Natives Tour – 4 Days / 3 Nights

Day 1: Welcome to the jungle – First contact with the Amazon

Arrival in Puerto Maldonado and transfer to the lodge

Upon arrival at the airport, our team will welcome you and escort you to our office in town, where you can leave any luggage you won’t be using in the jungle. We’ll then embark for the lodge, sailing for about 40 minutes along the Madre de Dios River, a first trip that exposes us to the region’s lushness.

At the Corto Maltes Amazonia lodge, you’ll be welcomed with a fresh fruit juice. Your guide will provide instructions for your stay and escort you to your private, fully-equipped wooden bungalow.

Note: Passengers arriving after 1:00 PM will receive an eco-friendly box lunch instead of lunch in the dining room.

Afternoon: Jungle walk and Shiringuero camp

3:30 PM – We’ll begin an interpretive walk along trails within a 60-hectare private reserve. Your guide will point out medicinal trees, native plants, and animal tracks.

We will visit a replica of the Shiringuero camp , where latex from the rubber tree (jebe) is collected, and also a chestnut camp, a symbol of a responsible forest economy that still supports many Amazonian families.

Relaxation and first encounter with nightlife

Upon your return, you can relax by the pool, unwind in a hammock on your terrace, enjoy a tropical cocktail, or simply soak up the sounds of the jungle.

7:00 PM – We’ll set out by riverboat for a nighttime caiman safari . Using flashlights, we’ll explore the banks of the Madre de Dios River, where we can observe caimans and other nocturnal creatures.

Day 2: Sandoval Lake – Protected nature and forest viewpoints

Exploring Lake Sandoval

6:00 AM – We embark for Lake Sandoval , located within the Tambopata National Reserve . We’ll hike about 3 km through the forest to reach this wonderful body of water.

From rowboats, we’ll observe wildlife: giant otters , monkeys, exotic birds like the shansho, kingfishers, and anhingas, as well as reptiles and other species in their natural habitat. During the tour, we’ll have breakfast surrounded by nature.

Lunch and break

1:30 PM – Return to the lodge for lunch and a rest.

Afternoon: Forest viewpoint and more chestnut culture

3:30 PM – We’ll climb one of the lodge’s observation towers (20 or 42 meters high), from where we’ll have a spectacular view of the treetops and perhaps see birds or monkeys moving through the foliage.

We conclude the afternoon with a complementary visit to a chestnut camp to better understand how this important Amazonian product is harvested and prepared.

Day 3: Living Culture – Meeting with the Machiguenga Ethnic Group

Visit to the Machiguenga family

9:00 AM – This day is dedicated to a profound and intercultural experience. We will visit a Machiguenga family , one of the indigenous communities of the Peruvian Amazon. Through respectful interaction, we will learn about their way of life, traditions, clothing, hunting tools, language, and ancestral music.

They will show us how they use forest resources to make their tools, prepare their meals, build their homes, and dress, proudly sharing their cultural identity.

Visit to a family farm

11:00 AM – We’ll cruise down the river to a local farm , a small estate where an Amazonian family grows tropical fruits and native produce such as cacao, plantains, cocona, yucca, tree bread, lime, and noni. We’ll learn about their traditional, chemical-free farming techniques and sample some seasonal produce.

1:00 PM – Return to the lodge for lunch.

Free afternoon to relax, enjoy the pool, visit the boutique, or get a massage.

Day 4: Colorful sunrise and farewell

Parrot clay lick at dawn

5:30 – We walk about 20 minutes to a natural clay lick , where at dawn, various species of parrots descend to feed on the mineral-rich clay. This natural behavior is vital to their health and constitutes one of the most beautiful spectacles in the jungle: a festival of color and sound.

Breakfast and return to Puerto Maldonado

8:00 AM – Breakfast at the lodge. Then we sail back to Puerto Maldonado.

Visit to the local market and transfer to the airport

Before your flight, we’ll take a short guided tour of the local market , where you’ll learn about the products consumed by Amazonian families and gain a close-up look at daily life in this region. Then, transfer to the airport for check-in.