Established in 1982, this national reserve lies in the heart of the Peruvian rainforest, surrounded by the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers, both major tributaries of the Amazon, and ends at their confluence near the town of Nauta, located 183 km southwest of Iquitos.
Pacaya Samiria National Reserve covers an area larger than 2'080,000 hectares. The reserve currently protects
around 1.5% of the total surface area of the country.
Pacaya Samiria is the second-largest protected natural area
in Peru. It is a paradise for nature lovers, with biodiversity that includes more than 1000 species of animals
and 965 species of wild plants.
The principal objective of the Reserve is to protect the incredible biodiversity of the flooded forest of this region, as well as to promote the sustainable development of local dwellers.
Pick up you from your accommodation or the Iquitos airport early in the morning in a private vehicle heading to Nauta town. The ride will take 1 hour 40 minutes. During the road trip, our guide will make a brief description and historical review of Iquitos region
We will get on board in a private comfortable boat for a 2:30 hours sail from the port of Nauta, along the Marañón River.
During the boat trip, get ready to spot pink and gray river dolphins, birds like Great Egret, Kingfisher,
Yellow-billed tern among many others.
A delicious box lunch will be served on board the boat, accompanied by natural juices.
When we arrive at the community of Santo Domingo, this will be our entry point to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve,
we will obtain the entry permit for our adventure.
Once on the reserve, we will continue up stream during 50 minutes along the Yanayacu-Pucate river. Traspassing the community of 20 de Enero, we will continue in to a pristine area to find our base camp to set our tents to spend our first night.
During the afternoon we will go for our first excursion in search of river dolphings and different types of primates. All are welcome to jump in to the blackwater river for a relaxing swim.
We will be espectators of a beautiful rainforest sunset.
It's dinner time and we will be deligthed with a typical dinner prepared with fresh products from the Amazon region. After dinner, we will make a nocturnal hike in search of reptiles, amphibians, rodents, and arachnids. We will enjoy the beautiful symphony of nocturnal life. Camping in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
We start our second day getting up early to attend the awakening of the rainforest.
Bird observation, Macaws, Parrots, Royal Volture, Harpy Eagle among others.
Breakfast at base camp.
Full day excursion following the course of the Pucate River for 3 hours until arriving at Lake IRICAHUA. Delicious on board lunch. On the way you can see giant trees such as the Lupuna (Ceiba pentandra), the Capirona, the Capinurí (Heliocóstilis scabra).
Also birds such as the Toucan (Pteroglossus), Hoatzin (Opisthocomus Hoazin), Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna), Jabiru Stork (Jabiru Mycteria).
In Iricahua lake we will have the chance to see different monkey species like the Woolly monkey (mono choro), Howler monkey (mono aullador), Titi monkey (mono tocon or mono fraile), among others.
Also, this lake is inhabited by Paiche (Arapaima Gigas), the biggest fish in the Amazon rainforest.
Sharpen your sight, if we are lucky we can see the Giant River Otter.
Other animals we can see here are turtles and caimans looking for some sun.
Return to the base camp, refreshing river bath and resting listening to the sound of the jungle.
Dinner and overnight.
We will embark on a boat journey for approximately 2 hours, venturing deeper into the untouched rainforest. Our destination is the next camping site within the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, specifically the Quebrada del Fraile. As we penetrate further into the Amazon rainforest, the likelihood of encountering various animal, bird, and fish species increases.
We will hike through the jungle in pursuit of primates, such as howler monkeys or choro monkeys, as well as other wildlife species, aiming to observe them in their natural habitat. We will remain vigilant since this location offers excellent opportunities for observing macaws, including the red and green macaw (Ara chloroptera) and the blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna). In the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, two out of the eight macaw species found in Peru can be spotted.
An excursion will be arranged to observe the giant river otter, and we will embark on a night canoe expedition to search for nocturnal wildlife.
Additionally, a nighttime hike will be conducted to locate species like the armadillo, referred to locally as carachupa (Dasypus novemcinctus), and rodents like the añuje (black agouti or Dasyprocta fuliginosa) and the majaz (paca agouti).
Camping in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
Morning exploration in the surroundings of the Quebrada del fraile, in search of wildlife on the banks of the river and within the virgin forest, such as turtles, river otters or the famous Paiche, Arapaima gigas, the largest fish in the Amazon rainforest. After enjoying our breakfast in the middle of the Amazon rainforest we will pack up, clean up and start our navigation to deeper areas of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
Early breakfast to start our full-day journey upstream of Yanayacu river to the uninhabited Chingana area. This pristine location is very rich in flora and fauna.
Stops will be made so we can have the opportunity to spot several species depending on the season: River Otter, a variety of types of monkeys such as Capuchin, Howler monkey, Squirrel monkey, Tamarin monkey, Red Uakari monkey.
Also, Chingana lake offers a unique opprtunity to spot Herons, Hoatzin, gray and pink dolphins, alligators among others.
In this excursion we will hike through flooded and non-floodable forests, we will also do swimming in a place where dolphins gather. Yummy box lunch in the early afternoon to start our return to base camp.
Morning Jungle Hike: Begin the day with an early morning jungle hike to explore the lush rainforest. Your guide will lead you through the dense vegetation, pointing out various plant and animal species. Keep an eye out for monkeys, birds, and other wildlife that are active during the morning hours.
River Exploration: After the jungle hike, return to your campsite and pack up your belongings. Then, embark on a river journey in a small boat or canoe. As you navigate the waterways, you may have opportunities to spot river dolphins, birds, and other aquatic creatures.
Lunch in the Amazon: Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the natural beauty of the Amazon rainforest. Your guides will prepare a delicious meal using local ingredients.
Afternoon Activities: In the afternoon, you can engage in various activities, such as fishing for piranhas, bird watching, or wildlife tracking. Your guides will tailor the activities to the interests of the group.
Evening Adventure: As the day transitions into evening, you may choose to participate in activities like a night canoe expedition to spot nocturnal wildlife, a night hike, or stargazing in the clear Amazonian sky. After dinner, we will have a meeting to organize our last-day activities.
Early morning canoe excursion to go bird-watching. This is the best time to see wild birds by the riverbank and in the jungle canopy. After breakfast, we go for our last jungle walk to find the Sloth and other primates.
After lunch we start our way back, stopping at the Buenos Aires community to stretch our legs and get the chance to contribute to the community by buying some of their hand-made handicrafts.
Return by boat to Nauta town. Ground transportation from Nauta to Iquitos in private transportation. We will drop you off at your accommodation or at the airport.
RETURN TO YOUR HOTEL OR AIRPORT DROP-OFF | END OF SERVICES
Meeting Point Options: Hotel, Address, or Intersection
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights camping tour
Air-conditioned transportation during city commuting plus a driver and a guide.
Outboard motor boat equiped with lifejackets, licensed boat driver.
Paddling canoe with lifejackets.
Light clothing, rain poncho or similar
water bottle, snacks
Sunscreen, sun hat, sun glasses, hiking shoes
Personal Prescription Medicine
Camera, Pocket money
Torch
Toilet Paper or cleansing towels
Anti-itch oitment
Hand sanitizer, mask
