Bosque Guardian
A luxury vacation to Peru offers a chance to see some spectacular wildlife, and nowhere is that truer than in the protected conservation area of Cordillera Escalera. One of the most biodiverse regions in the country, the mountainous jungle of San Martin is also home to one of the best Amazon lodges in Peru, Bosque Guardian.
Set back in dense rainforest, Bosque Guardian comprises several sustainably-sound wooden lodges, each connected by paved walkways made from local stone. Thatched roofs are supported by bamboo trusses, overhanging to offer shade on the timber verandas, the idyllic place to relax amongst the rainforest canopy. Inside too, the décor has been hand-selected to be in keeping with the natural surroundings, with plenty of floating linen textiles and simple stonework flooring.
Yet the harmony between property and place extends far further than just fixtures and fittings. This sustainable sanctuary has the cloud forest and its inhabitants at the center of all operations. The owners have distilled a genuine passion for protecting and preserving this biodiverse region into every part of the hotel, from the fresh river fish caught each day for the hotel’s restaurant, to the wildlife walks mapped by people who have lived for generations in this part of Peru.
A complete immersion into nature, Bosque Guardian is one of our most recommended rainforest lodges in Peru. Ideal for a luxury family vacation to South America or even as a part of an unforgettable honeymoon experience, this rainforest retreat is the ultimate off-the-grid getaway.
The Rooms
Bosque Guardian offers just twelve rooms, each sleeping two adults in either double or twin beds. The joy of its small scale means that there are only ever 24 guests staying here, ensuring the property retains a true peacefulness even at maximum capacity.
Inside, all the furniture has been thoughtfully selected for the rainforest setting. The beds are each covered with fine mosquito netting for a comfortable night’s sleep beneath a vaulted ceiling made from hand-worked bamboo. Bi-folding, unobstructive glass doors open directly from the bedroom onto a wood veranda, where guests can find a hammock hung from the bamboo trusses.
The lodges each have their own en-suite bathroom, where curving bamboo walls offer privacy whilst being just low enough to offer a glimpse of the surrounding forest. A natural stone bathroom floor adds to the effect too, allowing guests to feel as though they are showering amongst nature each morning and night.
The Kitchen
The Bosque Guardian restaurant is a highlight of a stay here. Accessed via a cleverly designed wooden bridge that leads from the hotel’s reception, the setting is especially beautiful at night, illuminated by discrete lighting.
Sustainable and natural cuisine is the priority, using as many locally foraged and fished ingredients as possible. The experienced Head Chef works alongside a local biologist to ensure the most sustainable practices are adhered to.
A stay at this luxury rainforest lodge includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner within the room rate, with the menu changing daily to align closely to seasonality and fresh forest produce. Guests can expect to find river fish roasted inside bamboo and seasoned with Amazon herbs, or pork ribs cooked in cocoa misilago, cuca cream, and aguaje leaves.
The Location
Tarapoto is the closest airport to Bosque Guardian, with direct flights available from Lima taking around 1 hour and 20 minutes. At 500 meters above sea level, the region enjoys a tropical, warm climate, without the extreme humidity of the lowland Amazon jungle. It makes a stay here less bug-ridden, a point worth considering when planning a jungle visit during a private vacation to Peru.
From Tarapoto airport it takes just 40 minutes to reach this luxury rainforest lodge, passing through the North Interoceanic Highway to Yurimaguas along a well-paved winding road through a unique ecosystem on the eastern slopes of the Andes, charmingly called the ‘eyebrow of the jungle’ or cloud forest.
With the heaving streets of Tarapoto suddenly a distant memory, guests will emerge 35 km later into more than 100 hectares of protected rainforest, home to the Tiraco River and thousands of exotic species. The maximum temperature here is 37 degrees Celsius, with a low temperature of 23 all year round. It’s worth noting that travel is most advisable between March and December since January and February can have periods of heavy rainfall.
The Experiences
Undoubtedly one of the most memorable aspects of Bosque Guardian is the experiences offered here. Incredibly varied and ranging from a full day or just a few hours, guests can choose from rainforest hikes, where wildlife sightings include the elusive jaguar, to community-based activities such as paper workshops whereby the parchment is made from tree trunks.
Personal favorites of Aracari founder, Marisol, during her visit in 2022 included learning of the breeding of ‘ramiches’ – the rare miniature stingless bee that is indigenous to this ecosystem; visiting a real cacao plantation and making chocolate; exploring the medicinal garden where guests can witness how medicinal sap is extracted from the ‘Sangre de Grado’ tree. And the marvelous paper-making workshop, where parchment is made from the pulp of banana tree trunk and paper discarded from local offices, a unique activity that also provides a caring environment for its majorly female employees, who can bring their children along to study remotely.
And if Marisol were pushed on picking her ultimate highlight at Bosque Guardian? Climbing the waterfalls of Progreso. “I loved all the activities but the one I found most exhilarating was climbing to the waterfalls of Progreso, a nearby cataract which we accessed by a short moto-taxi ride from the Lodge.”
“One of the Bosque Guardian guides accompanied us, along with a charming local who led the way. The Cataracts had four different waterfalls with lagoons in between each, and we climbed to the very top among dense vegetation of epiphytes, bromeliads, and vines, before descending to swim in one of the lagoons with the water cascading onto us. I absolutely loved this experience: it was wild and invigorating.”
The Services
An exclusive jaguar trial experience available only to Aracari guests
Each room has:
- Private bathroom with hot and cold water 24 hours a day
- Ceiling fan to cool the rooms
- Terrace and hammocks
- A minibar (not included in the rate)
- Hair dryer
- Safe box
- Umbrella
- Flashlights
- Boots for walking in the forest
- Coffee maker and kettle
- Reading material
- Bathrobes, towels, and amenities in the bathrooms
There is also a high-speed Wi-Fi connection throughout the lodge.
So, get ahead by speaking to our expert team today, and let us craft a bespoke itinerary to Peru, personalized to include a stay in this sustainable sanctuary where you’ll be one of just a handful of people to join an exclusive jaguar trail deep in the rainforest.
