Reserva Amazí³nica Wildlife Lodge – Peru

Traveling to Inkaterra’s Reserva Amazí³nica Lodge begins in the small Peruvian town of Puerto Maldonado. From there visitors board a motorized canoe and travel along the winding Madre de Dios River through some of the world’s most pristine rainforest. Forty-five minutes later, the lodge comes into view.

There are no nearby roads and few people enter the reserve. Considering its remoteness, the lodge’s elegance and comfort may therefore come as a surprise. Each of the 35 private, thatched roof cabañas has a screen porch with hammocks, a warm water shower, and amenities including robes and slippers. The Tambopata suites even boast private plunge pools.

But what makes this place truly special is its location next to Tambopata National Reserve, within the region known as the biodiversity capital of Peru. Some 670 bird species have been found here along with 174 mammal species — jaguars, three-toed sloths, giant river otters, and red howler monkeys among them.

The lodge’s multiple excursions, with a range in length and difficulty, allow guests to create their ideal itineraries. Expert guides lead hikes, night walks, canoe trips, and boat rides. A nearby tree canopy bridge, built in partnership with World Bank and National Geographic, allows observations of forest life from above. And adjoining the bridge is the unique canopy tree house where guests can stay the night for an additional cost.

A visit to the lodge provides important ecotourism revenue to the area, helping to ensure its continued protection, which is a good thing because you’ll most certainly want to come back.