Into the Heart of the Tambopata

Luxury, Discovery, and Conservation with Rainforest Expeditions
Written by Emily Topping

Deep in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, where scarlet macaws soar overhead and a chorus of howler monkeys rings through the trees, Rainforest Expeditions invites travelers to step into a world few ever experience. For more than three decades, this pioneering ecotourism company has welcomed guests to its three ecolodges—Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas, and the Tambopata Research Center—each one tucked within the extraordinary Tambopata National Reserve.

“Our travelers aren’t like common travelers. They don’t just come to take pictures from far away,” says the group’s outreach director, Rocío Guzmán. “They want to experience the forest, and help us protect it.”

The magic of staying in Tambopata goes beyond the extraordinary views. It’s a chance to fully immerse yourself in one of the most biodiverse regions of the world—one in which scientists are still discovering new species every year. If you’re lucky, you might even help them do it. 

The company’s story begins with the beauty of birds. In 1989, wildlife photographer Eduardo Nycander ventured to the Tambopata River and was stunned by the sheer spectacle of parrots and macaws. He also knew how vulnerable their existence was, as illegal wildlife poaching threatened to drive the birds to extinction. To protect them, Nycander secured a vast stretch of rainforest and began developing artificial nests to give macaws a fighting chance.

A few years later, in 1994, National Geographic put Tambopata’s now-thriving macaws on its cover, bringing international attention to this fragile paradise. Soon after, Rainforest Expeditions took flight. 

From the beginning, the company’s goal was to not only welcome travelers to the jungle, but to make tourism a tool for its protection—a vision that meant working directly with locals. Rainforest Expeditions forged a groundbreaking partnership with the indigenous Ese Eja community, who co-manage Posada Amazonas and share its profits to this day. By working together, the benefits of conservation flow back to those who have called Tambopata home for generations.

Today, guests are able to trek through the dense forest in search of rare moths, follow tapir tracks at dawn, or glide across oxbow lakes where river otters frolic. At nightfall, they return not to damp tents, but to elegant wooden lodges with open-air rooms, fine meals, and attentive service. The lodges are designed to bring nature in: walls open to the forest, while breezes carry the sounds of insects and frogs. 

What truly sets Rainforest Expeditions apart, however, is the Wired Amazon program: a groundbreaking initiative that turns travelers into citizen scientists. Through the program, guests join researchers in the field, helping to collect vital data on wildlife.

At night, adventurous visitors may find themselves heading into the forest with entomologists, where they examine the dizzying array of insects drawn to light traps. If what they collect turns out to be a new species—a not-uncommon occurrence in this region—the guest has the once-in-a-lifetime honor of naming it. Since 2016, visitors have helped discover more than 20 previously unknown species, from tiger moths to spiders.

“Imagine you go on vacation and a year later you receive an email saying, ‘Emily, the sample you collected is actually a new species. You can name it!’” Rocio says, laughing. “That’s unforgettable.”

Another highlight is the Eight Primates Project, where guests join scientists in recording the calls of monkeys echoing through the canopy. These treks not only provide crucial data for researchers, but a rare opportunity for guests to slow down.

“Many people forget to listen when they walk in the forest,” Rocío says. “With this project, you have to move slowly. Just hearing the monkeys and the insects, or even the whisper of butterfly wings. It’s like being inside a surround sound. That moment is very precious. It connects you deeply with the forest.”

For Rainforest Expeditions, tourism is about the legacy of the land. Each guest who stays here contributes directly to conservation, from supporting macaw recovery efforts to ensuring local communities thrive. Travelers may leave with photographs—or even with their name immortalized in the scientific record of the Amazon—but most of all, they’ll return home with a sense of having given back.

Visit the Peruvian Amazon

Design a Custom Peru Itinerary to include the trip into the heart of the Tambopata and explore the diverse and spectacular wonders of the Amazon rainforest.

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