5 REASONS TO VISIT TAMBOPATA

The Capital of Biodiversity: With 600 species of birds, 200 species of mammals,1200 species of butterflies, and more than 10,000 species of vascular plants Tambopata is considered one of the most bio diverse places on earth. What makes it so diverse?

• A variety of habitats: Tambopata has a wealth of different plant habitats which are created by different soils, hills, winds, river erosion, etc. With the various plant habitats come different animals that choose to live in the ones that suit them best.
  
• The Ice Age: During the ice age (about 13,000 to 23,000 years ago) many of the earth's forests dried up, becoming deserts and only forests with ideal conditions, such as those found in Tambopata, remained. The forests were separated with savannas in between them. During this time (also known as the Pleistocene period), species in each of these fragmented areas evolved and developed differently. When things started warming up again, forest grew back reconnecting the segmented forests. Tambopata was one of the fragmented "refugees" and has more biodiversity than most rainforests.

A Short Trip from Cusco: Puerto Maldonado is only 30 minutes from Cusco. Both StarPeru and LAN offer daily commercial flights. Make sure to get a window seat. In this short flight you can watch the terrain change from snow-capped peaks to dense green jungle with rivers winding through.

With the recent completion of the Interoceanic Highway connecting Brazil and Peru, Puerto Maldonado is also accessible from Cusco by bus. The scenic bus ride takes you from the central Andes in Cusco to the lush green jungle in about eight hours.

The Green Carpet: Tambopata is host to more than 10,000 species of vascular plants. In all of Peru, the Madre de Dios region has the lowest population with less than 100,000 people in an area 1.6 times the size of Costa Rica and the lowest population density with less than 2 people per square kilometer. Despite risk of deforestation and development that has faced the region in recent years, the forest has continued to thrive. This is due in part to the low population and also to over 60% of the area being designated protected areas.

The River: Locals say that once you have drunk the water of the Tambopata, you will always desire to come back. The Tambopata River flows 402 km from the eastern slope of the Andes in Puno north to Puerto Puerto Maldonado, where it connects with the Madre de Dios river, which continues into Bolivia and Brazil further downriver. The Tambopata National Reserve and the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park, accounting in total for more than 1.3 million hectares, were created to protect this important resource which is home to around 200 species of fish. Each year the river rises during the rainy season and falls during the dry season representing the rhythmic balance of nature.

The People: The people of Tambopata have a very special connection to the rainforest. For many of them, the jungle is their home and all they have ever known. Whether they are hunters, fishermen, timber extractors, miners, Brazil nut collectors, farmers, or work in the ecotourism industry, most make their livelihoods in some way or another from the land.

With the development of tourism to the area, locals have shown interest in hosting visitors in their homes. Some are just beginning to receive international guests. They are eager to share their traditions and way of life with others, as well as their knowledge on the forest. These families come from a diverse background with varying experiences and backgrounds to share. But they all have one thing in common which is their reliance on and understanding of the land in Tambopata.