Current as of: April 27, 2025 - 12:14
Premium Amazon Rainforest Extension (from Cuzco) Trip Notes
- Destination: Peru
- Programmes: Trip Extensions
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Activity Level:
2 out of 7 - Easy & Moderate
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: XPCP
- Carbon Footprint: 73kg CO2e
Trip Overview
Explore the world’s largest rainforest, while staying in the land of the indigenous Ese Eja community
Immerse yourself in the Amazon, staying on a private concession managed by the indigenous Ese Eja community. Pick and choose your adventures of discovery, following jungle trails, navigating the meandering Madre de Dios River by boat or rising early to experience the croaks and calls of a just-waking rainforest. The chance to stay at Posada Amazonas, a jungle lodge with just 30 rooms, means you’ll be right in the action, while the expert local guides bring the Amazonian flora and fauna to life better than anyone else.
At a Glance
- 3 Premium nights (Posada Amazonas)
- Travel by boat, on foot and one internal flight
- Activities accompanied by expert local guides
- Price from £1,699 (per person, shared room and travelling together)
- Single supplement from £365
- Sole traveller supplement from £365
- This extension runs on a shared basis with Exodus and non-Exodus guests
Highlights
- Fall asleep to the sound of the jungle, spending three nights in a Premium lodge
- Explore the dense rainforest and its waterways on foot and by boat
- Look for giant river otters, wild boar, capybara and a variety of monkeys
- Spot tropical birds, such as parrots, macaws, hoatzin and kingfishers
- Learn about the diversity and medicinal properties of the vegetation
Is This Trip for You?
Itinerary and activities: This three-day journey is a suggested itinerary. Activities and excursions can be chosen on an à la carte basis on arrival at the lodge and are subject to change depending on weather conditions at the time of your visit. Activities and transfers to/from the lodge may be shared with other lodge guests.
Walking: There are some walks along jungle trails, which, although well marked, can be muddy following rain. The walks are not particularly physically demanding but you should have a reasonable level of fitness.
Climate: The rainforest is generally hot and humid in the daytime and the high humidity can be uncomfortable at times, although nights and early morning and evening can be a little chilly. Mosquitoes are present and are particularly active after it has rained and at dawn and dusk.
Timings: There are some very early starts as the wildlife is often most active at dawn and dusk when the temperature is cooler.
Wildlife: We cannot guarantee wildlife sightings. Many creatures are more elusive during rain and some activities may be postponed or altered depending on the weather or river levels for safety reasons. Your guide may assume you don’t want to go out in the rain but, if this is not the case, please let them know to make sure you don’t miss out.
Accommodation: Given the remoteness of the lodges, there is no mains electricity and service at mealtimes can be quite relaxed. Only the main buildings have power for a few hours a day. Lighting in your room will be by torch (flashlight) and lanterns/candles.
Group
There is no Exodus tour leader on this extension and no Exodus group as such. You have the services of a driver for any road transfers and a local specialist guide from the rainforest lodge.
The local guide meets you at Puerto Maldonado airport and travels with you to the lodge. The same person is normally your guide throughout your stay in the rainforest, accompanying you on excursions and activities. You are also given the contact details of our local partners in Peru in case of emergency.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 1
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Cuzco hotel
- End City: Puerto Maldonado Airport
Land Only Itinerary
Fly to Puerto Maldonado • To Amazon lodge by boat • Enjoy treetop views from Canopy Tower
Collected by a driver from your hotel, transfer to Cuzco airport in time for the early morning flight to Puerto Maldonado.
After arrival, drive for one hour to the Tambopata River, where you board a boat for a one-hour cruise down the waters, enjoying your first taste of Amazon cuisine on the way.
Arriving at the riverbank, climb a staircase, followed by a short walk through the rainforest – a journey that marks the beginning of your stay in the Amazon!
In the afternoon, hike to the 130ft (40m) high Canopy Tower, where platforms above the treetops offer spectacular views of the vast forest and Tambopata River. Look for toucans, parrots and mixed-species canopy flocks.
Before dinner, enjoy a lecture to learn more about the incredible biodiversity and conservation efforts in the Amazon.
To Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake • Learn about medicinal plants • Night walk
Start early to benefit from the cooler morning hours, when the Amazon wildlife is most active. Take a 30-minute boat ride followed by a 45-minute hike to Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake, where you can paddle on a catamaran, looking for giant river otters (seen by 60 percent of visitors) and other lakeside wildlife, such as caimans, hoatzins and horned screamers. Also visit Centro Ñape, a community organisation keeping traditional medicinal practices alive.
Before dinner, attend another lecture on different aspects of the Amazon’s unique ecosystem; after dinner, embark on a night walk – nocturnal mammals are often active but rarely seen, while frogs with unique shapes and sounds are easier to find.
See colourful parrots and parakeets at the clay lick • Hike and farm visit
Visit the parrot clay lick in the morning, where dozens of parrots and parakeets descend to ingest the clay from the riverbank, creating a spectacular display.
Then embark on a two-hour hike from Posada Amazonas, culminating in the shadow of a majestic giant ceiba tree.
You could also visit a farm in the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno, where the owner cultivates a wide variety of Amazonian crops. Discover how almost every plant and tree serves a unique purpose, reflecting the rich agricultural traditions of the region.
After dinner, learn about current research projects aimed at identifying new rainforest species, and understand the importance of this work for global biodiversity.
Transfer to Puerto Maldonado Airport
As your adventure comes to an end, it’s time to say goodbye to the Amazon rainforest and our hosts, taking your return journey to Puerto Maldonado Airport.
Accommodation
Posada Amazonas Lodge
Our lodge for this adventure is deep within the Amazon rainforest, on a private concession owned by the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno.
The property itself has a bar and massage facilities, while the rooms have a private bathroom and an open wall facing the forest, allowing you to immerse yourself in nature.
Your stay includes three meals daily, tea, coffee, guided excursions and activities, refreshments upon arrival, and transfers to and from the airport.
Food & Drink
All meals are included during your Amazon stay. 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 & Seasonality
While the Amazon Rainforest is generally warm and humid, it can be subject to drops in temperature, especially in June and July. We recommend taking some warm clothing to the lodge in case of sudden weather changes.
Joining Instructions
Getting to the lodge
A car collects you from your Cuzco hotel early in the morning and takes you to Cuzco airport to catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival, you are met by a guide at the airport, who accompanies you by river to the lodge.
Please note: When flying to the Amazon, we recommend you pack a change of clothes suitable for the rainforest (and your essential items) in your hand luggage in case your checked baggage does not arrive with you. In this event, you should contact the lodge representative and the airline desk for assistance, and they will arrange for your luggage to catch up with you.
Catching your return flight
On the last day of the extension, you are transferred to Puerto Maldonado airport, where the extension ends – if booking your own flights, you should not book an onward flight from Puerto Maldonado departing before 1pm at the earliest.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Cuzco hotel
Location end: Puerto Maldonado Airport
What To Take
Essential Equipment
Bring a backpack to carry what you need for the jungle, limiting your packing to essential items only. The rest of your luggage is left at the lodge’s office in Puerto Maldonado upon arrival in town. It is stored securely while you are in the jungle.
We recommend you pack the following for the rainforest:
- Water bottle
- Light-coloured long-sleeved cotton shirts or long-sleeved T-shirts for excursions (birds and wildlife avoid bright colours)
- Long lightweight trousers (not jeans)
- T-shirts and shorts for around the lodge
- Rain gear (a raincoat or poncho is always useful)
- Warm clothing in case of a sudden cold snap and for early morning boat excursions
- Walking boots for the excursions (if the trails are muddy, you can use/hire rubber boots from the lodge)
- Socks (two or three pairs)
- Sandals for wearing around the lodge
- Sunscreen, sunhat/cap and sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Swimwear
- Personal toiletries
All bedding, mosquito nets (or mesh windows), and towels are provided at the lodge.
Optional Equipment
- Binoculars
- Camera
Practical Information
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
Vaccinations and Health
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.
Local Time
Peru's time zone: America/Lima (UTC -05:00)
Electricity
Peru’s electricity: Plug types A (two flat pins), B (three pins: two flat, one round) and C (two round pins) – 220V, 60Hz
Please note, there is limited electricity in the cabins.
Money
Peru's currency: Peruvian nuevo sol (PEN)
ATM Availability
There is an ATM and currency exchange desk at Puerto Maldonado airport but it’s easiest if you bring some money from Cuzco.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
There isn’t a huge amount to spend money on in the rainforest as all meals are included, but you should bring a nominal amount with you from Cuzco for buying drinks, tipping and incidentals.
Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory but can make a big difference to those working in the local tourism industry – we suggest you carry small notes of local currency around as you go.
As a guideline, we recommend the following amounts:
- Local guides: US$2-US$3 per day
- Drivers: US$1-US$2 per day
Sustainability and Impact
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
Important Information
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Important Information
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
How to Book
- Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
- Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
- Complete your booking and payment
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.