The Magical Amazon Rainforest

COD: ARL 5D/4N

THE MAGICAL AMAZON RAINFOREST

5 days / 4 night

Day 1: Iquitos / Amazon River / Serpentarium / Lodge

AM: Reception at the International Airport Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta in Iquitos or from the hotel previously mentioned, and drive to Nanay Port. This tour is estimated to last approximately 30 minutes.

During this journey, the guide will talk about the customs and stories of the Amazon Rubber Boom. We will hear about what the city had to go through between the 19th and 20th century. These years were related to the extraction and commercialization of this product, an activity that caused an economic boom. In Iquitos, there are still streets that show evidence of what happened at that time.

At Bellavista Nanay’s Port, we will board the boat slider and sail along the Nanay River and the Amazon River, as well as appreciate the latter as a natural wonder.

Moreover, we will observe the “Meeting of waters”, a wonderful sight in the Amazon given by nature, which consists in the meeting of two flows of water that are brought together. However, they do not mix, but instead run in parallel. These rivers are the Amazon River, with its light-brown-colored water, and the Nanay River, with its dark-black-colored water. The reason why these rivers do not mix is due to their density. Besides the “Meeting of waters”, it is frequent to see gray or pink dolphins.

Following our tour through the Amazon River, we will visit the “Fundo Don Pedrito”, located in the Barrio Florido community. There, we will be able to see three ponds: the first one with piranhas, the second one with lizards and turtles, and the third one with paiches, the biggest fish in the Amazon. In addition, the Victoria regia or Victoria Amazonica can be also found here, as well as alligators, parrots and motelos, a huge mythological turtle that carries a piece of the rainforest on top of its shell. You will also have the opportunity to have a great time feeding these animals.

We continue our journey through the rivers Nanay and Momón. We will visit the serpentarium, owned by a riverside dweller that possesses a great collection of animals of the area, such as boas, anacondas, snakes, monkeys, wildcats and sloths. In this place, we will have the chance to be really close to them, take pictures and spend fun moments to keep in our memories.

Later on, the reception and welcome to the Amazon Rainforest Lodge with fruity refreshments of the region will take place. Then, the guide will explain the activities, give a brief orientation about the bungalow and the main facilities the lodge has.

We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch in “The Hungry Monkey”, the Lodge’s restaurant, after the guide’s explanation.

Free afternoon: We will relax in the swimming pool, the water slide, the hot tub, and the lookout that affords an amazing panoramic view, just like the balcony. From the latter, we can see the Momón River, the transiting boats and the wild birds.

After dinner, the guide will recount myths and legends part of the tradition that is spontaneously transmitted from generation to generation. We will also listen about the Yacuruna, which is the spirit of a magical man, the most important of the rainforest; the Sachamama, a gigantic and solitary boa that lives in swamps; the Tunche, a spirit that enjoys terrorizing people, but is neither good nor bad; the Chullachaqui, a mythical creature of the rainforest; the Runa-mula, a creature that wonders in the nights of full moon; the Bufeo Colorado or “pink dolphin”, an enchanted creature that transforms itself into a nice man; the Urcututo, a giant owl that lives in the trees’ canopy; the Tanrilla, a small and pretty heron; the Chichua, a nocturnal sparrow hawk.

Day 2: Lodge

Bird watching (optional) will take place at 5:30 am. While navigating the Momón River, we’ll indulge, for about an hour, in the singing of the birds when they wake up and go look for their food.

After breakfast, we will explore the rainforest and visit Gen Gen and Centro Fuerte, which are riverside communities. We will take a moment to appreciate the habits and customs of riverside dwellers. They cultivate yucca and bananas as one of their main activities, as well as go fishing in small canoes. The people of these communities will also be interested in having a soccer match with the tourists.

Later on, when we visit the Botanical Garden called “Chullachaqui”, the expert of the place will talk about the medicinal herbs that are found there.

Besides the Botanical Garden, we will get to visit the Alamas tribe, who has recently moved to this area. The members of this tribe have built a maloca, a communal home in which an entire extended family lives. There, they will befriend us and show us their dancing, singing and traditional rituals. They will also offer their crafts made of seeds and local plants.

Furthermore, the Piranha Park is the next location we will go to. This is the ideal place to enjoy nature due to the fact that it has five lagoons, where we can fish piranhas or other kind of fish, go kayaking, and see a chimpanzee. Moreover, we will see a great variety of tress with long fibers and medicinal herbs, as well as the Victoria regia, the biggest of lilies, whose big rounded leaves are 1m. diameter each, and its flower 40 cm. diameter. We can get to see the flower at 6 pm. from March to July. There are also virgin forests in this area where we can explore the mysteries of the Peruvian rainforest.

After dinner, we will sail the Momón River. The guide will turn off the engine at the appropriate moment, so that the boat gets to slide in complete silence. This way, we will get to see the moon and the stars, and hear the choir of nocturnal animals, such as insects, frogs, owls, birds, fish that jump and other creatures of the night.

Day 3: Lodge

We will visit the insectarium called Macrodonta. This place is an interpretation center of nature, in which we can see many species of insects that are alive, like spiders, beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and butterflies. We will also be given a brief explanation about each type of insects in their own habitat.

Moreover, we will learn about rubber, which is obtained from a tree when, by means of a treatment, a milky substance called “latex” is released. We will learn about the process to make artisan products, and see many regional artifacts used in the elaboration of the product.

After that, we will walk to Trapiche, where we will see how sugarcane liquor is made and also have a taste of it.

We will go fishing in the river.

Nocturnal walk. We will walk, observe and listen to the sounds nocturnal animals such as insects and frogs make.

Day 4: Lodge / Palo Alto / Lodge

We will walk through the virgin forest and observe one of the world’s tallest trees, even taller than the Palo Alto. We will also see the Lupuna and the Caucho, and different types of birds of the region.

At night, the guide will organize a small musical gathering. People will be able to sing and play instruments, such as guitars and flutes.

Day 5: Lodge / Nanay River / Iquitos / Airport

We will prepare ourselves to return to the city. During the journey, we will visit the indigenous tribe the Boras, who will greet us with their traditional singing and dancing., asking us to participate with them. And, they will barter their crafts or sale them.

After this, we will visit Pilpintuwasi, Quechua word that means “House of the butterflies”. This place is located in the Nanay River, in the town of Padre Cocha, and was created by the Austrian, Dr. Gudrun Sperrer. It is shelter for approximately two thousand species of very striking butterflies. There, we will have the opportunity to observe one of the most fascinating phenomena of nature: the metamorphosis in its natural environment. We will also see the different types of iridescent Morpho, the Heliconius with brilliant red spots, swallowtail butterflies and the ones that have owl eyes, among others. In another area, we will observe monkeys, anteaters, sloths, otorongos, tapirs and several macaws. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Tuesday to Monday.

City Tour:

The Boulevard: Located in front of the Itaya River, a block away from the Plaza de Armas. It has a great view of the Amazon River.

The Plaza de Armas: It is a colorful place and the meeting point of many tourists.

The Cathedral Church: Also known as the Mother Church. It is located in the Plaza de Armas of Iquitos, in the intersection of Arica and Putumayo streets. It was declared a Historical National Monument in 1996, and it is considered a symbol that represents Iquitos.

The Casa de Fierro: Designed by the French architect Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the famous Eiffel Tower in 1887.

Quistococha’s lagoon and zoo: It is locates 20 min. away from the city, near the airport. We will see different kinds of animals of the region, such as monkeys, felines, birds of different colors, paiches and dolphins. This place is built in the popular and white-sanded beach of Quistococha’s lagoon.

Transfer to the airport or hotel at the right time.

End of our program

IT INCLUDES:

·  Transfer from / to the airport or from the hotel previously mentioned

·  Transfer by water to Nanay Port/ Albergue / Nanay Port

·  Entry to the touristic places mentioned in the program

·  Meals (1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner per person)

·  Three regional meals are provided daily. The buffet service is available for more than 10 passengers, while there is table service for less than 10 passengers. The food supplies are daily brought from Iquitos to the Lodge. It is advisable, though, to inform about any kind of restriction in the intake of food, whether they are vegetarians or have any allergies.

·  Meal schedules:

§  Breakfast: 8:00 am.

§  Lunch: 1:00 pm.

§  Dinner: 7:00 pm.

§  Infusions and coffee: 24 hours of the day

·  Four night’s accommodation in the Amazon Rainforest Lodge

·  Free use of the facilities of the Albergue

·  Permanent guide for the whole program

·  All the activities mentioned in the program

IT DOES NOT INCLUDE:

·  Flight tickets

·  Consumption at the bar (soda/alcoholic beverages)

·  Internet

·  Personal expenses and what is NOT mentioned in the program

Note: Fort the compliance of the client’s program, we advise you to take the first flight to Iquitos and the last flight to Lima since the first boat from Iquitos to the lodge leaves at 10 am. and, due to safety reasons, the last one leaves at 3 pm. After this time, we recommend staying at a hotel in the city.

·  Transfers are shared with other passengers that coincide with your trip.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PASSENGERS

We advise the passenger to bring:

·  Identity documents (ID passport)

·  Insect repellant

·  Sneakers, comfortable shoes or robber boots for the walks

·  Sunhats

·  Sunglasses

·  Sunscreen

·  Camera and batteries

·  Flashlights (spare batteries) for the night walks

·  Umbrellas in case it rains

·  A book or magazine

·  Binoculars

·  Water bottle to refill and take to outings

·  Plastic poncho to protect yourselves from the rain

·  Personal towel (to use after taking a swim in the Quistococha lagoon)

·  Swimwear

·  Light clothing. The temperature varies between 28° and 30°.

·  We have a first-aid kit with basic medicines for fever, headache, mosquito bites, and indigestion. However, it is recommended to bring with you the medicines you take due to some kind of treatment or prevention.

·  Optional: Bring used light clothes, school materials and gifts to exchange with the Alamas tribe. They will, in return, sale their crafts or offer them through barter. Nevertheless, not only will the Alamas tribe be happy to receive those things, but the kids from Gen Gen and Centro Fuerte, too.

·  We also recommend the groups to prepare a theatre play as part of the intercultural exchange with the Gen Gen and Centro Fuerte communities. You could bring sportswear to play a soccer match or play volleyball.