Rafting on the Tambopata River

An exciting rafting expedition on the Tambopata River, crossing the tropical rainforest, in one of the most remote places in Peru at the Tambopata Candamo National Park.

The Tambopata River is part of the Amazon basin, a river with clear waters considered the finest in Peru, a tributary of the Madre de Dios River, known for its impressive rapids, with a tropical, warm, and humid climate, and the opportunity to enter an uninhabited territory with the great biodiversity of the Amazon.

This acoustic adventure takes place in the northern part of the Puno department bordering Bolivia on the edge of the Amazon plain, south of the Madre de Dios department in the Tambopata Candamo National Park. It offers the possibility of passing through different regions of Peru, such as the Altiplano, the Andes, the High and Low Jungle, spending most of the navigation days completely isolated from civilization.

The journey starts in Puno, in the town of Putina Punku located north of Sandia, and descends through the tropical forests to the Amazonian plain of Madre de Dios, passing through the Bahuaja Sonene National Park and the Tambopata National Reserve. The trip takes between 7 to 9 days, surrounded by lush vegetation and the diversity of plants, trees, birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects. All of this is experienced in one of the most remote corners of the Peruvian jungle, the Tambopata Candamo Reserve.

Route to get there:

• Juliaca - Sandia - Putina Punku

You will travel by bus to Juliaca, Puno, and from there cross the Altiplano towards the Carabaya mountain range, descending towards the pre-Inca town of Cuyo-Cuyo, then continuing the journey descending into the jungle towards the town of Sandia and onwards to Putina Punku, finally reaching the waters of the Tambopata River. This is where the rafting adventure begins, at a place called San Juan del Oro or Putina. Before starting the journey, you must prepare all the necessary rafting equipment and attend the safety briefing before embarking on the expedition, descending the Tambopata River.

• Tambopata River to Távara River

The Tambopata River changes as it penetrates deeper into the jungle. At the beginning, the river is narrow, with many class I, II, and III rapids. As you descend, the volume of the Tambopata River increases, encountering class IV rapids. After several days of rafting, you will enter the Tambopata Candamo National Park, silently floating through the Amazon jungle, providing a great opportunity to observe a variety of animals such as monkeys, capybaras, tapirs, armadillos, turtles, caimans, parrots, giant river otters, and if lucky, jaguars and anacondas. At the end of each day, you will camp along the banks of the Tambopata River.

• Távara River to Puerto Maldonado

At the end of the journey, you will cross the Távara River, arriving in the Amazon plain where you will have the opportunity to visit the Macaw Clay Lick, which can be reached by motorized boats or canoes. Then, with a motorized boat, you will descend the Tambopata River to the city of Puerto Maldonado, from where you can return to Lima or Cuzco.

Youtube Video: Nomadex

Season: The best season is between June and October. There is a section of the upper Tambopata River where rafting can be done all year round, as the difficulty level is minimal, located in the lower part of the river.

Expedition Duration: This rafting expedition lasts approximately 7 long days, navigating on a raft.

Rafting Difficulty: Moderate, no experience required.

Recommendations:

• Yellow fever vaccine
• Sleeping bag and mat
• Insect repellent, sunscreen
• Windbreaker, Swimsuit, Sandals, Rain gear
• Binoculars, Flashlight