Top 10 things to do when you visit Tambopata

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1. Feed a Howler Monkey.  The Amazon Shelter is a non-profit organization that has implemented a wildlife shelter called the Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CRCAS), located 11.2 km from the city of Puerto Maldonado.  Take a day trip to tour the Amazon Shelter and meet Pepe, a 12-year old Howler Monkey who resides there.

 

2. Make Chocolate from scratch.  Parayso , owned by the Balerezo Yabar family, has 3 km of trails, two double bungalos right along the river and hosts who know the area like the backs of their hands.  Guests can participate in the process of making chocolate paste from the Cacao fruit that grows throughout their 16 hectares of property.  Try the sweet fruit ripe from the tree and take part in the process of turning it to coco paste that can be used for cooking or making hot chocolate.  Mmmmm!

 

3. Try local fruit.  Copoazu grows in a brown football-sized pod and tastes great when made into ice cream.  Guanabana tastes sweet and has many health benefits.  Starfruit makes an excellent juice.  Whether its one of the 30 different types of plantanes that grow in Tambopata or the local citrus that’s in season, you are guaranteed to try something new if you take a visit to a local farm. 

 

4. Relax.  Botafogo has a 3 km long beach that is excellent to enjoy during the dry season.  If you prefer to relax by a pool, the recreational center Villa Hermosa has a well-kept, large swimming pool just ten minutes by taxi from Puerto Maldonado.

 

5. Take a Yoga class at Kapievi.  Whether you are an expert or beginner, Katerina Zlatar’s morning and evening yoga sessions cater to all abilities.   Yoga lessons in the Maloka focus on a mind and body connection to earth and environment which surrounds you.  Supplement your stay by eating delicious home-cooked dishes in Kapievi’s vegetarian restaurant.   

 

7. Go Fish.  Many homestays in Tambopata offer piranha fishing in locals lakes and ponds.  Fish as the locals do using nothing more than a piece of meat on a string.  The four types of Piranhas go wild!

 

8. Learn about Brazil Nut farming.  Did you know that Brazil Nut extraction brings ten thousand dollars annually to the Madre de Dios region?  This seasonal job requires farmers to spend weeks in the forest collecting the nuts and hauling them out in large sacks on their backs.  Try the nuts and learn about the hard work required to export them from Javier Huinga who has spent years farming his families Brazil Nut concession. 

 

9. Try Ayahuasca.  Ayahuasca is a traditional medicine which has been used by natives to the Amazon for more than 5,000 years.  In recent years, this hallucinegenic plant has gained the attention of modern doctors, psychologists, scientists, philosophers, and religious and spiritual leaders.  It is said to have the ability to cure many ailments from cancer to depression.  Whether looking for an alternative to modern medicine, seeking answers to life’s questions, or wanting nothing more than the cultural adventure, many travelers journey to Tambopata to participate in a traditional Ayahuasca ceremony. Ayahuasca should only be taken under the guidance of an experienced shaman who can help and individual better understand their visions.

 

10. Volunteer helping local wildlife at the Amazon Shelter.  Whether you stay for a week or a month, all proceeds from your stay go directly towards helping rescued animals from Tambopata’s rainforest.  The diet for these animals is prepared daily, sometimes involving special medicines or supplements and often requiring trips to the local markets in Puerto Maldonado to pick up supplies.  You will work directly with the animals preparing their food, feeding them, maintaining their cages, and providing the TLC they need to recover and be re-introduced into the wild.