Las Piedras Amazon Center - LPAC — Hotel in Tambopata

My family (2 adults and 2 teenagers) were booked on a 7 day family volunteering trip at LPAC this Summer and have had an incredible time in this most pristine of rainforest locations. We booked through Working Abroad in the UK, a not for profit organisation who were incredibly helpful from start to finish.||||Having arrived at Puerto Maldonado by air from Lima we rested overnight and were then transported by bus (c 2.5 hours) and boat (20 minutes) to LPAC. We joined a small group of researchers and volunteers at the camp, involved in a range of activities from monitoring Mammals or Reptiles to being part of the Range programme. This was a friendly and welcoming group.||||We slept on a platform with roof, but no walls, in beds surrounded by mosquito nets. It was a fantastic adventure for the whole family, not least being woken by the sound of howler monkeys in the trees around the platform. We were advised to wear closed toe shoes and did encounter some snakes and spiders but never felt in any danger from them. Near to our platform was a cold water shower (refreshing in the middle of the day!) and composting toilet. Food was served in the massive communal area and was very nutritious- 3, large wholesome meals each day with plenty of fruit and vegetables, frequent chicken and fish but no red meat.We did need to cover up during our daily activities (long sleeved shirts and trousers) and imagine it would be hot in the summer, but was not too bad during this Winter period due to the shade from the canopy of trees overhead.||||On the family volunteering programme we had a coordinator at camp who scheduled our activities.Julio spoke excellent English and shared so much information about the plants, birds and animals across the week. Some of our activities included accompanying some of the researchers on their projects, tracking animals such as monkeys (howler, tamarind and cappucine) ; counting caimens along the riverbank and reviewing footage from the camera traps around the site. We also helped clearlng the foilage from a section of the camp using our machetes, and planting palm trees. Other activities included a hike to a beautiful viewpoint for sunset, wading down the stream looking for kingfishers, taking a boat to swim in the waterfall and play volleyball in the river, visiting a clay lick to watch Scarlet macaws feeding, checking out animal tracks and visiting a local cocoa plantation to understand the process of harvesting cocao beans. There are so many trails around the camp and so many opportunities to spot wildlife. We also enjoyed a couple of night walks, spotting frogs, snakes and tarantulas!||||This is such a special place within the Amazon - we didn't spot any tourists across the week. It is isolated, secluded and a real opportunity to connect with nature. Thank you to Dave who runs the camp for allowing us to share this place, to those researchers who shared their programmes with us and of course to Julio for all his guidance across the week and Vicky/ Charlotte for...

I just returned from two weeks at the Las Piedras Amazon Center (LPAC) in the Madre de Dios region of Peru. LPAC is a non-profit run by a group of like-minded scientists, students, interns and volunteers whose mission is to protect LPAC's eleven thousand acre tract of primary forest and to educate the public regarding the need for biodiversity and habitat protection. Working with local people they are also building sustainable economies, respectful of the surrounding forest.||||I went as a ‘volunteer’ in their Tropical Fungi Program* but they have ‘Eco-tourism’ programs as well—all offering authentic rain forest experiences. Having been an eco-tourist previously at numerous lodges, I chose to volunteer during this visit in order to kick my rain forest participation up a notch with a more hands on approach. LPAC delivered exactly the experience I had hoped for. Besides the experience of this beautiful natural setting and the satisfaction of helping a worthwhile cause, a bonus was the feeling of having joined an extended family. While I was there, we had folks from Israel, Canada, The U.K., South Africa, Peru and the U.S. including me (grandson of a Welsh coal miner).||||At meal times we shared stories of our day and what we saw or accomplished. During my two weeks, along with their on-site mycologist, Melanie Desch, we catalogued about 200 different fungi (it is estimated tropical rain forests host between 2 - 6 million types so we have a way to go!). Our family included herpetologists (reptiles) and primatologists (monkeys in the Neo-tropics) as well as adventurers and photographers but even as we focused on our specialties we all shared in the sightings of unusual and interesting animals and plants.||||The first walk from the boat to the center along the path, herpetologist Pat Champagne caught a beautiful bright yellow snake (a non-venomous, docile little fellow). Later on, a real treat was a close-up viewing of an elusive emerald tree boa (not really docile but expertly handled by Pat!). The primatologists went off into the forest daily tracking monkeys but occasionally troops foraged right near the center: capuchins, spider monkeys and night monkeys. And always, early morning I could hear off in the distance the eerie wind-sound of howlers.||||There is no shortage of activities if one desires them (and the opportunity to push boundaries). I faced my discomfort with heights and went up the rope climb half way to the canopy (next time all the way!) Of course Melanie (our leader and expert mushroom hunter), Clemencia (primatologist) and Tink (volunteer) went all the way up—Melanie actually swinging a machete three quarters the way up at a branch intruding on the rope (rain forest maintenance!).||||No matter what level of participation you choose, LPAC will deliver a memorable, rewarding and authentic rain forest experience.||||*LPAC offers volunteer programs in the natural sciences and field Research Internships for University students as well...

LPAC truly is an incredible place. It is located within pristine forest and in a crucial area within the Amazon, so immediately you feel the importance of being in such a place. This is a spot for people that want to feel connected to the Earth, build relationships with the most dedicated crew, and feel a true sense of adventure with the safety of a beautiful basecamp. ||The crew at LPAC is a team of fantastic and dedicated individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. I sat down and had conversation with people who grew up in the area and had perspective on the changes and evolution of the people along the river. I met energetic and capable guides conducting a variety of research across fields. And I enjoyed the company of like-minded folks that believe in the beauty of this place. In the evenings it is common to all gather and tell stories of the day and review the most beautiful or unexpected things that happened. LPAC is a sanctuary that hones in on the powerful nature of storytelling. I found myself asking questions with a sense of curiosity from my childhood because this place fosters an attitude of discovery. Every person there was dedicated to my success and ensuring that I had all that I needed to be safe and have fun. ||The food is delicious. I am a vegetarian, so I was especially pleased with all the meals. There was always a variety of vegetables to go along with every dish. It was also lovely that even in my short stay, the wonderful kitchen team knew that I was a vegetarian and would always take time to be sure I knew which dishes were meat free.||The possibilities for activities are endless. You simply wake up, in an open air platform, to the immense beauty all around you. The beds are all equipped with bug nets and there is a roof to each platform. Falling asleep in the open air style is the best feeling. The jungle is so alive and you get to experience it at every moment. Even traveling from one place to another is a small adventure on the wooden boats, I would spend my time looking up at the trees and often seeing wildlife. We hiked up to the lookout point to see the vast landscape. We visited with local cacao farmers to learn about their sustainable efforts. My favorite part of staying at LPAC is the daily hiking. I always wanting to go out on a trail. I saw howler monkeys, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, macaws, and many more incredible species. ||I stayed at LPAC as a member of a college class and this is the epitome of experiential learning. It was the perfect combination of adventure and skill training as well as a space for conversation, discussion, and lecture.||LPAC is a life fulfilling destination, as a kid I dreamed about the jungle and one day exploring it. LPAC has helped me fulfill this lifelong goal. The spectacular energy and beauty of this place makes for a...