Peru is not only an Andean country

Its tropical forest covers almost half of its territory. This fabulous world of the Amazon, we offer it to you by guiding you safely to the discovery of its fauna and flora. The excursions we are offering you aim at comprehending its exceptional atmosphere while having in mind that this ecosystem is fragile.

Exuberant is the word that describes Madre de Dios with its infinite forests, sinuous rivers that rush towards the ocean, and life abounding in all its corners. There are many activities in the surroundings: photo safari, walk in the Amazonian forest, piranha fishing… a journey at the heart of the nature. Puerto Maldonado, the capital city, has been, at certain moments, an important exporting site for rubber, wood, gold, and petroleum. At present, two of the main economic activities there are eco-tourism and chestnut harvesting. It is an obligatory stop along the way to gain entrance to the national parks and reserves located in the area.

Tourist interests

Sandoval Lake. It is approximately 3 km / 2 miles long, 1 km / 0,6 miles wide, and 0.5 centimeters / 0,1 inches to 3 meters / 10 feet deep. The water remains at an average temperature of 26ºC (79.8ºF), and a huge amount of fish live there. It is surrounded by aguajales, swampy areas where, among other exotic species, a native palm tree called aguaje grows.
Along with the local vegetation, you can see orchids, wild plantains, and milpesos palms, giant kapoks, mahoganys, and 30 meter / 98 feet aguaje palm trees.
In this habitat lives a great variety of birds, like cormorants, toucans, macaws, parrots, horned screamers, and herons. In addition, there is a colorful variety of wild hens called hoatzin or shansho, which heads are topped with feathers. With some luck, tapirs, turtles, and giant otters or “river wolves” can be seen as well as different species of crocodiles, like the black caiman.

Tambopata National Preserve. Located between the basins of the Tambopata and Heath Rivers, the reserve covers an area of 274.690 hectares and is found in both the Madre de Dios and Puno departments. The wealth of its biodiversity is immeasurable, and scientists have already registered 632 bird species, 1200 butterfly species, 169 mammal species, 205 fish species, 103 amphibian species, and 67 reptile species. The vegetation is typical of tropical regions. To enter the reserve, prior authorization from INRENA is required.

Province of Manu. Manu National Park is spread out between two departments, Cusco and Madre de Dios, and covers an area of 1,692,137 hectares (or the entire Manu River basin). The park has a great variety of animal species: more than 800 bird, 200 mammal species and over a hundred bat species. In addition, there are trees over 45 meters high and 3 meters in diameter.