Tambopata National Reserve (TNR)

From Puerto Maldonado you can visit the Tambopata National Reserve by travelling up the Tambopata river or down the Madre de Dios. The area was first declared a reserve in 1990 and is a very reasonable alternative for those who do not have the time or money to visit Manu. It is a close rival in terms of seeing wildlife and boasts some superb oxbow lakes. There are a number of lodges here which are excellent for lowland rainforest birding. Explorers' Inn is perhaps the most famous, but the Posada Amazonas/Tambopata Research Centre and Libertador Tambopata Lodge are also good. In an effort to ensure that more tourism income stays in the area, a few local families have established their own small-scale casas de hospedaje, which offer more basic facilities and make use of the nearby forest.