Our conservation hubs in Peru are home to ecolodges where conservation-minded tourists can visit the Amazon to explore and discover the outstanding biological and cultural diversity of this magical forest.
Our three ecolodges are strategically located in one of the richest biodiversity gradients in the world, right between the regions of Cusco and Madre de Dios in southeast Peru. Spanning an altitudinal gradient from 760 to 9,900 feet (230 to 3,000 meters), they are located near major tourist attractions like Machu Picchu, Manu National Park, Choquequirao, and one of the most famed birding roads in the world – Manu Road.
Our picturesque ecolodges are cozy and comfortable, and offer a wide variety of activities and trails to help you take full advantage of the diverse habitats you’ll be exploring. They also enable you to see research, conservation, and sustainable development projects in action, all while enjoying the beauty of the Amazon.
Wayqecha is one of the world’s best sites to explore the lush cloud forest ecosystem that supports thriving populations of birds, amphibians, and mammals.
LOCATION
4 Hours from Cusco City, near the south entrance of Manu National Park in the region of Paucartambo, Peru.
ELEVATION
6,500 to 9,875 ft. above sea level
MAIN FEATURES
Canopy walkway, cloud forest, incredible views of the Andes, orchid trail
Nestled in the Andean foothills, perched between the mountains and the lowlands, Manu boasts over 25 miles of trails spanning a wide variety of habitats, including lowland rainforests, lower montane forests, bamboo patches, streams, rivers, and waterfalls. The lodge neighbors several indigenous Wachiperi and Machiguenga communities, including some that offer visiting opportunities.
LOCATION
7 Hours from Cusco City, southeast border of Manu National Park in the region of Kosñipata, Peru
ELEVATION
1,700 to 3,940 ft. above sea level
MAIN FEATURES
Sustainable agriculture, on-site fish farm, opportunity to visit indigenous communities
Los Amigos is part of a watershed that includes millions of acres of protected wilderness, including palm swamps, bamboo thickets, oxbow lakes, and various types of flooded and non-flooded forests. Wildlife is abundant, including 12 globally threatened species, 11 primate species, and over 550 bird species.
LOCATION
1 hour drive and 4 hour boat ride from the city of Puerto Maldonado in the region of Madre de Dios, Peru, situated where the Los Amigos and Madre de Dios Rivers converge.
ELEVATION
760 to 890 ft. above sea level
MAIN FEATURES
Unmatched wildlife, oxbox lake, lagoon, boat accessibility
With us, you can create your own educational adventure in Peru based on your interests, time frame, and budget. Whether you are interested in wildlife watching, nature photography, birding, camping, hiking, or visiting indigenous communities and hidden gems, you can explore and learn about different facets of the Amazon. Our social enterprise Amazon Journeys helps you develop a fully customizable itinerary at our ecolodges that will make this the trip of a lifetime. Best of all, by choosing to visit our ecolodges, you are directly supporting the very forests you explore and can see for yourself our conservation work in action.
We were recommended Wayqecha by an Amazon Conservation Association colleague, for its setting, the birding and its mission, which supports ACCA Peru in conservation efforts. 4 family members including 2 senior citizens with mobility concerns stayed at Wayqecha for 3 nights in December 2019. The lodge staff and our guide and driver were very helpful and accommodating with our needs. We spent a full day birding the road down into the valley and it was a legendary as expected. We also did the orchid trail, canopy walk and spent time just enjoying the frenzy of hummingbirds at the lodge feeders; all of these activities were accessible and enjoyed by the whole party. We were only in Peru for 2 weeks, but the cloud forest ecosystem captured my heart. The epiphytes, diminutive flowers, dripping lichen, rushing streams, drifting clouds and bird life (which is not nearly as difficult to see as in the lowland jungle) were a flora and fauna wonderland. Thank you ACA, ACCA and Wayqecha staff for showing us this little gem. I only wish we had had time to stay at the other properties.
-Wayqecha ecolodge visitor review
Manu is an outstanding lodge that offers an unforgettable experience for tourists, birders, adventurers, students, and scientists alike. It is owned and operated by the Amazon Conservation Association (ACA/ACCA), which is dedicated to safeguarding the surrounding Amazon forest and providing an integrated approach to sustainable tourism and habitat protection. Manu is an essential destination for those looking to experience the beauty and bounty of the Amazon.
I spent 9 days in this excellent lodge in November 2018 and enjoyed every minute of it. The lodge is a very friendly one offering very good accomodation and food to die for as well as cold beer after a long day in the forest. This is one of the few lodges offering the possibility to walk alone and discover the forest by yourself. You get a very good map and you can hardly get lost and the trails are very well maintained which made walking easy and silent. The forest is teeming with wildlife. I was primarily interesting in mammals, so I looked almost only for them and found all diurnal monkeys I was looking for as well as others. Already at 5 am, on most mornings, I was awoken to Dusky Titi Monkey feeding in the bushes in front of my bungalow. A lot of wildlife came through the camp which was great. I will for sure be back!
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1012 14th Street NW · Suite 625 · Washington DC 20005 · USA
202-234-2356 / info@amazonconservation.org
