Posada Amazonas

Posada Amazonas is a luxury resort hidden in the middle of an ecological reserve. Sure, the electricity is off for part of the day, but: The staff are all enthusiastic and friendly, the food is incredible, and you can't beat sitting on the walkway watching the monkeys, wild turkeys, and pale winged trumpeters, among others. The tours available from here showcase a lot of the flora, fauna, and culture of the Tambopata region, with passionate expert guides (thanks, Boris, aka "Happy"!)

Staying at Posada Amazonas was an unforgettable experience for our family. We felt fully immersed in the rainforest—its beauty, wildlife, and magnificent plants and trees. Our guide, Josmell, made it all come alive for us and our three teenage kids. His deep knowledge of the Amazon was remarkable; he could identify any sound we heard and instantly tell us which bird or animal made it. From giant river otters to three species of monkeys, to dozens of bird species including several macaws, every outing was amazing. The lodge itself is truly unique, open to the rainforest. At first, we weren’t sure how we’d feel about the open design, but we quickly appreciated how it allowed us to experience the sights and sounds around us. Be aware that rooms are not only open on the fourth wall but also share an open, arched ceiling with other rooms in your section—so sound does carry if neighbors are talking. Guests are assigned to a small group (about 8–10 people) with a guide for the duration of their stay. You share meals and activities with this group, which we enjoyed. In our case, everyone had similar interests, and the lodge was flexible—when one couple wanted to do the sunset cruise while we did the canopy tower, they simply joined another group for that activity. While not a fully private experience, the format worked very well for us. We had been concerned about diseases spread by mosquitos and other insects, but visiting in the dry season (August) meant there were surprisingly few mosquitos—mostly at night during rainforest hikes. Bug spray was sufficient, and we never felt the need to use the face nets we had brought. Perhaps most meaningful was knowing that Rainforest Expeditions (that operates Posada Amazonas) is a joint venture with the local community, with lodge income shared to create a sustainable alternative to slash-and-burn farming. It felt good to know that our visit directly supported conservation and livelihoods in the region.

Access to this alleged resort is via two unstable, muddy and dangerous staircases, around 170 steps, much of which is unrailed and unstable. You are greeted by piles of building material and a long, unnecessary walk just to arrive at the “front”, when a quicker and safer option is available. All rooms are more like boarding school cubicles without ceilings so that you can literally hear everything that goes on in other bed and bath rooms. The rooms themselves have only three walls so that every critter in the jungle can join you! And probably will. The power is intermittent and finally turned off at 10 pm (bit like boarding school or prison). If you like this sort of thing, go camping. Definitely do not book for a honeymoon. Intended to stay three nights and quit after two.

A lot of places around the world say they are "Eco Lodges", but Posada really lives up to the name. The lodge itself, the guides, the organisation, and the food. All great. Note the week we were there- first week of July was unexpectedly cold. The guests were cold, and the birds not flying as much as expected.

When we arrived we didn’t expect to walk almost a mile uphill on old unsafe wooden stairs from the river narrow boat This lodge is really jungle rustic out there - expect monkeys running through your room and big hairy tarantulas The staff were generally poorly trained and inattentive Buffet style at all meals for very basic tasteless fare I got gastroenteritis during our visit here We had an awful time Northern Amazon in contrast was amazing