introduce us to the cultural values of their ancestors, their language, their customs, their garments and their dances. In an era where globalisation rapidly changes traditional societies, this presents a unique opportunity to connect directly with this tribe of ancient warriors and hunters, supporting them economically through the purchase of their handmade products.
We will be circumnavigating Gamatida Island around 01:00 pm, occasionally seeing animals that escape from human presence. Afterwards, we will visit a Chakra (local term for farm). We will get to know a variety of tropical fruits and other local products (Cocoa, bananas, coffee, and Cocona) and then have lunch, consisting of a typical Amazon dish. The Chacarero (farmer) will also let us taste some of the fruits that will later be taken to the city of Puerto Maldonado for consumption.
Upon our return to the lodge, you will surely enjoy a bath in our swimming pool – maybe even with a cocktail that might also serve as an aperitif for dinner.
Dinner will be served around 08:00 pm. Afterwards, you can retire to our bar to enjoy some tropical cocktails, relax in our reclined seats at the central terrace, or take a bath in the pool underneath the shining Amazon sky.

In the morning, we will have our nourishing breakfast and afterwards enjoy some free time. At 10:30 a.m., we will start our boat ride of approximately 90 minutes to the Taricaya Biological Centre (headquarters in the UK). This centre relies on the collaboration of numerous universities worldwide, which send volunteers to protect and reintegrate injured or confiscated animals into their natural habitats. We will have sufficient time to see the animals and visit the facilities, accompanied by a volunteer from the centre.

The name of the centre, Taricaya, goes back to a conservation project for the river turtles (or Tarikayas) that collect and incubate their eggs and then, upon birth, return the offspring to the Madre de Dios River. (Unfortunately, there is a black market that is responsible for adding this animal to the list of species being in danger of extinction.)
In the centre, we can observe a lot of animals: jaguars, various monkeys, tapirs, peccaries, and exotic birds such as the Pale-Winged Trumpeter.

Hurt or sick animals captured on the black market or brought from the jungle are nursed and later returned to their natural environment. The Centre also constructed a Canopy Walk, providing ideal conditions for bird watching (a suspension bridge at a height of 42 meters and a length of 90 meters).

We will have lunch at 01:00 pm. Afterwards, you will have some free time to talk to the resident volunteers.

Around 02:30 pm, we will start our 30-minute trek through the primary rainforest until reaching the Canopy Walk. Here, we will climb the first tower of 14 meters and then ascend to a platform of 42 meters in height via the suspension bridge. We will have an extraordinary panoramic view of the jungle from up here! The great trees are seen from above, the sounds of the jungle emerging from underneath our feet, and the overwhelming green for as far as the eye can see. Only a few times will you have the chance to experience the jungle in this unique way!

We then return to our boat at 04:00 pm and start our journey through the jungle, back to the Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge. During our ride, we can see the breathtaking sunset showing off shades of gold, pink, yellow, and green, creating an almost magical atmosphere. Upon our return to the lodge, you can refresh yourself at the pool or relax in the hammocks. Alternatively, why don’t you have a massage by one of the lodge’s qualified personnel to make your experience even more unforgettable?

We will have dinner around 08:00 pm – a new chance to taste new dishes at the Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge. The imagination of our French chef will fascinate you with every dish, especially with his desserts made of tropical fruits!

You can enjoy the concert of animal sounds with a cocktail or maybe a cup of tea in our bar. The starry night sky is spectacular, especially on moonless nights when the jungle is even more mysterious.

After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the staff and the beautiful setting of Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge. Your guide will accompany you on your way back to Puerto Maldonado. We will pass by our office to collect any left baggage. Next, we will visit the local market to showcase some of Amazon's local agricultural products, particularly its fruits. Afterwards, our staff will accompany you to the airport, hoping that your stay was as pleasant for you as it was for us to show you this beautiful corner of Peru.