We had a fantastic trip to Peru. We started our adventure in Cusco where we were picked up and delivered to the airport for a flight to Puerto Maldenado. The staff literally walked us into the airport and assisted us getting our boarding passes and bags checked. In Puerto Maldenado, we were met by Carlos who helped us get our bags and into a waiting van which took us to the Peruvian Soul office. At the office we separated out the clothes we needed for the Tambopata River trip and our stay at Finca Sachabacayoc lodge. After separating our clothing, Carlos delivered us to a dock where we were met by Freddy who told us he would be our activity guide while we were at Finca. We boarded a motor boat for a two and half hour ride up the Tambopata River to the the Finca Lodge. Along the way Freddy pointed out Macaws, Parrots and Eagles. The boat also literally took us right up next to a family of Capybaras.
The Finca Lodge was beautiful. Our cabin had two queen beds, a very modern bathroom and shower, and a screened in front porch with a hammock. The main lodge structure had a large restaurant and a lovely bar. We were assigned a table where we ate all our meals with our guide, Freddy.
The Peruvian food served us throughout our three night, 4 day stay, was terrific. I do not know the chef's name but he was awesome! Every meal the he would stop at our table to make sure we were happy with the food and drink; which we were. The bar was also terrific. We made friends during our stay with a couple from Portland Oregon and another couple from the Netherlands. Every evening the six of us had a beer or a Pisco Sour in the bar and chatted about our adventures that day.
Speaking of daily adventures, on the day we arrived, Freddy took us on a night hike where he showed us creatures of the night, including monkeys, scorpions, and tarantulas. The night sounds of the jungle during the night hike were amazing. That night after dinner, we went to our cabin for bed. The cries and sounds of the birds, monkeys and insects were mesmerizing. But just before we went to sleep a thunderstorm rolled in, the temperature dropped 20 degrees, and we slept like babies!
In the days that followed Freddy took us on a jungle hike to a lake where we paddled a canoe looking for Anacondas and Caymens and wild birds like Macaws. We had a marvelous time. Later that day we hiked to a 50 meter tower located in the middle of the jungle. After climbing to the top, we could see the jungle below. Freddy set up a spotting scope and he showed us many different kinds of birds and monkeys. We stayed on the tower until after sunset. Again the sounds of the jungle at night were mesmerizing!
The following day we got up at 2:30AM and took a boat to the Chuncho Clay Lick- a place where every morning at dawn, thousands of birds from the jungle come to eat the salt they need for their diets. We arrived just before dawn and set up our chairs and spotting scopes . As the sun rose, thousands of birds arrived; red and blue macaws, blue and yellow macaws, white and black toucans, green and yellow parrots and a sinister looking hawk that the other birds clearly did not like. The birds were beautiful. Freddy attached our phone cameras to his spotting scope and recorded slow motion videos of the birds flying in and around the salt lick. The video's are wonderful!
After about 2 hours (7:30AM), the birds began to leave the salt lick. We loaded up our stuff and headed back to the boat. But, much to our surprise, Freddy an other staff from the Finca Lodge had set up a breakfast table with eggs, fruit, pancakes, juice and coffee. In the middle of the jungle and on an island in the middle of the Tambopata River we had big and delicious breakfast!
Later that day Freddy took us on another boat ride to the Condenado Lake, where we took a raft built on pontoons that Freddy maneuvered using an unusual rudder device that allowed the raft to move. While traversing the lake Freddy spotted a family of giant River Otters. We followed them and got many great photos of the giant creatures. On this trip we also saw caymans, capybaras, monkeys, beautiful Macaws and an illegal gold mine set up in the middle of the river!
The next day we had to return to Puerto Maldenado. We said good bye to the friends and, with Freddy's help, took the boat back to Puerto Maldenado. It rained the entire trip back, but the boat had a roof with side plastic windows that kept us dry. The boat trip in the rain was actually quite fun.
In Puerto Maldenado, we retrieved the rest of our clothes and went to the airport, where Carlos helped us get our bags checked in and collect our boarding passes for our flight to Lima. Carlos literally walked with us all the way to security.
When we arrived in Lima, a man named Bosco and a van picked us up at the Lima airport and transported us to the Hotel Limade in the Mira Flores district. During the ride, Bosco regaled us with a very entertaining history lesson about Lima.
The Hotel Limade was brand new. I was told it had opened only 4 months earlier. The hotel was like a very fine hotel in a major city in the US. It was bvery nice with a great rooftop bar and a wonderful restaurant for the complimentary breakfast. The hotel was about 6 blocks from the Pacific Ocean and the beaches of Lima. After checking in, Wendy and I walked to the beaches and took many photos of the beautiful beaches, shops and parks. Th beaches reminded me of Miami.
The following day we were met by Nancy, our guide for the day. In a nutshell, she was awesome! Her English was perfect and her knowledge of Mira Flores and especially the Barranco district was superb. Nancy took us to the Barranco District which is famous for it's art, art galleries, restaurants, shops and beautiful boutique hotels. Nancy's tour was to last only 4 hours, but she stayed with us for nearly 6 hours! We ate at three separate restaurants sampling the unique food and drink of Lima. We also stopped at a chocolate factory where we sampled chocolates and watched how chocolate candy was made. We toured some of the beautiful boutique hotels of Barranco that were built in the early 1900's as private mansions for wealthy people from Europe and elsewhere. When Peru's economy struggled the homes were abandoned. Beginning in the late 1990's, these old mansions were bought by local Peruvians and who turned them into boutique hotels. We stopped at the Hotel B where Robert DeNiro stayed a year or so ago. It was magnificent!
Nancy also took us to several art galleries and to many street art paintings. We loved the art so much we bought a print from a famous Peruvian artist by the name of Jade Rivera.
Nancy was a spectacular guide. If you are in Lima make sure you ask for Nancy!
The next morning we had to return to the US. Bosco picked us up at the Hotel Limade and delivered us to the airport, including getting our boarding passes and our luggage checked. During the ride to the airport, Bosco told us more stories about Lima and Peru. Like Nancy, he too is a very good.
We loved Peru and and our trip to the Amazon and Lima. Thank you KimKim for taking such great care of us. Hasta la proxima vez! Tom and Wendy.
Hotel Reviews
Great hotel. It is new in 2025. They have a great roof top bar and a nice restaurant for a very extensive complimentary breakfast.
Authenticity & Character
It is in the middle of the Mira Flores District, a beautiful suburb of Lima
Location
It is about 6 blocks from the beaches. There are restaurants, shopping and art all within walking distance
Staff
Everyone was super nice and they all spoke English
Cleanliness & Comfort
No, everything was terrific.
See my review of the trip. But this is a very fun place to stay with great food in the middle of the jungle
Authenticity & Character
It's adjacent to a huge river and in the jungle. The sounds during the day are great but at night they are spectacular
Staff
The chef was terrific. He was always smiling and makig sure we were enjoying the food. Emerson is the manager. He was always around. If you had any questions or needed anything, Emerson would take care of it.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our cabin was super clean. Staff made the bed and cleaned our cabin every day.
Activity Reviews
Art and Local Cuisine in Bohemian Barranco
Lima
Nancy, our guide was perfect. She spoke excellent English and answered all of our questions. She took us to restaurants, art galleries, unique shops, and boutique hotels. Nancy was to be our guide for 4 hours, but she stayed with us for 6. She is incredibly good as a guide.
Quality of Experience
See above. At the end of our time with Nancy, we were friends.
Food
Nancy took us to three restaurants and a chocolate manufacturing business. The food and chocolate were wonderful. We especially enjoyed the restaurant Horneando Ando.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Although we didn't need a van, when we had to walk a few blocks, Nancy texted the driver and amazingly he would show up a minute or two later to take us to our next stop!
Finca Sachavacavoc - Farewell Amazon
Tambopata
See my earlier report. We loved the Finca lodge.
Quality of Experience
The Lodge is very well maintained. Staff is very attentive. The food is terrific and the bar a great place to hang out after a day in the jungle.
Food
We loved the food. there was plenty of it and it was always top notch. We drank Barley Juice a couple of times and I have tried to recreate it at home, but alas, the Barley Juice at Finca was much better!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Freddy is the best!
Transport
The boats were great and the drivers excellent.
Finca Sachavacavoc - D3 - Sachavacayoc Lake
Tambopata
Freddy took us on a 2+ mile hike through the jungle to the lake. On the way Freddy educated us on the trees that grow in the Amazon, the various plants used medicinally by the indigenous tribes , and about the Anacondas we might see at the Lake. The canoe trip on the lake was beautiful. We saw anaconda tracks but no anacondas, but the birds, butterflies and monkeys we saw made up for not seing anacondas.
Quality of Experience
Freddy. He is really good.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Freddy knows the jungle!
Transport
The canoe was perfect for the lake.
Finca Sachavacavoc - D2 - Chuncho Claylick and Condenado Lake
Tambopata
Se earlier report. This is a great activity- despite having to get up at 2:30AM. It is well worth the sleep deprivation!
Quality of Experience
This something you cannot see in the USA.
Food
the breakfast at the salt lick was a very nice touch
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Everything was always on time.
Transport
The boat driver and the guide.
Finca Sachavacavoc - D1 - Venturing into the Amazon
Tambopata
Se my earlier report. We loved the Lodge.
Quality of Experience
The Lodge and our Guide, Freddy
Food
The authentic Peruvian food was special. We loved it. We also loved the Pisco Sours!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The van drivers, boat drivers, guides were all super.
Transport
The van was always neat as a pin!
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