Surface Area
Population
Geography
Climate
Economy

SURFACE AREA

Tambopata has 1,478.942 hectares of protected land.

 

POPULATION

The population is very small and is represented by the residents of the "Esse'eja" jungle tribe, dedicated to cultivating coffee, hunting and fishing.

 

GEOGRAPHY

Tambopata National Reserve, The Bahuaja-Sonene National Park and surrounding protected areas, house the basins of the Tambopata River and Heath River. The waters of the rivers Tambopata and Heath come to the Amazon in Brazil through the Madre de Dios River.

 

CLIMATE

It has subtropical forest weather, humid or very humid with an annual average temperature of 26°C, fluctuating between 10ºC and 38ºC. Low temperatures are associated with the presence of cold winds coming from the Antarctic through the Andes. The cold winds which determines the occurrence of what is called the “friaje”. This is the decrease of temperature with overcast days associated with persistent drizzle. The friaje lasts two to three days but occasionally these events occur with greater intensity and frequency in the months of June and July. Maximum temperatures reach 38°C and occur regularly in the months of September and October. Annual rainfall ranges from 1600 mm to 2400 mm, scoring two times the frequency and amount of rainfall: a dry season between April and December and a rainy season from January to March, although the time limits vary.

 

ECONOMY

Tambopata economic activities include hunting and agriculture, and most importantly, tourism. Madre de Dios is home to 25 registered lodges. Tourism in the protected area is concentrated around the river Madre de Dios and Tambopata River. This area is visited by about 8000 tourists a year.