Tambopata Research Centre is a basic yet comfortable 18 bedroom lodge in the middle of the uninhabited portion of the Tambopata National Reserve, and adjacent to the Bahuaje National Park. It is just 500 metres from the world’s largest known macaw clay lick. With its remote location, small scale and the presence of researchers, Tambopata Research Center provides an excellent base for the in-depth exploration of the rainforest.
The Centre was built combining traditional native architecture and materials (wood, palm fronds, wild cane and clay) with modern, low-impact, eco-lodge technology. It consists of four interconnected buildings which house the bedrooms, dining area, kitchen and service facilities. The 18 rooms are arranged in doubles and triples, with one open wall facing the forest providing permanent contact with nature. Bedrooms are equipped with mosquito nets, bedside tables and hammocks or lounge chairs. Bathrooms are shared, with cold water showers and flush toilets. The small bar and dining room also doubles as a meeting room. Buffet meals combine international, Peruvian and local cuisine. Vegetarians are welcome. Tambopata Centre is illuminated by windlamps and candlelight and there is a generator for recharging batteries. Sea kayaks are available for hire.
The lodge is in the uninhabited heart of the Tambopata National Reserve, where the surrounding wilderness is untouched and the endangered wildlife is stable. Guides are young, English-speaking Peruvian biologists and in addition the presence of professional researchers at different times of the year may present ample opportunity to interact with them. Walks on trails are kept at a 6:1 tourist to guide ratio, increasing wildlife encounter opportunities.
The macaw clay lick is a huge 50 meter tall cliff of reddish clay that extends for about 500 meters along the west bank of the Tambopata River. From the beach about 50 metres from the clay lick it is possible to observe dozens of Green-winged, Scarlet and Blue-and-Yellow Macaws, and several species of smaller parrots. Macaws visit the clay lick throughout the year, but they are seen in largest numbers from July to September. During the nesting season nesting Blue-and-yellow and Red-bellied Macaws can be observed from a 20-metre scaffolding tower in a palm swamp. Semi-wild hand reared rescued macaws also regularly visit the lodge clearing. There are numerous trails through a variety of forest types giving the opportunity to see a range of rainforest wildlife including monkeys (for example Spider, Brown Capuchin and Dusky Titi), peccaries, and tapir, and the lodge bird list is over 480 species.
Owing to its remote location a stay at Tambopata Research Centre must be combined with a stay at Refugio Amazonas.
