Tambopata National Reserve - Peru

In February 2009 we flew into Puerto Maldonado, Peru. From there we took a 20 minute drive in an open-air bus and a 30 minute boat trip down the Madre de Dios River to the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, an eco-lodge just off the river and adjacent to the Tambopata National Reserve. 

We took two walks into the jungle right next to the eco-lodge, one during daytime and one at night; a walk into and then a canoe ride on Lake Sandoval, in Tambopata National Reserve during a deluge; a night-time boat ride on the Madre de Dios; and a canopy walk on the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway. Lots of heat, humidity, rain, green everywhere, big bugs and beautiful birds. We did not see as much wildlife as I guessed we would, but what we did see was pretty spectacular. 

Brown agouti on the grounds of Inkaterra.

Pale owl butterfly at night on our night walk. 

A large snail on our night walk.

A millipede on our night walk.

Pinktoe tarantula on our night walk.

Some sort of katydid on our night walk.

Catesby's snail-eater snake on our night walk. 

A monkey of some sort, probably a type of capuchin, early on our night walk. 

A social flycatcher on our hike into Lake Sandoval. 

Plum-throated cotinga

Speckled chachalaca on our day walk. 

A blue and gold macaw on our walk into Lake Sandoval.

Black-tailed trogon up in the canopy. The only good bird sighting we had there, but a real beauty.

Hoatzin at the edge of Lake Sandoval.

Spectacled caiman - seen from a boat at night on the Madre de Dios.