Ecolucerna Lodge Tambopata

The day before we were due to arrive, we got a call offering a hotel transfer for 150 USD. Then we were told the boat was full and that we'd have to arrange our own transfer. After that, we were offered a nearly 600 USD four-day package with food, which is really expensive. This sounds like what other guests have experienced at this hotel. Watch out for these extra charges before booking!

The cabins were comfortable and the food was five-star. Ecolucerna is a thoughtfully designed property, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The guides were excellent too. I was thoroughly impressed.

The lodge itself is beautiful and the food was excellent, but our guide, Robert, really let the stay down. It was just the two of us at the lodge, yet he couldn't remember our names and made no effort to make the experience feel personal. On boat trips of 1-2 hours, he'd either sleep or be on his phone and didn't explain the ecosystem or surroundings. When we asked him to tell us more, his replies were always very short. It was the same on rainforest walks and other tours he led. We often felt as though our questions were bothering him. That made the whole trip feel awkward and uncomfortable. A knowledgeable, engaged guide matters so much on a rainforest tour, and this was the most disappointing part of our stay. I wouldn't recommend Ecolucerna for an Amazon trip.

The tours with Robert were great, and the food and service were spot on. We spent two nights at the lodge and had a really good time. The rooms were lovely, clean, and bug-free, which can't be easy in a rainforest. Our room also had a nice view over the river. We booked on their website and could rearrange our planned itinerary around our schedule, starting with macaw watching before going to the lodge and its program. We even saw capybaras and Tapirs from our terrace. I'd come back if I'm in Peru again.