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AMAZON RAINFOREST LODGES |
 Lapuna tree |
We will be staying at two Rainforest Expeditions lodges. After decades of searching through dozens of lodges, these places come out shining on top:- These Ecotourism award winning lodges have been built with lumber from trees that have been swept into the main rivers. The cane of the walls is also often river swept and quickly re-grows thus it is an extraordinarily bio-recyclable material. |
The Posada Amazonas Lodge is owned jointly by Rainforest Expeditions and the indigenous Ese Eja tribe living in a nearby village. Many tribal members are employed at the lodge. Far upstream, in the depths a vast Amazon wilderness, we will stay at the Tambopata Research Center that has played a key part in the Tambopata Macaw Project. Because these wild lands were traditionally not hunted and today are a preserve our chances of seeing wildlife are much better than most other tourist visited rainforest habitats. http://www.perunature.com/home.php There are certain places through out the rainforest that are wonderfully (relatively) bug-free; both of the lodges are built in such zones. ~ Tambopata Research Center |
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It should come as no surprise if you run into biting bugs in the Amazon - it's a rainforest out there. If you are going to use chemical bug repellent 100% DEET is the one, but it is best used on your clothes, not your absorbing skin, amongst other side effects it can cause confusion (go figure). Citrus-based natural repellents help some. Avon's skin-so-soft also helps some, but it has a strong Avon type smell not especially congruent to the rainforest experience. moment. The best of protection, especially during high bug hours, are simply long sleeves and long pants. An over-hat bug net can bring some ease too. The next step deterrent is simply a bandana swished about like a tail. The bugs will really back off from that one... for a Perfumed laundry soap, face soaps, shampoo, deodorants and such are attractors. ~ Comfortable Accomodations at the Tambopata Research Center |
I use good old Dr. Bronner's peppermint and a citrus-based shampoo the first day to wash the city off. Followed by a swim in the rainforest water and then lemon juice all over. For the next few days of camping I use only lemon to bathe with, and apply it though out the day as well. It actually feels very good in the steamy rainforest, my skin loves it and I seem to do as well with the bugs as those using repellents. ]No matter what you do some of the buggers are gunna get through to ya, an after-bite application such as Sting-Eze helps to sooth the situation. The Amazon natives will often just wait until they land and then slap. Until then they don't get much bugged by the buzzers. It's an attitude thing that results in environmental agreement and a worthy skill for visitors to practice on. (Yeah, yeah, yeah... sometimes they'll just drive you nuts. Our comfortable lodges can make a welcome sanctuary). ~ Macaws at a clay lick |
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