What Is The Tambopata National Reserve?

Tucked away deep within the Peruvian Amazon Jungle, the Tambopata National Reserve is one of the country’s best-kept secrets. 

Home to rare animals such as Jaguars and Giant River Otters, it’s a unique part of the Amazon where we can explore Clay Licks and tranquil lakes.

In this guide we’ll explore what the Tambopata National Reserve is, as well as why it’s worth heading to. We’ll also answer any burning questions you may have in our FAQ section.

What Is The Tambopata National Reserve?

Quick Answer: This expansive area of rainforest is found in the extreme south-east of Peru, close to both bordering Bolivia and Brazil.

Covering a total area of over 1050 square miles, the Tambopata National Reserve is a diverse area of the Amazon Jungle. Inside we can find oxbow lakes, the winding Madre de Dios River as well as unique ecosystems for spotting specific animals (such as Macaws and Tapir).

Overall it’s a unique area to visit within the Amazon Jungle, and is a great addition to any trip around Peru regardless if it’s the dry or wet season (especially for those who are visiting nearby Cusco).

Reasons To Visit The Tambopata National Reserve

Let’s now take a look at some of the best highlights of the Tambopata Jungle, and why you’ll want to visit this diverse region.

Visit Sites Which Are Unique To This Region Of The Amazon Jungle

Whilst we can see oxbow lakes in other parts of the Amazon Rainforest, the Tambopata National Reserve has some of the highest concentration of these picturesque lakes on the planet. This makes it easy to get to them on tours, where we can spot everything from Macaws to Caiman who come to feed and relax in these lakes.

See A Variety Of Exotic And Rare Animals

The Tambopata National Reserve is also a great place to spot a variety of animals. It’s estimated that there are over 200 species of mammals, 600 species of birds as well as 1000 species of butterflies to keep your eyes peeled for. On our Multi-Day Jungle Tour you will have a great chance of seeing many of these, where our experienced guides will take you to some of the best animal-spotting areas of the Tambopata Rainforest.

Enjoy Panoramic Views Of The Jungle And Amazon River

Regardless if you visit in the dry or wet season, you can get some really incredible views of the Tambopata landscapes. One way is to climb up a canopy tower to look up and over the green foliage, whilst you can also head on a canoe down the Amazon River for the most thrilling experience.

What Is The Tambopata National Reserve FAQ

Here we’ll now answer some of the most frequent questions we get about the Tambopata National Reserve.

Is Tambopata In The Amazon?

Yes, the Tambopata National Reserve is located within the Peruvian region of the Amazon Jungle. Given its location (and now big the entire Amazon Jungle is), this means that this area has its own unique landscapes as well as endemic animal species. 

How Do You Get To Tambopata National Reserve?

Given it’s located in quite a remote part of Peru, we’ll first need to head to the city of Puerto Maldonado by bus or plane. From here we can then embark on a variety of tours that take us into the heart of the Tambopata National Reserve. You can learn more about how to get to Puerto Maldonado here.

Overview Of The Tambopata National Reserve

And that’s all for this guide on what the Tambopata National Reserve is.

This incredible region of the Amazon Rainforest is growing in popularity, and is becoming a great alternative to Iquitos for those who want a quieter, more authentic jungle experience.

Are you ready to book your own dream tour to the heart of the Tambopata National Reserve? Have a look at our incredible 4 Day Jungle Tour where you will get the most complete experience.