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Refugio Amazonas

Our rating

9/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Immersive Amazon experience
- Best for adventurous travellers
- Activities for all ages, great for families
- Mountain biking, cruises, jungle walks

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Overview

The Peru Nature Portfolio comprises a number of lodges within Peru's Tambopata National Reserve. This chain of lodges provides guests with the chance to gain first-hand experience of what the vast Amazon Rainforest has to offer and immerse themselves in some truly spectacular natural surroundings. Of all the options within the chain, Refugio Amazonas offers the broadest menu of things to see, do and experience, and has plenty to offer for all age groups making it an excellent choice for families. Situated on the edge of the reserve, the lodge is reached via a three-hour motorised canoe ride up the Tambopata River to its picturesque and peaceful setting amidst pristine rainforest.

There are 32 rooms, all opening out onto the surrounding rainforest and offering a generous amount of space. Bedrooms are separated from one another by light cane fencing, with drapes instead of doors so while they are private, they are not soundproof. Amenities include hot water (available at all times), a mosquito net, electrical lamps and outlets, and complimentary eco-friendly toiletries. Note that rooms are open to the jungle, and it can be hot so this property is best suited to adventurous travellers. An electricity generator is turned on once a day to recharge batteries and lodge facilities. Note that although light is provided by numerous kerosene lamps and candles, it does get very dark at night so we recommend bringing good torches.

The food consists of self-service three-course cooked meals, with a selection of Peruvian and international dishes. Specific dietary requirements are catered for and unlimited sterile drinking water, coffee and tea are provided, as well as fruit juice with meals. There's a second story 'loft' above the dining room furnished with plenty of hammocks for that all-important relaxation time and wild animals, including monkeys, are often visible from the lodge.

There’s a huge variety of immersive and enriching group activities on offer, ranging from paddle-boarding and kayaking trips up the river, to mountain biking sessions, hikes to clay licks, sunset cruises, night walks through the jungle and visits to nearby farms where staff grow their own produce. Guests have the unique opportunity to learn about the area’s incredible biodiversity and its fascinating flora and fauna. A particular highlight is the chance to join the 'Wired Amazon' research project - those who opt to do so have the opportunity to study the rainforest from above by drone, set camera traps to capture photos of various animals and maybe even discover a new species. Private excursions can be arranged for an extra charge. A number of massage treatments are also offer for an additional fee.

Of the three lodges in the chain, Refugio Amazonas is the best for families. Many of its activities are child friendly and there are even some tailored in particular to youngsters, such as the rainforest trail for 4 - 10 year olds, along with the lovely on-site playground. It goes without saying that parents should keep an eye on their children at all times due to the lodge’s remote rainforest setting.

Suggested Itineraries for Refugio Amazonas

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 544 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • I just wanted to say thank you so much for organising such an amazing holiday.
    We absolutely loved it, even though Jessica was ready to give up walking for good ????
    Our guide, Mustafa, was great. Really helpful, friendly and informative.
    We loved all the accommodation, and especially the first night and the Riad.
    All of the staff at every location were so friendly and helpful.
    Thanks again for organising such a great trip.

    MissingRebecca H reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Holiday on 09 April 2026

  • Thank you yet again for another meticulously organised and executed holiday (our 5th with you). Every aspect worked perfectly.
    Please could you pass on our sincere thanks to your agent in Sri Lanka; Lakshita, our driver and guide, absolutely made the trip for us - he was so keen for us to have the best experience possible. He was organised, kind, interested, punctual, the car was always spotless, and he was an excellent driver. His extensive knowledge was really appreciated by us and was exactly what we had hoped for in a guide. I think the highlight for us was our day in Anuradhapura (7 hours of absorbing history and culture), but there was so much to learn and absorb every day. He also made several suggestions for things that he thought we might like that weren't in our itinerary, and then booked them for us. These included an ayurvedic massage after climbing Sigiriya, a cultural show (an hour of touristy fun!), reef snorkelling with turtles (a real highlight for me - I wish we could have stayed all day), a lagoon boat trip and visit to a cinnamon island, a turtle sanctuary visit, and a gemstone factory visit. He also managed to get us a private tour of Lunanguga, which Peter thoroughly enjoyed. We also really enjoyed the tea factory tour.
    Our guide for the hike was also really excellent, and he and Lakshita made sure that our day was perfectly tailored to our (my) ability.
    All our accommodation was also perfectly selected. Our favourite was the Ceylon tea trails bungalow (just perfect!), but The Villa Bentota came a close second as a perfect way to relax at the end of the trip. Our villa and the grounds at Uga at Ulagalla were also beautiful.
    (Our only slightly disappointing day was the whale watching - no whales wanted to be seen on that particular day, plus I was very sea-sick despite taking meds! The tour organisers offered us a repeat day the following day, which we declined! Having said that, being out on the water was still enjoyable, up to a point...).
    I'm sure I've missed out something - we basically loved it all and felt that the balance of the itinerary was perfect for us (we used the 'rest' day in Galle to do the snorkelling, lagoon, and turtles)
    Thank you very, very much.

    Missingfiona g reviewing Sri Lanka Highlights - Classic on 27 March 2026

  • Nicola and I had a brilliant time - the weather made it pretty
    challenging at times, but Mustafa and Mohammed looked after us
    superbly. We loved the variety of scenery and places - as you mention,
    the only downside is the rubbish in the villages, such a shame. The
    meals that Mohammed drummed up on the hillside tracks were amazing - I
    am glad we knew that our mule would eat the leftovers because there was
    no way we could finish them! The standard of the breakfasts were far in
    excess of the bread and jam you mentioned, even in the basic gite which
    was freezing - we were warm once in bed, but the temperature in the
    living room was a bit depressing after a very windy descent, sitting
    wrapped in coats, hats and blankets while we waited for our dinner! The
    sleeping bags provided were excellent and we were toasty with our fleece
    liners and an extra blanket. We were very grateful that Mustafa's boss
    upgraded us to the eco lodge the next night (don't know whether this was
    because of the gale force winds on our descent the day before...) - it
    was lovely.

    We were incredibly lucky with precipitation - although we were walking
    in a few inches of snow on day one and it absolutely poured that night,
    we experienced no rain during the day until we were lining up for our
    farewell photo at our pickup point, when the heavens opened!

    Due to the weather, I think I'd describe the terrain slightly
    differently - a few good paths, but often we were on very stony ground,
    slippery wet mud (oh, that clay does stick to one's boots!), slidy thin
    gravel or else just making our way down a hill after rain had washed the
    original route away. Occasionally we walked short distances on roads,
    which Mustafa was apologetic about, but it was hardly the M6! We took
    our time and never felt unsafe, but people with dodgy knees or hips
    might need to be careful. Mustafa looked after us very carefully in the
    high wind gusts (as a sailor, I reckon at least Force 9 - over 50 mph on
    a bare hillside), promising Nicola that he wouldn't let her mother blow
    away!

    Although we needed to be back in Marrakech on the fourth night, I think
    if I were going again, I would prefer to trek for four days and spend 3
    in Marrakech, which I found a bit overwhelming, but this is just
    personal taste!

    Our room in Daar Housnia was lovely, and we appreciated the heating -
    the rest of the building is definitely built for summer! There seemed
    to be some confusion over our arrival - the manager said we had
    originally been booked into the downstairs suite with double bed and
    bath in the middle of the room, but that he thought it was more suitable
    "for two ladies, not a couple" to upgrade us to exactly the room you had
    shown us photos of! The breakfasts were delicious. The wifi was fine
    for Nicola's meetings.

    MissingMonica S reviewing Morocco Trek & Marrakech Holiday on 16 February 2026

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