Amazon Rainforest Extension (Pre-tour, from Lima)

Explore the world's largest rainforest, of unparalleled biodiversity

Easily accessible via a short flight from Lima, the Amazon is the world's largest rainforest and home to an astonishing array of wildlife, as well as countless plant species. Spending three nights at a riverside lodge in the Tambopata Reserve, we use motorised canoes to explore its lakes and rivers, and follow jungle trails to discover its dense forests. The biodiversity of this region is incredible and with a bit of luck you may see colourful macaws and other tropical birds as well as an array of native South American mammals, such as capybara and giant river otter. There’s also time to relax by the river at the lodge or to sit back in a hammock.

Visa

Peru

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Peru. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/peru
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/peru
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/peru/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Peru.html

Vaccination

Peru

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, tuberculosis and yellow fever. Additionally, Zika fever, a mosquito‐borne viral disease, is a known risk in Peru. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so you should take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Please check all vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

Amazon: If you are travelling to the Tambopata reserve in the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice. We also strongly recommend that you obtain a yellow fever vaccination. Additionally, dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in the Amazon region. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Eating and Drinking

Your stay in Lima is on a B&B basis. All meals are included during your stay in the Amazon. The food is a mixture of Peruvian and international cuisine.

Please do not drink the tap water or brush your teeth with it - it is not potable.

Weather

Whilst the Amazon Rainforest is generally warm and humid, it can be subject to drops in temperature caused by cold fronts pushing in from the south, especially in June and July. This can send temperatures dropping into single figures, and if taking the rainforest extension we recommend that you take some warm clothing with you to the lodge in case of sudden changes in the weather.

Weather Charts

Puerto Maldonado Weather Chart, Peru

Is this trip for you?

This extension may be booked before of after any Exodus tour that starts/ends in Lima. If your main Exodus tour starts in Lima but ends elsewhere, this particular extension may only be booked pre-tour (or vice the versa for tours ending in Lima but starting elsewhere). 

Activities during the extension and transfers to and from the lodge are not exclusive to Exodus clients and may be shared with other guests at the lodge.

There are some walks along jungle trails, which although well marked, can be muddy following periods of rain. The walks are not particularly physically demanding but you should have a reasonable level of fitness. The rainforest is generally hot and humid in the daytime and the high humidity can be uncomfortable at times, although nights and early morning end evening can be a little chilly. Mosquitoes are present, and are particularly active after it has rained and at dawn and dusk.

The Amazon is teeming with life and at night you will hear the sounds of the jungle. There will be some very early morning starts as the wildlife is often most active at dawn and dusk when the temperature is cooler.

Unfortunately we cannot guarantee wildlife sightings and factors such as poor weather can affect the likelihood of seeing wildlife. Many creatures are more elusive during rain and additionally some planned activities may be postponed or altered depending on the weather or river levels for safety reasons. Your guide may assume that you don't want to go out in the rain but if this is not the case please make this known to your guide to make sure you don’t miss out.

The accommodation is simple but comfortable. Given the remoteness of the lodges, please be aware that there is no mains electricity and service at meal times can be quite relaxed. Only the main buildings have power for a few hours a day. Lighting in your room will be by torch and lanterns/candles.