"We have had a really wonderful time with both of you with really intense periods.
This allowed us to properly disconnect from our daily lives and we proved that we can reconnect with the wonderful and fabulous nature we've discovered together. I was a old generation photographer and you made me discover the new technology.I going to do a three days photoshop training and try to be as good as you but that will be really difficult..!! - Christine and Dominique - France - Christine and Dominique - France
NOTE: There is an additional $60 per person charge for entrance into the national park.
DAY 1
Arrival & Reception by Photography GuideBecause, photography in the rainforest requires a lot of patience and luck, our photography guides
help with your equipment, provide subtle tips for improved use of blinds and maximize breaks with
the weather and wildlife.
Transfer Airport to Puerto Maldonado Headquarters
Upon arrival from Lima or Cusco, we will welcome you at the airport and drive you ten minutes to
our Puerto Maldonado headquarters. While enjoying your first taste of the forest in our gardens we
will ask you to pack only the necessary gear for your next few days, and leave the rest at our safe
deposit. This helps us keep the boats and cargo light.
Transfer Pto Maldonado Headquarters to Tambopata River Port
Skirting Puerto Maldonado, we drive 20 kilometers to the Tambopata River Port, entering the
Native Community of Infierno. The port is a communal business.
Transfer Boat - Tambopata River Port to Posada Amazonas
The forty five minute boat ride from the Tambopata Port to Posada Amazonas will take us into the
Community´s Primary Forest Private Reserve.
Boxed LunchOrientation
Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and
security tips.
Introduction to Photography Lecture
After lunch we will have a presentation about basic photography. Subjects such as aperture,
ISO and shutter speed will be covered. We will also learn about some specialized photographic
techniques and see sample.
DinnerNight PhotographyNight walks are great for photographing insects and frogs. We may be able to find praying mantis,
cicadas, leaf mimicking grasshoppers as well as huge toads, shiny green tree frogs and bizarre
horned frogs.
Overnight at Posada Amazonas
DAY 2
BreakfastPhotography at the PAL parrot clay lickThis clay lick is only a twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas. From a blind located about
twenty meters away you will see dozens of parrots and parakeets descend on most clear mornings
to ingest the clay on a river bank. Species such as Mealy and Yellow- headed Amazon, Blue-
headed Parrot and Dusky headed Parakeet descend at this clay lick. The clay lick is most active at
dawn and during the late morning and early afternoons. From the blind we have constructed next
to this lick, even the amateur photographer can take good pictures of these wonderful birds.
LunchPhotography from the TowerA thirty minute walk takes us to this 30 meter tall scaffolding tower, which will add a whole new
dimension to our Amazon birding experience: the forest canopy. We will wait for a canopy mixed
flock to appear. The mixed flock is mostly all about tanagers: Paradise Tanager, Green-and-gold
Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager, Turqoise Tanager, Opal- rumped Tanager and others. The
tower also offers good opportunity for Cream- colored Woodpecker, Gilded Barbet, Plum-throated
Cotinga and Striolated Puffbird. Macaws and toucans are seen flying against the horizon, including
the Chestnut-eared, Lettered, Emerald, Curl-crested, and Brown-mandibled Aracaries. We will see
lonely raptors riding the thermals. This is your best chance for hawk-eagles and even harpy!
DinnerPhoto Review SessionAfter dinner we have time to pick our best photos and load them into the computer for a slide show.
We will have time to analyze and talk about the day’s photography. Any questions about camera/
lens usage, composition etc. can be addressed.
Overnight at Posada Amazonas
DAY 3
BreakfastPhotography at Tres Chimbadas oxbow lakeTres Chimbadas is thirty minutes by boat and forty five minutes hiking from Posada Amazonas.
Once there you will paddle around the lake in a catamaran, searching for the resident family of
nine giant river otters (seen by 60% of our lake visitors) and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman,
hoatzin and horned screamers. The lake provides wonderful opportunities to photograph majestic
trees, water reflections and, if we are very fortunate, animal life. Although otters are frequently
seen, the distances at which they are sighted usually do not make for good photography.
Transfer Boat - Posada Amazonas to Tambopata Research Center
Six and a half hours by boat from Posada Amazonas, in the pristine heart of the reserve, lies the
Tambopata Research Center. As we cross the confluence with the Malinowski River, we will leave
the final traces of human habitation behind. Within the 700,000 hectare uninhabited nucleus of the
reserve, sightings of capybara, caiman, geese, macaws and other large species will become more
frequent.
Boxed LunchOrientationUpon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and
security tips.
Photography from OverlooksA three to five kilometer hike will lead us to overlooks commanding magnificent views of the
Tambopata winding its way into the lowlands. The forest on this trail, regenerating on old bamboo
forest, is good for Howler Monkey and Dusky Titi Monkey. The overlooks provide excellent
panoramic photo opportunities of the Tambopata winding its way down from the highlands. On a
clear day, it will even be possible to view and photograph the snow capped Andean peaks in the
distance. At each overlook we will have good chances of encounters at eyelevel at 30-50 yards
with large turkey-like birds called guans and chachalacas, or toucans, or macaws roosting on the
trees.
DinnerPhoto Review SessionAfter dinner we have time to edit and review our photos. Any questions about camera/
lens usage, composition etc. can be addressed.
Overnight at Tambopata Research Center
DAY 4Macaw Clay Lick Photography from the BeachOn most clear mornings of the year dozens of large macaws and hundreds of parrots congregate
on this large river bank in a raucous and colorful spectacle which inspired a National Geographic
cover story. Discretely located fifty meters from the cliff, we will observe Green-winged, Scarlet
and Blue-and-gold Macaws and several species of smaller parrots descend to ingest clay. Outings
are at dawn when the lick is most active. If the river is not swollen, thereby reducing the effective
beach area, photographers should have plenty of opportunities to shoot the typical clay lick
photographs from distances of 50-100 meters.
BreakfastPhotography in the floodplain forestThis five kilometer trail covers the prototypical rain forest with immense trees criss-crossed by
creeks and ponds. Amongst the figs, ceibas and shihuahuacos we will look for Squirrel, Brown
Capuchin, and Spider Monkeys as well as peccaries. TRC is located within this habitat. Photo
opportunities for all mammals and birds on this trail will be scant as visibility and lighting are poor
and animals timid. Our principal focus will be general rain forest shots as well as portraits of the
huge trees that are scattered throughout this forest.
LunchMacro Photography WorkshopTonight we get to venture into the jungle for nighttime macro photography. This lecture introduces
us to macro photography and some of the specialized equipment that is used to take these photos.
In addition to the top of the line Nikon 105mm VR macro lenses we have access to the amazing
Canon MP-E-65 lens. This rare extreme macro lens allows can zoom in so close that a 5mm
subject will fill the entire frame!
Photography on the Pond PlatformTen minutes upriver from the lodge is a tiny pond with a platform in the middle. It is a great place
for the late afternoon where we whiddle away the remains of the day as we spot waterfowl such
as Muscovy duck, sunbittern and hoatzin along with the woodpeckers, oropendolas, flycatchers
and parakeets that call this pond their home. Opportunities to photograph these beautiful birds will
abound, as the lighting and visibility of the pond is excellent and these birds´ habits are predictable
over short periods of time.
DinnerOvernight at Tambopata Research Center
DAY 5
BreakfastPhotography around the TRC clearingWe will photograph herps around the TRC clearing: frogs, snakes and lizards. TRC specialists will
have spent the past few days screening the vicinity for encounters with the most photogenic herp
species and will have prepared appropriate scenarios. The chicos, our flock of semi-wild, hand
reared macaws will provide additional photographic opportunities as they fly about around the
lodge.
LunchPhotography from the palm swamp towerAlthough macaws nest from October to April, there are different degrees of macaw activity at the
swamp year round. From this vantage point we can photograph Blue and gold macaws landing
and roosting on their nest holes in dead palms. The nests are all less than fifteen yards away, and
only a yard or two above eye level. As the sun sets behind the birds´ golden chests we will have
opportunities for close ups of superb quality.
DinnerNight PhotographyNight walks are great for photographing insects and frogs. We may be able to find praying mantis,
cicadas, leaf mimicking grasshoppers as well huge toads, shiny green tree frogs and bizarre
horned frogs. Along the way your photography guide will show you how to use your camera and
flash together to take amazing macro photos.
Overnight at Tambopata Research Center
DAY 6
Time - off
Time off to relax and enjoy the lodge surroundings, try out a new trail, or repeat your favorite
activity.
BreakfastTransfer Boat - TRC to Refugio Amazonas
A three and a half hour boat ride brings us to Refugio Amazonas.
Boxed LunchBrazil Nut Trail and CampA few minutes hike from the lodge is a beautiful old growth patch of Brazil Nut forest that has
been harvested for decades (if not centuries) where the precarious remains of a camp used two
months a year by Brazil Nut gatherers can still be experienced. We will be demonstrating the
whole process of the rain forest's only sustainably harvested product from collection through
transportation to drying.
DinnerPhotoshop and Bookmaking WorkshopWe again review and upload our best photos for a photo review session and are introduced to
book making software and Photoshop.
During the Photoshop part of the lecture we learn about levels, saturation, image sharpening,
resizing, transforming and RAW processing. We also get the chance to enhance some of our
favorite images.
We are also introduced to bookmaking software comes with Loads of pre-designed and
customizable layouts, a huge selection of fonts, and all the tools you need to make sophisticated
bookstore quality photography books. The software is connected to a print on demand service
allowing you to print your book when you are finished.
Overnight at Refugio Amazonas
DAY 7BreakfastTransfer Boat - Refugio Amazonas to Tambopata River PortTransfer Tambopata River Port to Pto Maldonado HeadquartersTransfer Puerto Maldonado Headquarters to Airport
We retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado, our office and the airport. Depending on airline schedules, this may require dawn departures.
NOTESIncludedProgrammes based on double occupancy. Includes all meal, accommodations, and services, all river transportation, and transfer from and to the airport of Puerto Maldonado.
Not IncludedInternational or domestic airfares, airport departure taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations, alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls or messages, reconfirmation of flights and items of personal nature.
Boat TransportationAll our boats are 20 foot long, roofed canoes with 55 hp outboard motors.
- Transfer-in (From Puerto Maldonado to Lodge): we have two departures daily at 13:00 and 14:30
- Transfer-out (Lodge to Puerto Maldonado) : Two daily departures at 07:00 and 08:00
For other schedule possibilities please consult us
Spanish:
- Traslado de llegada (Puerto Maldonado – Albergue): Tenemos dos traslados diarios a las 13:00 hrs. y 14:00 hrs.
- Traslado de salida (Albergue – Puerto Maldonado) : Dos salidas diarias a las 07:00 hrs. y 8:00 hrs.
Para otras alternativas de traslados por favor consúltenos.
We reserve the right to change the order of activities.
Although not valid for the rainforest part of Peru, we recommend that all foreign travelers bring their original passports in order to avoid the payment of national taxes (IGV 18%) at Hotels.
IncludedPrograms based on double occupancy. Includes all meal, accommodations, and services, all river transportation, and transfer from and to the airport of Puerto Maldonado.
Not IncludedInternational or domestic airfares, airport departure taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations, alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls or messages, reconfirmation of flights and items of personal nature.
Notes:
Programs to Refugio Amazonas : There is an additional $13 per person charge for entrance into the national park. This applies for tours to Refugio Amazonas Lodge
Programs to Tambopata Research Center : There is an additional $60 per person charge for entrance into the national park. This applies for tours to Tambopata Research Center Lodge
Lodge Transfers
- Transfer-in (From Puerto Maldonado to Lodge): we have two departures daily at 13:00 and 14:30
- Transfer-out (Lodge to Puerto Maldonado) : Two daily departures at 07:00 and 08:00 For other schedule possibilities please consult us
ESPAÑOLIncluido
Programas en base acomodación en habitación doble. Todos los transportes terrestres y acuáticos de acuerdo al itinerario. Traslados Aeropuerto – Albergue - Aeropuerto. Todas las excursiones con guía bilingüe. Re-confirmación de vuelos nacionales desde Puerto Maldonado. Comidas especificadas en el itinerario.
No Incluido
Vuelos internacionales o nacionales, impuestos aeroportuarios, exceso de equipaje, noches adicionales por mal tiempo o cancelación de vuelos, bebidas alcohólicas, gaseosas o agua mineral embotellada, snacks, seguro de cualquier tipo, lavandería, llamadas telefónicas nacionales o internacionales, reconfirmación de vuelos internacionales.
Notas:Programas a Refugio Amazonas : Hay un pago adicional de $13 por persona por la entrada al parque Nacional que aplica a los visitantes a Refugio Amazonas Lodge
Programas a Tambopata Research Center : Hay un pago adicional de $60 por persona por la entrada al parque Nacional que aplica a los visitantes a Tambopata Research Center
Transfer a los Albergues:
- Traslado de llegada (Puerto Maldonado – Albergue): Tenemos dos traslados diarios a las 13:00 hrs. y 14:00 hrs.
- Traslado de salida (Albergue – Puerto Maldonado) : Dos salidas diarias a las 07:00 hrs. y 8:00 hrs. Para otras alternativas de traslados por favor consúltenos.
Espanol
