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Most Pristine Amazon Lodges (1 Viewer)

Ben88

Ben88

Well-known member
Which lodges in the Amazon are located in the most pristine habitat (that is, with the least historical hunting pressure and/or logging)? Which of those allow access without a guide?

The Tambopata Research Center in Peru is a good candidate (but a guide is required as last I checked). Cocha Cashu would be up there, but I don't think I can get there without a research permit. Any other suggestions?
 
Since no one else has responded let me suggest investigating the lodges in Guyana. Never been there, but the population is low and the lodges are hard to get to, which are good signs for what you are seeking. I've sometime seen the habitat there described as pristine. I suppose you could debate whether its "the Amazon," but its got a lot of the same wildlife in any event.
 
I think it must be said, that "pristine" is not always the best for birding. "Varied" is what we look for, for the highest number of species. Some lodges are more varied than others. So for instance, the tourist zone one visits in the Manu National park around Cocha Salvador with mainly floodplain forest and no bamboo, is actually less varied than for example Los Amigos, Manu Wildlife Center/Cocha Blanquillo area or even Amazonia Lodge. Cocha Salvador is less hunted and therefore good numbers of monkeys that don't fear humans are present. And occasional jaguars are more often along the river here compared to down river from Boca Manu.

My favorite lodge in terms of variation is Amigos Research Center - and it is also very good for mammals including the cute Emperor Tamarin.

I think it should also be said, that SE Peru (Manu, Tambopata, Madre de Dios, Piedras and Heath) is second to none, when it comes to wildlife in combination with birding, also taking into price and accessibility. And it can hardly become birdier. Take a trip from Cusco to Manu Wildlife Center and there are 1000 species of birds on the list and not uncommon to get 10 species of primates on a 8-10 day trip.

Anyone, interested in visiting, send me a message.
 
I thought I had subscribed to email notifications, but apparently not. It looks like a few of you had the same idea I had - my plan is to head to CICRA Los Amigos for a couple weeks later this summer. Emperor Tamarin is present, and no guide is required. There was historically hunting in the area, but apparently mammal densities are now as high as anywhere. However, they are still shier than in other locations. As such, I'm thinking of adding some time near Cocha Salvador. I'm in touch with Casa Matsiguenka but it's unclear if I can get a permit that lasts long enough for this to make sense

Some thoughts on the other suggestions:

Guyana - yes, very pristine. That's on my list of most-wanted destinations. However, most (all?) lodges seem to require guides.
Shiripuno - I read somewhere that it was starting to get hunting pressure.
Palmari, Exploronapo - I thought all of the lodges is the Iquitos/Leticia region had lower mammal densities due to historical poaching. I think the ebird maps for Razor-billed and Salvin's Curassows are good proxies for this.

The Brazil lodge looks interesting.

Maybe Tiputini Biodiversity Station?
 
Last edited:
Birding Peru said:
I think it must be said, that "pristine" is not always the best for birding. "Varied" is what we look for, for the highest number of species. Some lodges are more varied than others. So for instance, the tourist zone one visits in the Manu National park around Cocha Salvador with mainly floodplain forest and no bamboo, is actually less varied than for example Los Amigos, Manu Wildlife Center/Cocha Blanquillo area or even Amazonia Lodge. Cocha Salvador is less hunted and therefore good numbers of monkeys that don't fear humans are present. And occasional jaguars are more often along the river here compared to down river from Boca Manu.

My favorite lodge in terms of variation is Amigos Research Center - and it is also very good for mammals including the cute Emperor Tamarin.

I think it should also be said, that SE Peru (Manu, Tambopata, Madre de Dios, Piedras and Heath) is second to none, when it comes to wildlife in combination with birding, also taking into price and accessibility. And it can hardly become birdier. Take a trip from Cusco to Manu Wildlife Center and there are 1000 species of birds on the list and not uncommon to get 10 species of primates on a 8-10 day trip.

Anyone, interested in visiting, send me a message.
Click to expand...

Los Amigos is a great suggestion! I think I'll do that for birds, plus maybe Cocha Salvador for mammals. Do you know if it's possible to get a permit to visit the Cocha Salvador area for more than four days?
 
I can definitely recommend Tiputini Biodiversity Station. I've not been to Amazonian lodges in other countries, but Tiputini is remote and unhunted - most of the monkeys are tolerant of observers, Salvin's Curassow were a nearly daily sight. There are fewer habitats around than you might see in other lodges, but the terra firme rainforest is fantastic, and there is a small lake with some riparian specialties.
 
Ben88 said:
Los Amigos is a great suggestion! I think I'll do that for birds, plus maybe Cocha Salvador for mammals. Do you know if it's possible to get a permit to visit the Cocha Salvador area for more than four days?
Click to expand...
Yes, if you like mammals, you could well do a Cocha Salvador visit. It is a beautiful area. To visit more than the three-four days of a standard tour would be prohibitively expensive as of the certified operators have fixed departures only once a week, even if it is possible . The alternative could be Manu Lodge, which would have more regular tours in and out I presume. But that is also the most expensive lodge in the region.

We have been offering in the past a tour which starts in Cusco and goes via Manu Wildlife Center and ends in Amigos, which does give you a lot of wildlife and all the ecozones between 4000m to 350m above sea level.

One could customize a trip to also include Cocha Salvador area but it is a long side trip and from a birders point of view mostly not worth it. If you have a group of say 4-5 people it would be more feasible money wise.
 
Ben88 said:
Does anyone know anything about the new "Manu Birding Lodge" near Manu Wildlife Center?
http://www.manubirdinglodge.com/about/locations.html

I may have figured out a way to get to Cocha Salvador. I'll post here if it works out!
Click to expand...

After doing more research, "Manu Birding Lodge" appears to be a new name for "Amazon Manu Lodge." How do the birding and mammal-watching compare between here and Manu Wildlife Center? They are located quite close together, but there seem to be more records of a couple of the more difficult bamboo specialists at Manu Birding Lodge/Amazon Manu Lodge. On the other hand, I can find references to Goeldi's Monkey being present at Manu Wildlife Center but not at the other lodge (though this might be due to greater coverage at MWC?). MWC's tapir clay lick is famous, but AML/MBL also has one (is it as reliable?).
 
Ben88 said:
After doing more research, "Manu Birding Lodge" appears to be a new name for "Amazon Manu Lodge." How do the birding and mammal-watching compare between here and Manu Wildlife Center? They are located quite close together, but there seem to be more records of a couple of the more difficult bamboo specialists at Manu Birding Lodge/Amazon Manu Lodge. On the other hand, I can find references to Goeldi's Monkey being present at Manu Wildlife Center but not at the other lodge (though this might be due to greater coverage at MWC?). MWC's tapir clay lick is famous, but AML/MBL also has one (is it as reliable?).
Click to expand...

No, it is not. I am guessing it is the lodge next door to Amazon Manu Lodge. Originally this area was also included in the Amazon Manu Lodge, but the two owners could not agree what direction to go with the lodge and thus the land was split.

Amazon Manu Lodge has a great tower, good bamboo and good cabins. However, recently they could not attend our clients simply because they did not have enough business, and would not open up for just two nights.

I have not yet stayed "on the other side" but I hear from our guide that it is quite OK. Whether, one would have access to the bamboo and the tower I don't know.

As a place to stay with access to the macawlick and the Giant Otter lake of Cocha Camungo (both run by Tambo Blanquiilo and needed to be booked through them) it should work just fine.

Saludos
 
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