Peruvian Amazon Sustainable Development in Tambopata

Stories

Empowering Indigenous Women Leaders for Sustainable Development in Tambopata

This is the first phase of the project that seeks continuity in order to generate a positive impact for sustainable development in the native communities. The academic research project is led by Ph.D. Inés Ruiz from the Universidad Científica del Sur and Doctor Miguel Ángel Coll from the University of the Balearic Islands UIB together with the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno and Rainforest Expeditions. The university team has experienced professionals such as Claudia Torres Sovero – Biologist, Veronica Ponce – Social Psychologist, Gonzalo Alvarado – Director of Photography

Why doing this?

In the heart of Tambopata, nestled within the lush landscapes of the Madre de Dios region in Peru, lies a remarkable community with a vibrant heritage—the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno. It is here that an inspiring journey unfolds, one that centers around empowerment, identity, and sustainability. 

Since 1996, Rainforest Expeditions and the Native Community of Infierno have had a successful strategic alliance. The Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno, Peru, owns Posada Amazonas eco-lodge, while Rainforest Expeditions supports its marketing and management. This partnership has been one of the most successful ventures between a local community and a tourism company anywhere in the world!

The Universidad Científica del Sur has embarked on a transformative mission to amplify the roles of women leaders within this community, leading to an enriching project that encapsulates the essence of cultural preservation, gender equality, and sustainable tourism.

Revitalizing Identity and Leadership Through Workshops

The Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno is at the core of this uplifting initiative. Recognizing the invaluable roles that women leaders play in shaping the destiny of their community, a series of workshops were conducted by a dedicated team from the Universidad Científica del Sur. 

These workshops, conducted for both women and children, aimed to revitalize their cultural identity, strengthen leadership qualities, and inspire a deeper connection with their roots.

The workshops acted as a bridge between academia and local wisdom, fostering an environment of learning and mutual exchange. Participants had the opportunity to delve into discussions about heritage, sustainability, and gender empowerment. Through this exchange of knowledge and ideas, a renewed sense of pride and purpose emerged among the women of Ese Eja Infierno.

Behind the scenes photos workshop tambopata

Unveiling Stories Through «Yo soy el Bosque»

A pivotal aspect of the project is the creation of the documentary «Yo soy el Bosque» (I Am the Forest). This poignant film captures the essence of the community’s journey, shedding light on the incredible work undertaken by the women of Infierno and Palma Real. Their leadership roles, both in preserving their native language Ese Eja and in championing sustainable practices, are highlighted with deep reverence.

«Yo soy el Bosque» serves as a testament to the strength, resilience, and wisdom of the women of Ese Eja Infierno. Their efforts stand as a beacon of hope for sustainable development in the region, demonstrating that empowered women leaders are pivotal drivers of positive change.

filimg the documentary you soy el bosque

«Turismo y género» Project: A Pathway to Sustainable Future

The larger project, titled «Turismo y género desde la perspectiva de la educación universitaria» (Tourism and Gender from the Perspective of University Education), is a collaborative effort led by Inés Ruiz Alvarado, Dean of the University Científica del Sur, and Miguel Coll, a researcher from the University of Islas Baleares. This project encapsulates the ethos of sustainable tourism, cultural preservation, and gender equity.

At its core, the project seeks to collect meaningful data about the women of the Amazonian community, uncovering the variables that determine their roles within the realm of Sustainable Development Goals and poverty alleviation. These efforts extend to exploring the profound impact of Ese Eja women in the domains of gender equality, environmental conservation, and the creation of resilient communities.

Sustainable Development in the peruvian amazon 1

Towards a Brighter Future through sustainable development

In a world where preserving cultural heritage and embracing sustainable practices are of paramount importance, the initiative undertaken by the University Científica del Sur shines as a beacon of hope. Through workshops, documentaries, and collaborative projects, the Ese Eja women of Infierno and Palma Real are not just preserving their identity—they are actively shaping a future that celebrates their wisdom, resilience, and leadership.

As we navigate the complexities of sustainable development, let the story of Ese Eja Infierno remind us that empowerment knows no bounds, and that by nurturing women leaders, we nurture the world itself. Together, we can create a world where culture and sustainability go hand in hand, paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.

NOW READ: The Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno

  • What our guest say

    • Valuation Excellent
    • 5/5

Laura Franklin December 2025

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I can not say enough good things about my time at the Tambopata Research Center. Between the guides, the boat drivers, the chefs, the staff, the bartenders, the researchers, etc. Everyone was absolutely wonderful! If you are interested in viewing wildlife in the Amazon, this is the place for you! A special thank you to the maître d' Carlos who was so incredibly kind and hospitable and our guide Dino who was like a real life Indiana Jones. I can't wait to come back! Read all

An unforgettable, fully immersive jungle experience. Amazing how Tambopata Lodge delivers luxury touches in such a remote and rugged location. The food is fantastic, the staff incredible, and the wildlife sightings non-stop. The personalised itinerary and one-on-one guiding made the trip truly special—huge thanks to our guide Johan for sharing his passion and knowledge. The Macaw Project is inspiring, and it’s clear the lodge fully supports this important conservation work. Manager Brian was always kind, helpful. Well-done all involved. Read all

The most important fact we are grateful for is the true sense of understanding of the ecology of the Amazon the staff at Rainforest Expeditions (RFE) have shown us. RFE stands out for its stand against the pure, profit-motive initiatives many other tour operators do. We are very grateful to have had Carlos as our guide. Carlos is deeply dedicated, and is able to explain the nuances of the flora and fauna. The world today needs to act as one against the impact of climate change. RFE is one, bright shining light in this regard. Read all

We had a fabulous trip! The people were amazing, kind and very professional. The food was exceptionally good! The facilities are beautiful and well kept. We just loved our second time with Rainforest Expeditions and can't wait to go again!! Read all

Fantastic to be deep in the forest surrounded by incredible wildlife with our amazing guide Juan Carlos Yatto, who really knew his stuff! Also his photography skills meant that we could share our experience even better through his telescope using our phone cameras! We learned so much!! He went to extra lengths to find butterflies and moths for us along with so many different birds and monkeys. This was a travel highlight for us as experienced wildlife travellers. We loved our spacious room with no windows and open to more wildlife visitors but after 5 nights the bed could have been a little more comfortable. Luckily we had a second bed to use. Otherwise it was fantastic with hot water showers and fresh drinking water all the time. We were amazed at the variety of food on offer for breakfast, lunch and dinner and couldn’t believe they could have such a wonderful food offering in such a remote location. Even the wine and cocktails were great. I highly recommend spending the extra money and time getting to this location. We stayed at another lodge later which was closer to Puerto Maldonado and there was far less wildlife. Read all

Ederson made the stay at the lodge amazing. I have had many guides around the world and Ederson may be the best I have had across 50 countries. The lodge itself is nice, and has electricity. Food is good, and you really feel immersed in the amazon staying there. Its great that a portion of the money goes back to conservation and research. Noteworthy details: Ederson, the "commander" is the best guide! Read all

Through a travel agency in Lima we booked a 4day/3-night stay at Refugio Amazonas. We were looking for a lodge that was far away from Puerto Maldonado but didn't require almost a day to get there (like TRC), with extensive walking trails and with the principal jungle highlights nearby. We were not disappointed. As we later learned, this is probably the best lodge in the region! Well run, quiet, excellent food, beautifully located in the middle of the forest, everything was "right". Surprisingly there were few mosquitos or bugs. Emperatriz (MP as some call her), our guide, has a keen eye and took us on some unforgettable walks and boat rides, both day and night. The birds at the clay lick were fantastic. The lodge also had evening lectures by young researchers as well as special activities such as collecting night moths and setting a trap camera. We later received videos and photo's of what was found (including a puma!). I can recommend this lodge without reservation. Read all

Abbiamo scelto il Tambopata Research Center perché il nostro obbiettivo era di poter vedere le are da vicino. Ci siamo stati ad inizio dicembre scorso, l'inizio della stagione delle piogge, perciò abbiamo scelto di restare 5 notti/6 giorni, abbiamo messo in conto di perdere delle giornate a causa della pioggia e per la lontananza da Puerto Maldonado, per nostra fortuna durante il nostro soggiorno ha piovuto solo il giorno di partenza proprio quando arrivavamo in aeroporto. Non c'é stato un giorno che non ne abbiamo visto: are di diverse specie e colori e molti altri uccelli e primati, spettacolare l'incontro a pochi centimetri con un formichiere bianco, ma non il giaguaro. Consigliamo di pernottatre almeno 3 notti, il viaggio é molto lungo. Noi eravamo all'aeroporto di Lima già alle 8:00 di mattina e tra un volo in ritardo, uno spostamento in bus di ca. 45 minuti per arrivare al fiume, ed un trasferimento in barca veloce, siamo arrivati al lodge verso le 16:30. All'aeroporto ci ha accolto la nostra guida privata Alfred, che ci ha seguito per tutto il soggiorno, di giorno in giorno abbiamo deciso le escursioni da fare, ed Alfred si é rivelato essere una super guida, un occhio di falco per scoprire anche il più piccolo uccellino, con pazienza é riuscito a farci camminare chilometri nella giungla, ci ha spiegato molto sulla flora e fauna. Bravissimo a far video e foto con i nostri telefoni col suo binocolo e cavalletto che si portava sempre appresso, queste foto sono dei magnifici ricordi. TRC non é un hotel, é un centro di ricerca per le are, in mezzo ad una foresta ed a ore dal primo centro abitato, perciò non avevamo delle grandi aspettative ne sul cibo ne sull'alloggio Read all

This place is a treat!! Incredible flora & fauna, food and service - the staff is quite attentive. Interesting research, with lots of potential. Visiting the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest is a must do! Read all

We had the most amazing time EVER at Refugio Amazonas, and I am so very glad I booked our stay here. Honestly, this is to date probably the best travel experience we have ever had and I will never forget our time in the Amazon here. First of all, the lodge is beautiful. Our room was lovely. The beds were comfy. The bathrooms are large. It is incredible waking up to the sounds of the jungle and falling asleep to the insects at night. We did have some insects in our room, and a rodent, and even a tarantula (non poisonous)! But it was part of the experience. The food was great and they prioritize native and local ingredients. My partner and I are both vegan and they took SUCH good care of us. The food was delicious, and we had ample vegan options every meal. Everything from the first email contacts with Katia to the transfers to the first night info session to the activities-- which I will get to in a second-- was incredible. It is a bit pricey, but everything is included and there is nothing you need to worry about, and it was so worth it. OK now for the best part-- the activities. Holy wow. First of all, we had the best guide EVER-- Juan Carlos. He was amazing. He is a bird expert, knows so much about the animals who live in the rainforest, the insects, the trees, the plant life, it was incredible. He also so clearly cared that everyone in our group had an amazing time. He took so many pictures for us, pointed out so many animals for us, and made sure we all enjoyed every moment. I can’t thank him enough because it made our time here so very special. We went on many activities that were amazing, and we saw so many animals— capybaras, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, so many incredible insects, frogs, tarantulas, so many many birds and butterflies. Every activity was amazing but the highlights were the macaw clay lick and the canopy tower. And we were super impressed and happy to hear about their commitment to conservation, protecting the animals, and supporting the native community nearby. There is so much I could say about our stay here but I would recommend a 3 night stay over 2 nights (so you can do more activities), and make sure you read the guides they send via email before you come so you pack correctly and know what to expect and bring--the guide includes everything so that there are no surprises, and we knew exactly what to expect, although our stay exceeded our expectations! I highly, highly recommend staying here, it was magical, it was a once in a life time adventure, and I will never forget it. I also want to shout out the manager of the lodge, I forgot her name, but she was incredible, as well as the service staff at meal times, who were so kind and helpful to point out what was vegan all of the time. I truly hope we can come back some day!! Read all

The lodge was kept very clean, and the staff paid close att to people's needs. It was very easy find activities and the guides were excellent with a genuine intended approach towards sustainability and environment longevity. Read all

A superb stay in a top class Lodge which gave a wonderful insight into the Amazon wildlife. Our guide was Juan Carlos who has incredible knowledge and a lovely sense of humour. The staff in the lodge were so friendly and the meals provided were something to look forward to. A wonderful experience! Read all

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