Upon your arrival in Puerto Maldonado you will be met by one of our friendly representatives and transferred to the port on the Tambopata River. Here you board a motorized canoe and proceed down the mighty river for 2 hours before reaching the Refugio Amazonas Lodge. During the boat ride you will be served a box lunch while enjoying the amazing views over the river. Upon arrival in Refugio you will be shown around the lodge and settled into your room for the evening. In the afternoon you will be lead to the lodge’s canopy tower. The tower is constructed out of scaffolding and reaches an impressive 35 meters in height. With an internal stairway one can climb the tower and look out over the surrounding forest from specially built balconies. The view is spectacular and an array of different birdlife can be seen from the top. Following dinner in Refugio you can relax and enjoy a video presentation about the Tambopata Reserve. (Meals – L, D)

Following an early breakfast you will visit the oxbow lake of Sachavacayoc. Upon reaching the lake you commence a guided canoe ride around it. Your guide will point out the flora and fauna found the area, as you keep your eyes open for giant river otters, kingfishers, and hoatzin that are commonly seen on the area. Departing from the lake, you continue towards the Tambopata Research Center. Located in the heart of the pristine Tambopata Reserve, the Research Center is completely isolated from human activity, and takes 5 hours to reach by boat. Upon arrival you are met by the Lodge staff and by a number of semi-tame rescued macaws. You will be shown to your room and following an orientation of the Center, led on a hike upon the Bamboo Trail. This trail is less than 3 km in length and is close to the Center. Some astounding views of the Reserve can be seen on this trail along with an assortment of exotic wildlife. Animals on the trail include howler monkeys and possibly capybaras, while the birdlife can include jacamars, elaenias, tanagers, oropendolas, and guans. Following sunset, the area around the Center becomes a hive of Amphibian activity and after dinner you may choose to undertake a guided evening frog walk around the area. (Meals – B, L, D)

Birds awake you early in the morning as their dawn chatter and squabbling emanates through the Center from the surrounding jungle. So with an early rise you will leave the camp and cross the river towards the world’s largest clay-lick where hundreds upon thousands of macaws congregate amidst loud squawks and crimson streaks as the brightly colored birds indulge in an integral part of their diet – clay. From the special observation point you will be able to see and take pictures of any number of the 12 known varieties of Macaw. You return to the Center for a delicious breakfast before being led on the Ocelot Trail which is just less than 3 km in length. This trail leads through some exemplary virgin forest. Your guide on the hike will explain the different flora and fauna you come across. Large Ceiba trees are found in the area as well as strangler figs. Amongst these amazing trees one generally comes across tamarins, capuchin monkeys and collared peccary. It isn’t uncommon that your group will stumble upon the tracks of an ocelot or a jaguar – seeing one of these amazing cats is however very rare owing to their shy nature. Following lunch you will be lead to a drying oxbow lake where you can spend the afternoon observing plant and birdlife in the area. In the evening you will return back to the Center for dinner and some relaxation. (Meals – B, L, D)

Following another early rise you will return to the impressive Macaw clay lick where you will once again be able to take in the site of this extraordinary jungle happening. After breakfast back at the camp you will be led on one more trail in the area in order to take in the beauty of the TRC and its surroundings before you depart. Upon your return to the Center you will board the special boats and embark once more for Refugio. Upon arrival you will be given the rest of the afternoon and evening to relax and unwind in a hammock or at the bar, sharing stories with new friends about the amazing experiences encountered in the Tambopata Research Center. (Meals – B, L, D)

Following breakfast you will leave Refugio and be transferred back to Puerto Maldonado. With a collection of unforgettable memories, you can either take a flight back home or proceed to another of Class Adventure Travel’s magical destinations. (Meals – B)