Posada Amazonas 30 Years of Community-Based Tourism and Conservation in the Amazon

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Posada Amazonas: 30 Years of Community-Based Tourism and Conservation in the Amazon

Posada Amazonas: 30 Years of Community-Based Tourism and Conservation in the Amazon 

Thirty years may seem like a short time for an Amazonian forest. The trees that now dominate the Tambopata canopy were already here long before lodges, roads, or reserves existed. The macaws continued to visit the clay licks every dawn. The giant otters continued to roam the lakes. And the Ese Eja families maintained a deep connection to a territory that their ancestors had protected for generations.

However, in the history of a community, three decades can change everything.

Posada Amazonas was founded in 1996 as the result of a shared vision between Rainforest Expeditions and the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno: to demonstrate that the forest could create opportunities for people without ceasing to be a forest.

Thirty years later, that vision is not only still alive—it has become one of the most successful examples of community-based tourism and conservation in the Amazon.

Today, Posada Amazonas is celebrating much more than just an anniversary. It is celebrating three decades of trust, shared learning, and a common commitment to the future of Tambopata.

Meet the Ese Eja

A partnership that transformed community-based tourism in the Peruvian Amazon 

When this story began, the goal was ambitious: to create a lodge that would generate income for the community, protect the forest, and allow visitors to experience the Amazon from the perspective of those who call it home.

The Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno contributed something invaluable: their ancestral territory, their knowledge of the forest, and a long-term vision based on living in harmony with nature.

Rainforest Expeditions contributed operational expertise, investment, and access to international markets.

Together, they brought Posada Amazonas to life, a project that redefined the relationship between tourism, conservation, and local development. The model has evolved significantly. Currently, 75% of the revenue generated by the lodge is distributed directly among families in the community, while much of the operation is led by members of the Ese Eja Native community who have been trained in hospitality, guiding, logistics, conservation, and tourism management.

What began as an innovative initiative became a tangible demonstration that tourism can strengthen communities while protecting ecosystems and contributing to forest conservation.

30 Years of Conservation Led by the Ese Eja Community of Infierno 

The Ese Eja Territory as seen from the observation tower at Posada Amazonas. Photo by Carlos González.

More than 3,000 hectares of communal land remain under strict conservation, free from extractive activities. Thanks to these sustained efforts, iconic species such as macaws, giant otters, and various primates continue to find refuge in one of the most biodiverse landscapes on the planet. Today, nearly 220 families benefit directly or indirectly from this partnership, demonstrating that human well-being and conservation are not conflicting goals, but rather part of the same solution.

 

Discovering the Amazon Through the Ese Eja Culture 

Rodolfo Pesha, a guide from the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno, with visitors. Photo by Carlos González.

There are many ways to visit the Amazon. But few allow you to experience it from the perspective of those who have lived there for generations. Visitors walk along ancient trails, discover medicinal plants at the Ñape Center, and learn about the relationship between culture and biodiversity from guides who grew up in this region.

Every trail, every story, and every encounter with the forest reflect knowledge passed down through generations. That human connection is, perhaps, one of Posada Amazonas’ greatest assets.

Because you can’t truly understand the forest just by observing it. You also come to understand it by listening to those who have learned to live alongside it.

 

Science, Conservation, and a New Chapter for Tambopata

Guests in the «Discovering New Species» project at Posada Amazonas. Photo by Carlos González.

Thirty years after its founding, Posada Amazonas continues to evolve.

In recent years, the alliance has incorporated scientific research as a new pillar of conservation through Wired Amazon, an initiative that connects travelers, scientists, and local communities through participatory science projects such as the Tambopata Macaw Project, AmazonCam, and Discovering New Species, which allow visitors and community members to actively contribute to the generation of scientific knowledge.

This approach has turned Posada Amazonas into a living laboratory where tourism, research, and conservation work together to better understand the forest

 

How the Ese Eja Community Protects the Tambopata Forest 

For generations, the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno has protected this Amazonian territory through its deep knowledge of the forest, its species, and its natural cycles.

Today, that legacy lives on through a partnership that has made the community a key player in conservation and sustainable tourism in Tambopata, involving them in the conservation of their territory as Guardians of the Forest. 

The Shijoo artisanies initiative brings together artisans from the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno, who transform the knowledge passed down from their ancestors into unique pieces inspired by the Amazon. Each creation reflects a deep connection to their culture. More than just crafts, these are stories that preserve an identity, create opportunities for families in the community, and allow every visitor to take home a small piece of the Amazon. 

The people featured in this story—guides, artisans, cooks, community leaders, researchers, and entire families—represent three decades of collective effort to demonstrate that another model of development is possible.

One where the forest still stands. One where the culture remains alive.

Meet the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno

The story doesn’t end here…

As the Amazon faces ever-greater challenges, new partnerships are also emerging that are committed to a different future. Kuaii Amazonas, a new ecolodge established in partnership with the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno, aims to demonstrate that it is possible to share the forest’s wealth without losing its essence, while creating opportunities for the people who have protected it for generations.

This is simply the continuation of a long-standing partnership dedicated to protecting the forest. Because when conservation and communities move forward hand in hand, every visitor becomes part of a story that helps shape the future of the Amazon.

  • What our guest say

    • Valuation Excellent
    • 5/5

Paul H August 2026

FineSpitz August 2026

Jack Looney August 2026

Ching Han Toh August 2026

Maggie Kwok August 2026

Jim July 2026

Kai Liao July 2026

asbraziller July 2026

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Maria Carrero June 2026

Lauren Kuenstner June 2026

Adam C June 2026

We had an excellent 5 night stay at TRC with two couples. The remote Lodge and accommodation are unique especially with the open walls to the jungle in the rooms. The guides were first rate with superb knowledge and their ability to spot fauna in the dense jungle was incredible. We saw many species of monkeys; macaws, parrots, tapirs, etc.. even lucky enough to spot a jaguar. Food and service was really good. While not cheap it was I think very good value for money. We really enjoyed all the hikes and citizen science activities as well, he trips on the river and the clay licks. Overall amazing experience! As it’s the jungle not a zoo, you can’t guarantee that you’ll see everything all the time so allow enough days to properly explore. Read all

A once-in-a-lifetime experience in the middle of the rainforest. From airport pickup in Puerto Maldonado to the lodge and back, everything was exceptionally well organised. Communication was clear throughout, with the team always explaining what would happen, where to be and what to take care of. The staff at both HQ and the lodge were incredibly attentive, making the entire stay feel completely carefree. At this price point, this is the level of service you expect, but it is still impressive to experience it in such a remote setting. The food was another highlight: very well curated and balanced, with plenty of options at every buffet and, surprisingly, we never had the same dish twice. Read all

This was an excellent experience!! Highly recommend if you’re interested in visiting the Amazon Rainforest and Tambopata region. Especially happy with our guide Miguel, who was highly professional, informative, and organized. It was an immersive adventure and we got to see so many unique plants and animals. 10/10! Read all

Amazing experience at Refugio Amazonas. Rooms were comfortable and clean. Great buffet spread every day. Staff were friendly and attentive. Our guide Alan was very informative. Overall would definitely recommend a visit! Read all

We stayed 3 nights at Posada Amazonas during our summer trip to Peru, and it was definitely one of the biggest highlights of the whole journey. The staff were incredibly warm and welcoming. Our guide, Joss, was professional, friendly and amazingly knowledgeable. Sometimes it honestly felt like he could communicate with the animals — he could spot black caimans or giant river otters from hundreds of metres away! The excursions were unforgettable. We saw beautiful macaws, giant river otters, capybaras, sloths, tarantulas, an anaconda, different species of monkeys, toucans and so much more. I especially loved the rainforest walks and joined both the daytime and night walks. Every walk felt completely different, and you never knew what you might find. What also made the stay special was the lodge’s involvement in scientific and environmental projects. There was a talk every evening, and we learned a lot about the rainforest and its wildlife. We also joined the “Discover New Species” activity and helped search for possible new species of tiger moths — such a fun and memorable experience. The lodge itself is definitely rustic luxury rather than a city-style 5-star hotel. There is no air conditioning or hair dryer, but the hot shower, fan and hammock in the room were all very comfortable and suited the rainforest setting perfectly. And surprisingly, the internet connection was excellent — even the boats had Starlink! One of the things I appreciated most is that Posada Amazonas is a collaboration between Rainforest Expeditions and the local Indigenous community that owns the land. Many community members are directly involved in running the lodge, and you can really feel how much the staff care about and are connected to this rainforest, which is part of their ancestral home. If you are looking for an authentic, educational and truly memorable Amazon rainforest experience, I highly recommend Posada Amazonas. We absolutely loved our stay. Read all

The Tambopata Research Center (TRC) offers a well-organized immersive rainforest experience within the Tambopata National Reserve. The TRC and its accommodations put a spin on the term creature comforts by keeping guests comfortable while they commune among the creatures within the rainforest. I appreciated, through what I observed and the interactions I had, the attentiveness of the TRC team members. They knew their guests and seamlessly organized a lot for our benefit. The center assigns guests to a small group with a dedicated guide. In my case, Erick Arguedas was a superb ambassador for all things living in the rainforest, in part because it was the environment in which he grew up. His role was to ensure we got the most out of our visit. Being a long-term TRC guide gave him the expertise he needed to easily fulfill this role. Read all

Our stay at Refugio Amazonas was a great experience from beginning to end. The entire trip was very well organized, and having a tour guide with you throughout the experience made everything easy and enjoyable. Our guides, Dennis and Tuto, were excellent. They both spoke English very well and did a fantastic job explaining the different birds, trees, plants, and animals we encountered. Their knowledge really made the excursions much more interesting and helped us appreciate the Amazon on a deeper level. The expeditions were definitely a highlight. I highly recommend the clay lick, sunset cruise, observation tower, river boat tour, and night walk. Each activity offered something different, and we were able to see so much wildlife. The food was also excellent. Everything was fresh and tasted great. I especially enjoyed the protein dishes, fresh fruit, and yuca potatoes. Considering how remote the lodge is, we were very impressed with the quality of the food. The rooms are very open to nature, which is part of what makes the experience so unique. We saw monkeys right from our room, along with many birds and lizards. We even had a frog visit our room at night—which was definitely an interesting Amazon experience! 😂 One thing to be aware of is that the walls between rooms are quite thin, so you can hear your neighbors at times. Overall, the entire experience was absolutely worth the trip. If you’re visiting the Peruvian Amazon, I would strongly recommend Refugio Amazonas. The wildlife, guides, excursions, food, and being completely immersed in nature made this one of the highlights of our Peru trip. 🌿🦜🐒 Read all

Our stay here was one of the favorite parts of our trip to Peru. One of the most memorable parts of the stay is how wonderful the guides were. We had two different guides during our stay: Jos and Jorge. Jos had an amazing connection with the birds, knowing all the bird sounds by ear, he could imitate most of them. His passion for the birds was evident when we went out to see them, and during a visit to look for macaws at the clay lick, he moved locations just so we would have the opportunity to see them. When we viewed them up close through a new blind that had been built, his joy was as much as ours, delighting as if it was his first sighting. Jorge had a beautiful spirit that he shared with us during our time with him. Growing up in the community there, he had so much knowledge about the plants and trees. He introduced us to a medicinal plant, and had stories about some of the different trees. We felt well cared for by both guides. We also enjoyed the nightly science talks, teaching us about some of the ongoing projects which helped us feel more connected to the area. The food was wonderful, and all the staff were extremely helpful throughout our stay. Read all

Amazing location and truly deep jungle. This organisation has three lodges and this is the nearest to Puerto Maldonado but don’t think that the wildlife here is any less than the lodges further along the river. We saw a LOT of different animals, birds and variety of colours. Well worth the stay. Read all

We stayed last february for 4 nights in the TRC lodge. I never could have imagined that I would explore the amazon in such confortable and immersive way. The lodge itself is such a luxurious place, in the middle of nowhere! The food was nicely curated everyday to offer new bits and pieces of the Peruvian cuisine. The absolute highlight of our stay here was for sure the activities and our guide Carmen, who accompanied us everyday! We were able to choose our everydays activities with our very reduced group and our guide. Carmen guided us on very activity, spotting and explaining what animals we saw and interesting facts about our surroundings. Her knowledge and excitement were so infectious that it would even make the sightings even more special! Read all

One of the most unique experiences we’ve had! You are deep in the heart of the Amazon and truly feel immersed in nature. Our guide Dino was awesome and taught us so much about the rainforest-he is like a walking encyclopedia, and his love for the forest really shows. Also very unique to listen to nightly talks from the research team-it really adds to the experience. Food was great and staff very friendly. Bring lots of bug spray and an adventurous spirit! Read all

The lodge was fantastic; they were very attentive to our needs. The dining staff brought special bread for my wife because of her celiac disease and offered to prepare dishes specifically for her to meet her dietary needs. The lodge guides were truly knowledgeable and went out of their way to help us see all the local wildlife. I especially loved the mosquito net service they provided. I was worried we’d be eaten alive, but their setup is fabulous; I had no concerns once I saw how they installed the impenetrable nets and curtains. The meals were as good as—or better than—anywhere else we ate in Peru. We saw the following animals: macaws, parrots, parakeets, pale-winged trumpeters, tamarins, caimans, capybaras, and a ton of insects on our night hike. Read all