Las Piedras River Alto Purús National Park

East of Manu, the Las Piedras river winds it way through some of the most remote and pristine rainforest in the world.  At its head, the 6.7 million acre Alto Purus National Park and Communal Reserve was set up to protect a huge area of forest, home to the nomadic Mashco-Piro tribe. Shunning strangers, little is known about their customs and lifestyle - they remain one of the world's last 'uncontacted' peoples.   

Amazon Rainforest Conservation Centre

Reaching this remote lodge is an adventure in itself. After flying to the frontier town of Puerto Maldonado, travel by motorised canoe 110 miles up the rainforested Las Piedras, observing wildlife en route. Awaiting you are comfortable cabins, hot showers and a pleasant restaurant. Located by an oxbow lake containing a family of giant otters, the lodge has a 17,000-acre private reserve of exceptional mammal density. Denizens include black spider, red howler, emperor tamarin, saddle-backed tamarin, squirrel, white-faced and brown capuchin monkeys, black caiman, silky anteater and two toed sloth. Deep in the forest there are clay licks attracting peccaries and the occasional tapir, and closer to the lodge are four macaw and parrot clay licks. With naturalist guides, special hides and a 120ft-high canopy platform, close encounters with outstanding wildlife are assured.