Ecotourism in Tambopata - Travel and sustainable development

Tambopata is not just amazing because of its huge biodiversity, but also because of the culture of its people. Around 6500 people live in the Tambopata National Reserve’s Buffer Zone. More than 1000 of them are natives, and they have inherited ancient customs and a millenary knowledge that has been learned by the rest of the inhabitants of this part of the Amazon rainforest.

Exploring this incomparable ecosystem and staying in local people’s houses or communities is a wonderful and completely unforgettable experience, and there is a variety of choices for all kinds of travellers.

They will not just show you their forest and its diversity, but they will teach you their knowledge, as how to survive in the jungle, the use of plants, animals and more. They will also share their culture, they will show you how they live and will treat you as one of them, you will learn how they build their houses with eco- friendly materials, how they see the world and their beliefs.

This way of travel guarantees an amazing experience for visitors and a sustainable development for these people. This also assures wildlife protection and avoids the damages of wood or timber extraction.

There are two options of ecotourism in Tambopata. The first one is located not more than half an hour from Puerto Maldonado, main city of the region of Madre de Dios. It is the Tambopata Ecotourism Corridor, a highway with lots of alternatives of homestays for all preferences along the way. It is recommended for those that don’t have much time, like about 2 or 3 days.

If you have more time, then go to the Homestays along the Tambopata river. They are located a few hours upriver from Puerto Maldonado, in front of the Tambopata National Reserve.

Go to Tambopata, join these awesome people and learn from them, and see the forest through their eyes.

Tambopata, refugio de vida

Con 275,000 hectáreas y una biodiversidad que rara vez se encuentre en otro lugar del planeta, la Reserva Nacional Tambopata se convierte poco a poco en uno de los principales destinos de toda la Amazonia. La reserva cuenta con la mayor cantidad de variedades de mariposa en el mundo (1122), y en un espacio de sólo 5,500 hectáreas se llegó a encontrar 545 especies de aves, más que la totalidad de EE.UU. Además, la región es aún hogar de especies muy amenazadas como el lobo de río, el armadillo gigante y el águila harpía, que habitan en alguno de los 7 tipos de bosque que hay en esta selva.

Tambopata cuenta hoy en día con la mejor infraestructura de albergues ecológicos de la Amazonía peruana, a los cuales se llega en un bote a motor navegando por el río del mismo nombre o el Madre de Dios. Por ello, no hay excusas para no ir ni experimentar cómo los sentidos se pueden activar al límite.

VISIONES. La naturaleza explota frente a los ojos de quien se adentra en estas selvas. El verde es dueño absoluto del paisaje, y lo acompaña un potente cielo azul con nubes que parecen dibujadas a mano. Tener el río Tambopata en frente, o alguno de los lagos, como el Sandoval, Sachavacayoc o Condenado llena de vida los ojos de cualquiera, y los mantiene al tanto de la repentina aparición de vida silvestre. Tal vez un caimán negro se asome por la superficie del agua, una pareja de guacamayos pase volando o, en los árboles, una familia de pichicos (o monos titi) se muevan en busca de frutas. Lo que sea. Todo depende de la suerte y del buen ánimo de quien observa.

SONIDOS. Magia para los oídos. Si la vida misma tuviera un sonido en especial, ese sería el de la selva. Sobretodo cuando oscurece. Pongámonos a pensar en una noche típica limeña, bulla de auto, alarmas, vecinos que ven televisión a todo volumen, y la mente ocupada en el trabajo del día siguiente, universidad, colegio. Ahora imaginemos dormir con ruidos que solo produce la naturaleza. El sonido de los árboles, los grillos, cigarras, aves, ranas, monos, la lluvia. La mente queda en blanco hasta en el más estresado de los workaholics.

SABORES. Se puede probar la selva también. Un copoazú o un zapote, frutas exóticas y desconocidas en Lima pero de muy buen sabor, tienen que probarse. En Tambopata se produce muchísima fruta, tanta que ni se sabe qué hacer con ella, así que los amantes de ellas tienen que sacarle provecho a esto y probar nuevos sabores.

SENSACIONES. La extraña y fascinante sensación de estar a merced de lo natural, de lo salvaje e impredecible, se adueña del que recorre las trochas de Tambopata. El calor sofocante hace que un chapuzón en el río o en alguna quebrada sea un premio a la aventura de entrar en la selva y recorrerla con unas necesarias botas de hule para el lodo y los animales venenosos. Los sentidos están más activos que nunca, a la espera de algo que probablemente no aparezca, porque en la selva hay que aprender a esperar lo inesperado. Al final, algún animal aparece y la experiencia se vuelve cada vez más emocionante.

AROMAS. No existe un aire más puro y limpio que el de la Amazonía, y cada respiro lo confirma. El olor a naturaleza es absoluto, a suelo húmedo con hojas caídas, troncos viejos, hojas verdes por donde se mire, flores espectaculares, estanques, quebradas, ríos y lagos. Sin embargo, tras una fuerte lluvia, pareciera que los aromas se volvieran más intensos. 

El Gato - Nueva área de conservación privada en Tambopata

En Tambopata, los esfuerzos de su gente por conservar el medio ambiente están dando muy buenos resultados. Una gran noticia para los emprendimientos de turismo vivencial responsable se dio el pasado 19 de julio. A las ya reconocidas Áreas de Conservación Privadas (ACP) de K’erenda Homet y La Habana Rural Inn, se suma El Gato, en la comunidad de Baltimore, a 4 horas río arriba por el Tambopata. El Ministerio del Medio Ambiente otorgó el reconocimiento al predio de la familia Ramirez con el fin de conservar la gran biodiversidad de sus recursos naturales. Con El Gato, ya son 3 las ACP existentes en la Zona de Amortiguamiento de la Reserva Nacional Tambopata, y se espera que sean más en los próximos años.

El Gato se caracteriza por el excelente estado de conservación de sus bosques, y por ser uno de los mejores lugares de la zona para el avistamiento de fauna. Está ubicado junto a la quebrada El Gato, la cual le da su nombre al predio de los Ramirez. Ellos reciben a los viajeros como parte de su familia, y los invitan a realizar sus actividades cotidianas, como pescar en la quebrada, recorrer los bosques por sus trochas, recorrer el río o la quebrada con sus canoas, buscar caimanes por la noche, visitar a sus vecinos, y mucho más.

El reconocimiento de su predio como un ACP es un premio al esfuerzo realizado por los Ramirez en la gestión de El Gato, y se espera que sirva como ejemplo para que no sólo los demás emprendimientos consigan también logros semejantes, sino para que más gente se una a este proyecto de turismo vivencial.

Esta alternativa sostenible de turismo como actividad económica está creciendo cada vez más en Tambopata, debido al éxito que ha tenido. Cada vez más gente local se da cuenta del daño social y ambiental que producen actividades como la minería y la extracción maderera, las cuales, en la mayoría de los casos, dejan remuneraciones muy bajas. En cambio, el ecoturismo permite conservar los recursos naturales generando un ingreso que puede ser mayor a medida que el esfuerzo por el servicio brindado hacia el turista aumente en calidad, y para ello se recibe el apoyo del equipo de Tambopata Ecotours, el cual recibe a toda persona interesada en hacerse parte del mismo. Por ello, mientras haya más iniciativas de turismo vivencial, hay más oportunidades de un desarrollo sostenible para las comunidades locales y para la conservación de la Amazonía.

¡Felicitaciones a El Gato! 

El Gato - New Private Conservation Area in Tambopata

In Tambopata, the efforts of its people to preserve the environment are proving successful. There is great news for the local ecotourism initiatives. To those already recognized Private Conservation Areas (PCA), K'erenda Homet and La Habana Rural Inn, joins El Gato, in the community of Baltimore, 4 hours upriver on the Tambopata. The Environment Ministry granted recognition to the Ramirez family area in order to conserve the biodiversity of its natural resources. With El Gato, 3 PCA’s exist now in the Buffer Zone of the Tambopata National Reserve, and more are expected to be officially recognized in the coming years.

El Gato is characterized by the great preservation of its forests, and it is one of the best places in the area for wildlife watching. It is located next to the creek El Gato, which gives its name to the land of the Ramirez family. They receive visitors as if they were part of their family, and invite them to join their daily activities, like fishing in the creek, walking the forest trails, canoeing in the river or in the creek, looking for caimans at night, visiting their neighbors, and more.

The recognition of their land as a PCA is a reward for the effort made by the Ramirez family in the management of El Gato, and is expected to serve as an example for other ecotourism initiatives and also to attract more local people to Tambopata Ecotours.

The alternative of sustainable tourism as an economic activity is growing increasingly in Tambopata, due to its success. More and more local people realize the social and environmental damages that produce activities such as mining and timber extraction, which in most cases, leave very low wages. However, ecotourism can conserve natural resources generating greater incomes as long as there is an effort to provide a good service to visitors.  As long as the number of local ecotourism initiatives increase, there are more opportunities for sustainable development for local communities and for the conservation of the Amazon Rainforest.

Congratulations to El Gato!

Volunteer with Reforestation in the Amazon

The El Refugio K'erenda Homet belongs to the Zambrano family. Victor Zambrano is well known for for working hard over 22 years to turn cattle pasture into an exuberant and diverse forest.

When Victor returned to Puerto Maldonado after living in Lima for 24 years, he found the forest where he spent his childhood had been cut down to raise livestock. His appreciation for the environment and adoration of nature encouraged him to restore the forest that he loved. Mr. Zambrano planted 19 thousand trees over the course of 19 years, earning him world-wide recognition as a pioneer of conservation. His wife Rosa and daughter K’erenda share in his passion for nature and have taken part in his mission to reforest land in Tambopata.

Together they have created a place where visitors to Tambopata can go to learn about local flora, conservation, and agroforestry, while enjoying local food, culture and traditions. El Refugio K’erenda Homet, located only 15 minutes from Puerto Maldonado, offers an affordable voluntourism program in which guests can help in the Zambrano’s mission while learning about the environment and local customs in Tambopata.

Volunteers are housed in one of three cabins on the 40-hectare private conservation area. Each cabin has a restroom and basic facilities. They eat traditional meals prepared with local ingredients, dining together with the Zambrano family in a common area.

Volunteers take part in the reforestation process by gathering small plants from the forest to bring to the nursery where they can be well cared for until they are large enough to replant. Victor Zambrano spends time with volunteers in the nursery teaching them each plants individual needs to be successful in the forest. Together they care for the plants in the nursery.

The Zambrano family welcomes guests to come and take part in the reforestation of the Amazon. Not only do visitors gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Amazon, they get a chance to learn about and take part in the culture of the people who call it home.

The More People Who Visit the Amazon Rainforest The Better Chance We Have Of Saving It

The More People Who Visit the Amazon Rainforest The Better Chance We Have Of Saving It

Visiting the Amazon Rainforest may well be one of the most memorable experiences that any person can have. I recently experienced the wonder of the Amazon basin first hand, it was certainly no luxury cruise, but was an incredible connection to the heart and soul of this planet. Its beauty was literally staggering and to be honest I simply don’t have the vocabulary to describe the feelings and connection to this environment that I had coming strongly through my thickened skin. It took me a couple of days to settle into the environment the reason of which I can’t quite explain it has an almost eerie feel to it when you first get there, but once I got used to it I just let the experience rush over me.

The first thing I did was take a Pampas tour, which allowed me to see the wide range of wildlife species that make their home in the rainforest. It certainly is a different experience seeing alligators, monkeys, and other such animals in their natural habitats as opposed to seeing them through glass in a zoo. The pampas are a wetland savannah bordering the Amazon basin. This particular topography is perfect for spotting animals. However, for those who much prefer the rainforest experience, the jungle tour may be better, I would seriously consider doing both. The jungle tour takes you right inside the rainforest which was probably the most amazing part for me. Trekking through the jungle, we were able to see the various plants and insects that can be found there. We also interacted with some of the natives and experienced first hand what it is like to be living in the Amazon and spent 2 days observing a group of bonobo chimpanzees which was absolutely incredible. The way that their society works is so loving and cooperative.

Before Experiencing the wonder of the Amazon rainforest I knew that it was important to save it as best we can but now that I have been there I fully appreciate that something as great and as important should be protected at all costs. The beauty of the rainforest is not something that can be taken for granted and has to be experienced to really be appreciated.

The Amazon Rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world and has been aptly described as the "Lungs of our Planet". The vast amount of vegetation that can be found there converts massive quantities of carbon dioxide into oxygen. Approximately 20% of the oxygen on the planet is produced by the Amazon. One third of all the bird species in the world live in the Amazon. It is home to over 500 species of mammals and 475 reptiles. An estimated 30 million types of insects can be found in here as well.

People native to the rainforest have been using indigenous plants as medicine for centuries. Now, scientists are beginning to discover that many of the plants in the forest can serve as cures, even for severe and previously incurable diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer, and even AIDS.

A world of information about the medicinal properties of plants can be gained from the knowledge of the shamans and indigenous people of the Amazon. However, even these people are in danger of disappearing. Since the 1900s, more than 90 tribes in the Amazon have been destroyed.

At present, 20% of the rainforest has been destroyed. The trees are being cut down to be used and sold. The forest is being cleared to make use of the land for subsistence agriculture, cattle ranches, and mining. The depletion and deforestation of the Amazon is indeed a big problem. However, a viable and practical solution does exist. It has been proven that the land can yield so much more revenue if the resources are harvested sustainably. Research shows that these resources can provide a profit of as much as $2 400 per acre, which is considerably more than the $60 per acre profit from cattle ranching and $400 per acre profit from logging. At present, native communities are managing to earn ten times as much from harvesting the plants, fruits, nuts, and oils. This profit provides more than enough incentive for them to preserve the forest through sustainable economic practices.

So I have 2 tips for you when it comes to the Amazon Rainforest. Firstly go and experience it, it is one of the things that you will never forget, it will be one of the experiences that is with you till the day you die, it will open a window to your soul and to true feelings inside you that you never thought or even dreamed possible to feel. The second tip is get on board and help save it from its destruction (believe me, that will not be difficult once you have experienced it) that is currently happening at a rate of knots and help do what ever it takes to protect it from further damage—the health of the planet depends on it.

Bio

Jason has been a proponent of all things green and conservation for many years. There are many, many environmental issues that need fixing.