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Inclusive Package
- Domestic flights in Peru
- 3 nights accommodation
- All Transfers
- All Meals
- All Activities & Excursions
- Specialist Entomologist Guide
- Amazon Basin
- Arequipa & Canyon Country
- Central Highlands
- Cusco & Machu Picchu
- Huaraz & The Cordilleras
- Lake Titicaca
- Lima
- North Coast
- Northern Highlands
- South Coast
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Butterflies of the Amazon
Blue Morpho
Butterflies of the Amazon
Tambopata in Peru’s Amazon is a butterfly lover’s paradise with the largest number of registered species of butterfly in a single location.
This specialised Amazonian butterfly jungle tour offers the opportunity to go in search of Amazonian butterflies in the company of a specialist entomologist.
A variety of baits are used in different habitats to attract various species of butterfly.
Accommodation on this itinerary is at Refugio Amazonas.
At a glance:
- Return Airfares from Cusco
- 3 nights Refugio Amazonas
- All transfers
- All meals
- All activities & Excursions
- Specialist Entomologist/Lepidopterist Guide
Please note that we are able to tailor make this trip to suit your interests and requirements. Flights have been included from Cusco in the costs but can be excluded or amended to flying from Lima - just let us know your requirements.
Day 1: Tambopata
You will be transferred from your hotel in Cusco or Lima for the flight to Puerto Maldonado.
On arrival you will be met by an entomologist with ample experience in the collection and identification of Lepidoptera. From the airport it’s a 10-minute drive to Puerto Maldonado headquarters for the boat transfer into the Rainforest.
There is a weight restriction, so it is important to pack only the gear you will need for the next few days. Remaining luggage will be safely stored at the lodge HQ in Puerto Maldonado.
From here it’s a 20 km drive to Tambopata River Port, entering the Native Community of Infierno before boarding the boat to Refugio Amazonas, which is a 2.5-hour journey.
Butterflies of the Tambopata river and beaches, which there is a chance of seeing from the boat at any point in the trip include: Anteos menipps, Phoebis philea, Philaetria dido, Eurytides spp., Papilio thoas, Callicore cyanosura, Callicore astarte, Baeotus beoutus, Baeotus deucalion, and Uranius spp.
A boxed lunch will be provided and on arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips. After dinner at the lodge, head out on a boat trip in search of Caiman.
The boat will cruise close to the river’s edge, scanning the shores with headlamps and flashlights to catch the red gleams of reflection from caiman eyes.
Overnight at Refugio Amazonas. All meals and activities included.
Day 2: Tambopata
After breakfast visit an Oxbow Lake.
Paddle around the lake on a canoe or a catamaran, in search of lakeside wildlife such as hoatzin, caiman, horned screamers and otters, which are sometimes seen here. You will certainly be rewarded with overhead sightings of macaws. After lunch head out in search of butterflies on the floodplain forest.
Along the mature floodplain forest there is a chance of observing Morpho achilles, Morpho melenaus, Parides neophilus, Parides sesostris, and Parides vertumnus.
At the farthest end of this trail, where it passes its only swampy portion, any of the following butterfly species may be seen: Calligo eurolochius, Caligo ileoneus, Caligo idomeneus, Catoblepia xanthicles, Pierella hortona, Pierella lena, Cithaerias pireta, and Haetera piera. After dinner enjoy a night walk, when most of the mammals are active, but of course difficult to see.
Easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories.
Overnight at Refugio Amazonas. All meals and activities included.
Day 3: Tambopata
A fifteen-minute boat ride and sixty-minute walk from Refugio Amazonas is a clay lick used both by parrots and parakeets.
From a blind you will be able to see parrots and parakeets (such as Dusky headed and Cobalt winged Parakeet ) descend on most clear days to take in the clay.
With luck, the early morning rush will also reveal Mealy and Yellow-crowned Amazons, Blue-headed Pionus, Severe macaw and Orange-cheeled (Barraband`s) Parrot.
The lick is visited at dawn, when parrots are most active or in mid-morning or early afternoon, when they are also quite active. If visiting in the early morning, return to the lodge for breakfast.
Twenty minutes by foot from Refugio Amazonas is a peccary clay lick. These wild rain forest pigs show up in herds of five to twenty to eat clay in the late morning.
The chances of spotting them are around 15%, but well worth the short hike regardless, as other wildlife often shows up including deer, guan and parakeets. From the Clay Lick, return to the lodge for lunch.
A thirty-minute walk from Refugio Amazonas leads to the 25-metre scaffolding canopy tower, where a staircase running through the middle provides safe access to the platforms above.
The tower has been built on high ground, increasing the horizon of the continuous primary forest extending out towards the Tambopata National Reserve.
From here views of mixed species flocks over the canopy as well as toucans, macaws and raptors are likely. After dinner, enjoy a lecture prepared by the staff of Refugio Amazonas, covering issues such as conservation threats, opportunities and projects in the Tambopata National Reserve.
Overnight at Refugio Amazonas. All meals and activities included.
Day 4: Puerto Maldonado
After breakfast, transfer by boat back to Puerto Maldonado HQ.
A short walk from the airport is the Japipi Butterfly Farm and Exhibits, where farmed butterflies are displayed in a giant forest enclosure.
This is a nice way to finish the Amazonian butterfly journey before flying on to your next destination.
Remember that all of our tours are completely tailor made and we can adjust this itinerary to entirely suit your interests and schedule.
4-Day Butterflies of the Amazon:
- 3 nights from £905 pp
Includes
- Domestic flights
- All taxes
- Accommodation in Traditional Double Room
- All meals
- Boat and road transfers
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary
Not includes
- Alcoholic drinks & bottled water
- Insurance
- Personal expenses and tips
This is a guide price only, based on travel in low season.
Prices will vary according to availability of airfares on the dates of travel and seasonal hotel and airfare surcharges.
Please ask us for any current special offers.
Contact Us:
All of our Peru Holidays are completely tailor made and we can put together any kind of itinerary to suit your interests and budget.
Call us now to speak to a Peru holiday expert about your Peru holiday or honeymoon to Peru.
Call us now on 0333 7000 747
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We're open from 9 until 9 daily and our 0333 number is a local rate number included in most call packages.
