Rafting the Tambopata Jungle

DESCRIPTION

Six days of rafting down Class III and IV rapids in the high Tambopata River, as well as a visit to the Macaw clay lick featured in the January 1994 National Geographic and time to acquaint ourselves with the wildlife and indigenous life. PromPeru, the government tourism agency, rates the Tambopata as Peru's finest white water rafting for its isolation in the warm forests and rich wildlife as well as the technical rafting encountered. We descend from highlands above 4500 meters, through elfin and cloud forest, into the Amazon Jungle at 250 meters. The various forests contain 13 species of monkey, ocelots and pumas, the capybara and tapir, and armadillos. We may see rare crocodiles or otters, who eat one another, and whose food caches and garbage ponds are among the most important sources of nutrition in the river. We will camp on the beaches along the river, visit the Tambopata Research Center and stay at the Posada Amazonas, a wonderfully designed jungle lodge.

ITINERARY

Day 1:

We leave Juliaca, a desert city at 3,800, in our company bus, to rise to the more fertile and inhabited highlands. We cross the Carabaya River and mountain range, where the pass is nearly five thousand meters high.

We may observe rare Andean wildlife in the high wilderness, such as vicua, vizcacha, condors, flamingos, Andean geese, and ibises. We put in at Putina Punko. Here the guide will give a speech about safety and demonstrate the equipment. We will raft a bit today before camping.

Day 2:

We pass gold panners and pioneer farmers and will see wildlife rarely visited by man. We may see the cock of the rock, whose intricate mating dance was breathlessly described by Alex Humboldt. More recently, a few sites in South America have become famous where the male birds routinely display. Strange beetles and butterflies abound in and around the river. Flocks of parrots gather to scold overhead, then suddenly disappear.

Day 3:

In one isolated forest there lies the Tambopata River, between the Lanza and Colorado tributaries, and is the border between Bolivia and Per. We pass between San Ignacio and San Rafael, one town in either country.

Days 4-6:

More rapids to run.

Day 7:

At the mouth of the Tavara River we deflate the raft and take a motorized canoe to the macaw lick, where ten species of parrots and parakeets have been observed.

Day 8:

We see the macaws at dawn and go by motorized canoe to Puerto Maldonado.

Day 9:

In the morning we catch a plane back to Cusco.

INCLUDED:

Professional English speaking guides, paramedics qualified for Class V rafting
Full Rafting equipment (helmet, safe jacket, raincoat, paddle, wetsuit, Hyside Self Bailer Boats)
All meals during the trip
Double Tents
Dry bags - Special Waterproof bags (for personal belongings)
Safety Kayak and Cargo Boat
Private round trip transportation
Video and picture service
Satellite Telephone
Complete First Aid Kit

Note:

Our guides are experienced in the various jungle habitats. However, we can take a professional naturalist for $100 more per person, or $10 per day per person if the group requests it.

WE RECOMMEND BRINGING:

Bathing suit and light clothes
Towel
Sandals or tennis shoes
Shorts (to use over the wetsuit, because the raft is slippery when wet)
8 pairs of socks
Warm clothes for the night (fleece, long pants)
Sleeping bag, mattress and flashlight
Personal water bottle and snack
Hat, sun block, mosquito repellent, toilet paper
Take your things in a plastic disposable bag

BOOKING WITH VISA