Refugio Amazonas Lodge

We loved our stay at Refugio Amazonas. We lucked upon a quiet week so there were only about 10 guests total. Meals were simple, but healthy and tasty. Really good considering how far from anywhere the lodge is. We participated in all the activities we could and enjoyed them. The only potential sticking point (that we didn't not experience) is that when you arrive you are put in a group and that is your group for the stay. As a group you need to determine the activities you will do. This could be a real challenge if you have domineering group members, or members with different interests. We didn't luckily. When we returned from excursions there were cold drinks and a snack waiting. The evening talks were all interesting. The room was great, sat watching some monkeys in the trees for an hour one afternoon! We had not issues with mozzies, though we did spray and repel all day every day just in case. The shower was perfect-no idea if it even has hot water as it was cold showers only due to the heat!

We spent four nights in this Amazonian eco lodge near the Tambopata River. It was an incredible experience made better by the Lodge itself. From the pickup at the Puerto Maldonado airport to bringing us back to their admin office near the airport it was all first class. It is expensive, but worth the price. Food was amazing. Rooms were well appointed. The guides were top calibre. Many activities to choose from inclusive of the famous Clay Lick on the river. We learned so much and saw so much flora and fauna that can only be experienced being in the jungle. The lodge has great employees and they are all trying to make this a unique and memorable time. Highly recommend this lodge that borders their national park.

We stayed at the Refugio Amazonas Lodge for 3 nights in July. This was planned as the last leg of our 13 day Peruvian family vacation (there were 4 of us), and we still couldn't decide what we love more: Machu Picchu or the Amazon jungle experience. Paul was our guide, and being a native of the Tambopata region, he is very knowledgeable about the animals, insects, and medicinal use of native plants in the area. Refugio Amazonas has a list of activities for guests to pick from each day, which includes taking a boat out to the clay lick for macaws, hiking out to the observation tower above the forest canopy, night hikes, medicinal plant tour, etc. Paul added his own flavor to these activities, including luring out a tarantula from its den, pointing out the cicada nests, and showing us the jaguar tracks. It's amazing how he can recognize the sounds of so many species of monkeys and birds, before they come into view. Back at the lodge, we enjoyed the hospitality of the staff and the meals. One of the highlights was watching the baby crested eagle in its nest. We went back two days in a row to observe the very rare baby eagle, and really enjoyed talking to the biologist stationed at the lodge. This place is a real gem for anyone who is a first-timer to the Amazon!

The Refugio is a beautifully established place to stay and experience the rain forests of the Madre De Dios region in Peru’s Amazonian rainforest. The rooms are open and airy and comfortable and the food was excellent, as was the well-stocked bar. We really felt we had spent time in the rain forest and not just as visitors but as residents. We were well-cared for from arrival to departure and very happy with our guides, Dennis and Alan. The activities - hikes, crafts, lecture, boat trips - are well thought out and fully occupied our days. Be aware that in May-August the “friaje” can make this a cooler place and so equip yourself accordingly - raincoats and fleeces - but they have boots to borrow for days when the ground is wet or muddy.

Beautiful all-inclusive resort in the middle of the Amazon jungle in the Madre de Dios Region. Paul the guide was very knowledgeable and taught us how to survive in the jungle, knew how to call the various animals in the jungle and the botanical properties of a lot of the plants and trees.

Our stay in the lodge was one of the highlights of our trip. The lodge itself is beautiful, magical almost, with rustic open rooms providing a comfortable but immersive jungle experience. I especially loved the bathrooms, showering with the deliciously scented shampoo and shower gel provided whilst the jungle sounds were all around. (The heat meant multiple showers a day were necessary!) The food was some of the best I have eaten in Peru, and was plentiful. We especially loved the spicy salsas and packed breakfast for our early morning excursions. It was great to be able to unwind with a cold beer too, especially at the interesting pre dinner scientific talks. Our guide Boris was great- knowledgable and fun, and his keen eye made sure we saw lots of monkeys, capybara, caiman and spiders as we walked around. The excursions did have to all be agreed by the group you are assigned to, but luckily our group all seemed to have similar interests, and Boris was great at advising which ones he thought would suit all of our needs. The clay lick and oxbow lake trip were both once in a lifetime experiences. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a stay at this lodge, and would love to return some day. It is important to note that no matter how comfortable the lodge is, it is in the jungle so of course it is hot, humid, full of insects and does require a certain level of physical fitness, so I would suggest that anyone booking any stay in the Amazon considers whether their own needs would be compatible with a jungle stay before doing so. Some of the other more negative reviews do seem like they hadn’t considered the practicalities of visiting the jungle beforehand.