Why real nature tours?
A: Our tours are focused on nature and wildlife in the natural habitat; we try to stay away from activities that involve safety issues and are meant for sports rather than Nature; the activities for Sports- fun are zip lines and canopy- walks, as activities that have practices of dubious ethics, like Monkey island, which is a place where two pet monkeys are overfed by dozen of tourist a day, there are also “native families” that we don’t visit because is fake, we also understand that this activities are offered a lot, especially in tours you can buy locally, we are a tour operator for people who want a real amazon experience boosted by locations where you can see the most and the best wildlife, upgraded by comfortable transportation and superior lodging
WHAT TO BRING
For all our tours, you will need to repack and bring only the essentials. Your main luggage will be stored at our office, as all luggage is carried by hand up and down to the boat and the rooms. Please avoid bringing wheeled luggage; backpacks and duffels are the best options.
WE DON’T PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH CARRYING LUGGAGE
Mosquito repellent: On average, 15% DEET works very well, always in spray form. Natural mosquito repellents usually don’t work well, but DEET has been proven to work.
Flashlights: Headlamps recommended
Sandals or flip flops: these are for boat trips and to be inside the lodge, where shoes are not allowed; sandals are perfect for hot days
A Hat or a cap with a string, since the wind in the boat can blow it
Plastic rain poncho: Please keep in mind that rain jackets do not work in the rainforest; the best option is a plastic poncho.
Long socks: for the rubber boots we provide in the rainy season, when trails are muddy or flooded.
Bottle for refilling water: We are committed to eliminating plastic wherever possible. We don’t provide one-use bottles; we have plenty of filtered, treated water for refills.
Due to the humidity, bringing a windbreaker is handy since it might get very cold on the boat, especially in the wind.
Long and short clothes: Short clothes for the lodge and long for the hikes and boat trips.
I heard a lot about Sandoval Lake; why is it so Popular?
A: Most of the tours offered online or locally are located in the Madre de Dios River, it is relatively close to the city and the jungle is very poor and/or degraded, very limited in wildlife, which is why there are plenty of offers of sports activities such as zipline, hanging bridges, kayak, rescue center and others, Lake Sandoval is located in this area and is the best place in that area where you can see monkeys in their wild , as well as alligators, birds and occasionally giant otters, it is a mandatory place to visit if you visit the Madre de Dios River area to see wildlife, which is why it is included in almost all the itineraries of that area, however the Tambopata River area where we do our our trips and where Our exclusive Finca Sachavacayoc is located its the epicenter of wildlife of our region, all the lodges focused on nature and wildlife are on the Tambopata River, the wildest lakes, all the fauna of Lake Sandoval x2 and much more such as the clay licks, macaws, capybaras and options to see rare animal life, if you visit the area of the Tambopata River with lakes like Condenado and Sachavacayoc ans Specially Tres Chimbadas Lake it is entirely no necessary to visit Lake Sandoval, Sandoval lake is the most crowded amazon lake in a protected area of Peru
When is the best time to travel to the Amazon?
A: At any time of the year, in the Amazon jungle, there are only two seasons, the dry season and the rainy season; in our years of experience, rarely has the rain impeded our excursions. Each season has its beauty and challenges.
In what season can we see more animals?
A: As there is no drastic change in temperature or droughts, Amazonian animals do not migrate. They are year-round residents, and some species are more easily seen in the dry season, while others are more easily seen in the rainy season. Generally, the chances of seeing wildlife are the same in any season.
How easy is it to see wildlife?
A: Wildlife is unpredictable, but there are places like oxbow lakes where the animals have a particular habitat and are common dwellers; it is relatively easy in lakes like Condenado and Sachavacayoc to see a variety of monkeys, Cayman, an abundance of birds and high chances of observing giant otter and even anacondas, at our lodge Finca Sachavacayoc you sometimes can see tons of monkeys passing by, up to 5 species just in the surrounding of the gardens, the Amazon can be a frustrating experience to see wildlife if you go to the wrong place, and a wonderful place if you go to the right one. “In the Amazon, it is not about where you go, it is about who you are going with.”
Is Malaria a problem? Should I take malaria tablets?
A: The area where we operate has not reported any malaria cases for 25 years. There are no reported cases in the whole region. Malaria is not a native disease of the Amazon it was introduced in the 15th century by the first Europeans (they got it from Asia) consequently is not found in the Amazon wildlife; it is not a disease found in our local animals, the deeper you go in the amazon the safer you are, The best prevention against any blood-sucking insects is a good insect repellent with DEET in it, Malaria its carried by humans and passed from human to humans by some mosquitos.
Is the vaccine against yellow fever necessary?
A: Depending on the country you come from, your government may require the vaccine when you go back to your country; the Peruvian government has not required the vaccine since 2002; the requirement for the vaccine was for the attempt to eradicate the disease, not for being a risk
I want to see monkeys. Where is the best place to do that? I read about Monkey Island.
A: The best place in the Tambopata National Reserve to see monkeys is around oxbow lakes, such as Condenado Lake, Tres Chimabdas Lake, and Sachavacayoc Lake. Up to seven species of monkeys live in the wild and are utterly careless about humans. On our tours, you can usually see a lot of monkeys.
Monkeys in most places throughout the Amazon are afraid of humans, especially along the river banks where farmers eat them. Monkey Island is an island in the middle of the river that covers 4 square miles; there are from 2- to 4 pet monkeys that people feed, they can get very aggressive if you don’t give them food, those monkeys are spoiled monkeys by all meaning, we don’t visit this place for ethical reason, the name “monkey island” it’s used as hype.
How about kayaking, zip-lining, and canopy walking?
A: In most places located by the river, where wildlife is minimal, companies push those activities; in most areas, when they highlight those activities, it means that you will not see much wildlife if you are into having fun and spending time with other people sometimes in large groups then those options are for you, but if you want to have an authentic wildlife experience watching animals in their real habitat then we are the one for it, zip-line and canopy walks are not regulated activities, and consequently there are not insurances for it, and in some cases not even legal protection in case of accidents.
What happens if the flight gets delayed?
No matter what, we will wait for you until it arrives, we will reschedule extra shuttles or logistics for you, we will track the flights on our side, and we will know. You don’t need to head up to us.
How much luggage can we bring?
We highly recommend that you bring only what is needed for the nights in the lodge. We avoid bringing wheeled luggage because our transport is not friendly to it. Additionally, we don’t provide porters; you carry your luggage. Duffles or backpacks are best; we lend duffles if needed. Your main luggage will be stored in our headquarters.
How easy is it to see anacondas or jaguars?
The best lake to look for anacondas is our exclusive Condenado Lake 2, located inside the Tamboapata National Reserve. The chance of seeing them is 20%, the highest in the Peruvian Amazon. Jaguars are a bit more complicated since there is no specific place. Still, the best opportunities are when we navigate up and down the Tambopata River, currently the chances of seeing jaguars is 5%, however until 2018 the chances were 60% this was mainly due to the abundance of white-lipped peccaries, Tambopata had a considerable population of these animals, devourers of bugs, roots and fruits on the ground, peccaries are one of the main prey of jaguars, But apparently they ran out of food since there were so many of them. They decided to do something very rarely reported: they migrated! They dispersed to other places. Currently, no peccaries are reported in the Tamboapata River area, and the jaguar population has also dispersed. This has considerably reduced jaguar sightings. Unfortunately, some operators still use data from that time to promote Tambopata as having a high chance of seeing them; however, this is totally incorrect today.
Currently, there is no lodge with “higher chances”; if you read that somewhere, it’s a gimmick!
Some specialists suggest that white-lipped peccaries migrate for an average of 10 years. We are waiting for them to return so we can increase our jaguar sightings. White-lipped peccaries usually move in large groups, from dozens to hundreds.
What if I want to do more activities, but I don’t want free time?
Our itineraries are very comprehensive in terms of activities; we visit areas with the highest probability of wildlife sightings. For additional activities not mentioned in the itinerary, some factors should be considered:
We respect the labor laws of our country. The itinerary determines our guides’ working hours, and they also need time to rest. So, you should be able to consult with the guide regarding overtime work or hiring a second guide. All of this incurs an additional cost, which includes the guide’s fees, extra entrance fees to attractions, and additional operating costs, all subject to availability.
What if I have a flight that arrives at 8 am and departs at 5 pm? Can I go straight to the lodge and leave late?
As this is a shared service, we must wait for all participants that day. The latest flight we expect and recommend is the one arriving at 12:55 pm from Cusco. In a remote location, specialized, customized transportation is not possible. We must respect the lodge’s check-in and check-out times, which operate similarly to hotel schedules. Additionally, we design the itinerary to begin between 1 and 2 pm, which is the best time to see wildlife while navigating the river. This is by far the best time to start a tour in the Amazon. Our schedules and itineraries are designed with you in mind to ensure you have the best possible experience. The best time to start and finish tours in the Amazon is at midday or earlier, not later. However, you can take early or late flights; we will assist you fully until the tour begins.
How about AC? Do you offer AC?
Jungle lodges are located in remote areas to be closer to wildlife centers. We don’t have access to the regular electrical grid; we have to produce our own energy through generators or solar power. This is a significant limitation for high-energy-consumption equipment. Therefore, there are no lodges in remote Amazonian locations with air conditioning. There are some places with one or two rooms with AC, but they usually charge exorbitant prices for it, without any added value. There are hotels near the city with AC because they are connected to the regular electrical grid. We are one of the few lodges that provide ceiling fans in all common areas and rooms, all powered by solar energy. For AC, we would need hundreds of solar panels, dozens of high-power lithium batteries, redesign the cabins with insulation, and charge at least $1,000 USD per night. All of this is unfeasible in the current market.
If you have more questions or need clarification, please don’t hesitate to email us at reservas@toursjunglepro.com. The more questions, the better!!