Amazon Shelter — Attraction in Tambopata

An absolutely amazing experience! We volunteered for the day and we are so glad we did. They arranged a driver to collect us and our luggage from the airport and take us straight to the shelter so we could maximise our time (cost of the transport was 40 soles each way). Upon our arrival we were introduced to the current vet (an amazing and passionate guy who also speaks English), who then proceeded to explain the history of a number of the animals in the centre and who explained how we would be helping them during the day. We got to enjoy feeding baby birds, an injured sloth, a baby capybara, deer, and numerous varieties of monkeys. We helped sort, prepare and deliver the food, clean the animal cages, and clean up the used food containers.

The owner of the shelter was a clear champion for animal rights and safely.

Volunteering for the day costs 150 soles and includes lunch (which was very tasty!). For the memories that we will hold and cherish from this experience, it was definitely worthwhile - in addition to knowing you have done a little to help out such a worthwhile organisation. If you don't have a full day (or more) to volunteer, or if volunteering is not your thing, you can just visit the centre for a couple of hours too (not sure how much that costs). They don't get government assistance, and caring for so many animals is expensive (they had around 100 animals in total when we visited), so you can feel good by going and knowing your funds are directly going to assisting the beautiful animals they...

Volunteering at Amazon Shelter in Puerto Maldonado was a truly rewarding experience. The team deeply cares for the animals and works tirelessly every day to give them a second chance at life. It’s incredibly fulfilling to help—feeding monkeys and other animals, cleaning enclosures, and supporting a wide range of meaningful projects.

The shelter’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release wild animals that have suffered from illegal trafficking, deforestation, and hunting. Many arrive injured or traumatized, and the dedicated staff creates individual recovery plans for each one. The experience opens your eyes and raises awareness about the harsh reality of animal abuse in the Amazon.

What inspired me most was the passion of Magali, the founder, and her team. They also work to educate both locals and visitors on the importance of protecting the rainforest and its wildlife. Despite serious challenges—limited space, scarce funding, and many animals needing care—the shelter continues its work with heart and determination. However, donations are crucial to keep this mission going.

I can only encourage everyone to support special places like this. It’s not about entertainment like many other places —it’s about making life better for...

Amazon Shelter is run by a very hardworking team who accept animals that local authorities rescue from the illegal pet trade. They specialize in howler monkeys but will take any animal that local police bring to them. They work hard to release animals as soon as possible, partly because that's their mission and partly because the authorities often bring more animals than they can house. This is a great place to learn about local wildlife and a fantastic place to volunteer. I highly recommend it for a one-hour tour or a one-month volunteer stay.

To get there by taxi, find a taxi that knows the Titanic bar & restaurant that's about 10 minutes outside of town. From there, it's only another 5 minutes down the same road to a fork where there's a sign for Amazon Shelter, pointing to the right. From there, in about 5 minutes the road ends at a T and you go left. In less than a minute you'll see the gate on the left. It's a dirt road but most taxis in Puerto Maldonado can get there just fine. I took a motorcycle taxi without...