How we spend our time
on a Riverboat Expedition
The rainforests of Loreto, Peru are situated in the western Amazon basin and harbor some of the greatest mammalian, avian, floral and fish diversity on earth. Our team has been conducting conservation based trips in the Loreto area since 1984. The goal of these activities is to set up long-term biodiversity conservation through community-based work, to develop protected areas and strategies based on wildlife conservation, and to find a balance between the needs of the indigenous people and the conservation of the animals and plants of the Amazon.
As a visitor, you will observe wildlife populations along the Samiria River in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve including macaws, monkeys, caimans, dolphins, aquatic birds, river turtles and fish, and possibly see giant river otters, manatees, peccaries, deer, tapir, large cats, monkeys and other large mammals. You’ll also have the opportunity to observe wildlife use and community-based conservation in local indigenous villages. You will see first-hand community-based wildlife management, protected area management and wildlife conservation in the Peruvian Amazon.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Day 0, Saturday - Fly to Lima. (Optional transfer and lodging available in Lima if desired.)
Day 1, Sunday - Make your early morning flight into Iquitos. Greeting at the airport and transfer by private bus to our boat in Nauta (100 kms south of Iquitos on the Marañón river, one of the two sources of the Amazon). Depart Nauta on the Ayapua, travel up the Marañón towards the Samiria River, instructions on onboard safety and introduction to the staff will be given. Lunch. Introductory talk on the Amazon and the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Afternoon tea. Sunset observations with open bar. Dinner. Evening movie: “Fitzcarraldo” starring Klaus Kinski, directed by Werner Herzog. This is a movie depicting a true and amazing story about the region and using a boat whose smokestack is now part of the Ayapua. (Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2, Monday - We will have arrived at the mouth of the Samiria River around 3 AM. Breakfast. We check in at the reserve's ranger station and visitors’ center. Travel up the Samiria River. Bird watching and wildlife observations. Lunch. Talk on wildlife of the Samiria and how to best observe wildlife. Bird watching and wildlife observations. Afternoon tea. We arrive at the field site. Dinner. Nighttime caiman observation using auxiliary boats. Optional night hike. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3 - 5, Tuesday - Thursday - Field activities these days to include: Boat outings for macaw observation. Wildlife transect walks in the forest. River dolphin observations from the auxiliary boats, fishing, nighttime caiman observation, and night hikes. There is a lot of wildlife to observe and a lot of excellent photo opportunities. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6, Friday - Breakfast. Morning visit to a local Cocama indigenous village. Lunch. Afternoon departure back downriver. Time permitting, we will see the union of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, birthplace of the Amazon. Talk on the restoration of the Ayapua riverboat (an amazing accomplishment!) and stories of the Amazon. Dinner. Latin Dance. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7, Saturday - We'll arrive back at Iquitos or Nauta early morning. A quick breakfast and then transfer to the airport for the flight to Lima. Connect with your evening flight to the States or continue on to the Cuzco and Machu Picchu extension tour. (Breakfast)
Does not include airfare to the departure city of Iquitos.
About 3 of many destinations we explore: