Tambopata National Reserve

Over on the rain-doused eastern ridges of the Peruvian Andes and well ensconced in the Amazon Rainforest, the Tambopata National Reserve is home to some of the country's most unique natural habitats. Due to its remoteness, it still sits in the shadow of Peru's Sacred Valley and other major tourist hotspots. However, visitors who do rumble over the jungle tracks to the reserve are often wowed by the sheer diversity of animal and plant life here, boasting 632 species of birds, 169 mammals and 1,200 butterflies..and still counting! Expect to see Jaguars stalk the undergrowth, peccaries snort through the bush, caimans snap in the waterways and opossums swing in the branches overhead; even more unique sights meet the eye at the Collpa de Guacamayos where a cacophony of thousands of brightly coloured macaws, falcons and parrots converge at the salt licks. The reserve takes its eco-tourism seriously, with permissions required to stay at any of its 20 registered safari lodges, many of which are in the popular Sandoval lake area. Dedicated Tambopata National Reserve tour guides, typically from the local Ese Eja ethnic tribes add to the authentic experience as they lead intrepid treks and boat trips into the wilds.