Corto Maltes Jungle Lodge

Reception at the airport with transfer to our office, which is located in the center of Puerto Maldonado. Any luggage that you do not require during your stay in the rainforest can be safely kept in our storage room. This is to facilitate the transport by boat to the lodge. We will embark for our lodge traveling on the river-vessel “Puerto de Capitanía”. It is 40 minutes of navigation on the Madre de DiosRiver. After arrival at the facilities of the Lodge Corto Maltes Amazonía you will be received with refreshments made from seasonal fruits. Later, your guide will give you the necessary information for your stay and hand over the keys to your bungalow and security safe, followed by the lunch and some time to rest until the first excursion. We will take boats from Capitania port, the destination being our lodge. We will navigate approximately 40 minutes down the Madre de Dios River in a typical Amazonian boat. We will then arrive at the Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge. Here we will have a welcome cocktail. Afterwards you will be handed over the keys to your bungalow and we will have lunch. The kitchen of our Lodge stands out for the beautiful presentation and the exquisite tastes of the dishes prepared by our French chef. After that you will have some free time to get comfortable in your bungalow, or take a refreshing dip in our pool. 3:30pm: is the time to have our first contact with the jungle.  On this trek you will see a large variety of tropical trees, medicinal plants, insects, butterflies and other animals. We will make a small stop at a lookout. Here you can observe toucans, macaws and other species of birds upon your return for sunset. (Duration: between 2,5 and 3 hours) Returning to the lodge you can take a refreshing dip in the pool or have an exotic cocktail in our terrace bar. You could also watch the sunset in the relaxing, tranquility of palm and mango trees at our port. 7pm: Before dinner we will go on a night boat trip, a little safari trying to spot the white caiman (caiman crocodiles) that lives in the river banks. 8pm: After the delicious dinner, those who wish can have some small talk in our reclining seats or have some fun and make friends with other travelers in the bar. Another option is to take a bath in the pool (with bar) under the shining Amazon sky and marvel at the southern cross.

6:00 am: After roughly 20 minutes of travel on the river Madre de Dios, we arrive at the landing stage of Lake Sandoval. During a 3 km hike through the wild vegetation, we will enter the territory of Tambopata National Reserve, where you will have the chance to admire giant trees, different snakes, monkeys (squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys and capuchin monkeys) and various birds (notably the Hoatzin – also known as the stink bird-, kingfishers and snakebirds). Once on Lake Sandoval, we will embark in small rowboats in search of giant river otters. We will also have the possibility to spot a good number of other reptiles, mammals and birds in their natural habitat. When the guide finds an opportune spot where you can continue to observe the nature, we will eat breakfast. For the return trip, make sure you have gathered your belongings and we will row back to the pier.   Our destination is heavenly Sandoval Lake. Its privileged settings are shared by numerous species of animals: Birds (in particular Hoatzins, Kingfisher, and Cormorants), we will also see different species of monkeys (Squirrel monkeys, Howler monkeys, Capuchin monkeys). At the lake itself we can enjoy the spectacle of Giant River Otters. Black Caimans and Piranhas (sometimes we can even observe anacondas in the areas covered by reed). This is also the habitat of the giant Arapaima, a fish of more than 2,5m, weighing in at +200kg. Traveling by canoe, the sunset in the lake is a spectacular unforgettable sight. On our return to the river we might be able to spot some nocturnal animals. OPCIONAL  Monkey island. This activity depends on the season and the discretion of your guide. There are times that due to flooding it is nearly impossible to disembark and walk around the island. There are also times in the year for mating and reproduction, and it is important to leave the wild monkeys alone, without human interruption. The animals are accustomed to visitors and can come very close. Therefore it is very important to always follow the instructions of your guide. Visit lookout tower 3:30 pm. We will visit of one of the two lookout towers of Corto Maltès Amazonía, with a height of 20 and 42 meters and designed for bird watching and the viewing of other types of animals living at this altitude in the canopy. In addition, you will enjoy an incredible view of the sunset. (The guide will consult with the guests on their preferences and adapt this excursion accordingly.) There will also be a visit to a Brazil nut camp, where harvesters stay for the duration of the season. The Brazil nut (also known as castaña, as it is known locally) is one of the most important economic activities in the Madre de Dios region.

8am: Breakfast and free time to have a bath in the pool or maybe buy some exclusive Amazon handicrafts and jewelry in our shop. 9:00am. After a 20-minute boat trip down-river, we will arrive at a chacra, which is a farm owned by a local family. Here we will recognize and even taste different seasonal tropical fruits as well as other native products (cacao, banana, cocona, bread-fruit, noni, yucca, lime…) This place belongs to a typical rural family who maintain with care and without chemicals some native plants that grow naturally. They sell their products in the main markets of Puerto Maldonado for consumption. Once finished the visit we will return to take the boat, and after about 20 minutes we will arrive at the land of a native Machiguenga family. Native family /12:00pm. The Machiguenga are one of the many ethnic groups that exist in the Peruvian Amazon. A family of native Machiguenga will receive us for a visit. They will show us the cultural value of their ancestors, as well as language and customs, including traditional clothes, hunting gear, handicrafts and the music they play during ayahuasca ceremonies. They will teach us how to take advantage of natural products to make tools, and what they use to make their houses, dresses and ornaments, each important for their daily life.

Its project, located at Gamitada island works together with two families that will introduce us to the cultural values of their ancestors, their language, their customs, their garments and their dances. In an era where globalization rapidly changes traditional societies this is a great opportunity to have direct contact with this tribe of ancient warriors and hunters. As well as a chance to support them economically with the purchase of some of their handmade products.

They will also reveal some secrets of their medicinal plants, notably the Ayahuasca. 2:00pm. Return to the lodge to relax and have free time to visit the boutique, refresh in the swimming pool, have a cocktail in the bar or have a relaxing massage.

Wake up at 5:30 am for some coffee or tea before leaving for a 20-minute walk to the clay lick, where you will have the possibility to observe 3 to 5 types of parrots. The parrots come to the clay lick to ingest a particular kind of clay, only found in certain areas of this region. The clay is vital for the metabolic regulation of the birds, and therefore is host to a colorful and veritably delightful and exciting event. After breakfast, we will return to the city of Puerto Maldonado by boat. One of our vehicles will receive you at the port. After a short stop at our office, we will drive to the local market where the local population supplies itself with foods and other products. During a short visit of around 20-minutes, you will be able to appreciate the different typical products of the area. We will then head to the airport to check-in for your respective flights. Afterwards we will accompany you to the airport wishing that your stay was as pleasant for you as it was for us to show you this beautiful corner of Peru. This lodge you can do in 3 – 4 or 5 days program