Monte Amazonico Lodge

They cancelled on us on the eve of our arrival. How is that satisfactory business practice? We book well in advance, helping the resort to plan, and at 5 pm the day before, having already made the journey to Puerto Maldonado, they send a bald cancellation, with no reason or apology. We have been asked by friends for referrals in the Reserve. This lodge gets a forthright thumbs down.

Monte Amazonica Lodge is surrounded by staggering natural beauty, and the potential for a transformative experience is undeniable. The rainforest is mesmerizing. The infrastructure is solid. And the supporting staff—especially Ronal, Rodrigo, and the bartender—are hardworking, grounded, and deeply committed to the guest experience. Ronal in particular made the trip worthwhile with his knowledge, kindness, and professionalism. But none of that can outweigh the deeply disturbing presence of the lodge manager, Justin, whose behavior was not only inappropriate—it was predatory, manipulative, and psychologically unsettling. Let me be absolutely clear: Justin is not simply “awkward” or “bad at hospitality.” He is a man who uses his position of power to insert himself into emotionally vulnerable guests’ personal dynamics, manipulate social environments, and perform dominance under the guise of charm. Here’s what happened: • After I expressed clear discomfort with the dynamic forming between Justin and the guest I arrived with—one that I believe involved inappropriate physical intimacy and psychological grooming—I formally requested a new room. That request was ignored. • That same evening, Justin intentionally placed me and that guest alone at a dinner table, in the middle of the lodge, in full view of everyone. It was a power move—deliberate, uncomfortable, and humiliating. • He later spent over 30 minutes aggressively hacking bushes with a machete behind my cabin, in what felt like an intimidation ritual more than maintenance. Several other guests noticed and commented on how unnatural his energy was throughout the trip. • When I tried to speak to him about my concerns, he pretended not to speak English—despite having had fluent conversations with other guests earlier in the day. • I almost slept in the public lodge area that night because I no longer felt safe in my room and had no access to any staff but him. This isn’t speculation. It’s a pattern. Multiple female guests told me they felt “off,” uncomfortable, or watched by him. I saw the signs myself: charm when it benefited him, passive-aggressive control when it didn’t. He wielded his machete like a stage prop and his authority like a weapon. It was disturbing, disorienting, and entirely preventable. Even worse? Lodge management said nothing for days—even after I submitted my concerns directly after leaving. Their first message came only hours before my deadline to post this review, and included no accountability, no apology, and no refund for the experiences and activities missed due to this situation. They claim Justin resigned. Whether or not that’s true, it only happened after I pushed relentlessly and threatened exposure. No action was taken on its own merit. So let me be the one to say it, since the lodge won’t: Justin should never be in a position of power over guests again. Ever. Until Monte Amazonica publicly acknowledges what happened and institutes actual

Hostel is very nice and the food was absolutely delicious here. Fernando our guide was well organized and informative. We traveled in the rainy season when it wasn't so warm and found it hot in the room, so I couldn't imagine the heat in the dry season. The only other issue I would have is some of the infrastructure really needs upgrading, particularly the platforms for the canopy walk. The camp itself is in great nick, would have no trouble recommending.

Really cool experience. Three days is perfect amount to experience everything you want too. Fernando was a great guide and made it really enjoyable for us. He went out of his way to make sure we were having a good time. Good food, nice staff, clean rooms. I recommend

We had a great time - it was a lovely lodge and the food was very comforting and they catered well to dietary requirements. The staff were very friendly and we saw lots of animals. Fernando was a great guide with a huge amount of knowledge about local flora and fauna!

I enjoyed a great 2 full day/2 night Amazon tour with this company. After checking in at their office in Puerto Maldonado you take a 45-50 minute boat to their lodge. There are cabins with showers, flush toilets and a sink. The pool and dining area are centrally located and you can enjoy drinks and snacks while hanging inside and outside of this area. I had no problems with electricity or wifi. In fact, the wifi reached my cabin (no. 4) so I didn't need to be near the dining area to get on. Meals were filling and varied (chicken with rice and beans, grilled paiche, chicken in a curry sauce with rice, fried rice, pancakes and fruits). Water from a huge 5 gallon bottle was available 24 hrs. The guides were knowledgeable and friendly. We had a forest hike during the day and night, a visit to Monkey Island, a night boat ride to look for caimans and capybaras. an early morning boat ride to Tambopata NR and a 3 km hike to reach Lake Sandoval where we saw a river turtle, black caimans, capuchin monkeys, blue/yellow and red/green macaws, parrots, cormorants, egrets, and several types of herons, ducks, butterflies and moths. The best part was seeing a family of giant river otters feeding and playing. On the last morning was a walk on the 6 month old suspension bridge for a canopy walk. You can be dropped in town or at the airport after the boat ride back.