6 Days 5 Nights on Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

Morning pickup from your accommodation in Iquitos, or our office, in private car or mini-van (depending on group size). We will drive south for 1 hour and 45 minutes (approx.) to arrive at Nauta town. In our way there you will get a brief description of Iquitos city, its surroundings and some of his main attractions.

Departure by private boat from Nauta port, continuing upriver for 3 hours, enjoying the beautiful landscapes and the possibility to see river dolphins (gray and pink), herons, turtles and many other species along with spectacular flora.

Arrive at Santo Domingo community, the checkpoint for entering the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Here we register and show tickets to the officer in charge. The entrance to Pacaya Samiria is controlled and regulated by the SERNANP (Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas)

Continue navigation by boat for 30 minutes to reach the community of Buenos Aires. On our way there we will be observing flora and fauna by the riverbanks. Be on the lookout for birds, especially herons (like the capped heron or the snowy egrett) and kingfishers.

Walking expedition around the primary jungle to look out for some wildlife and enjoy nature.

Nocturnal hike looking for spiders, snakes, lizards, frogs or rodents, hearing the different sounds of nocturnal animals.

Overnight at typical village house in Buenos Aires community. We will sleep on individual beds with mosquito nets.

We get up early to enjoy the sunrise in the rainforest and then, start our expedition. We will be on the lookout for monkeys and sloths. After that, we will hop on a canoe and explore the riverbanks, always attentive to movements and sounds so we can see fauna in their morning routines by the river.

Navigation around 3 hours in the Pucate river, getting deeper and deeper into the primary jungle.

We will take you by boat to try some artisanal piranha sport fishing, the way locals do it. The guide will instruct you, help you and provide you with all the equipment needed. If you are skillful you can even catch Acarahuazu (Oscar fish), Fasaco (Common trahira) among others.

Observation of pink dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) and gray dolphins or tucuxis. Here is your chance to jump into the Pucate river and swim inside the Pacaya Samiria.

Jungle walk in the virgin rainforest where we can observe the flora and the fauna of the Amazon. Walking tour to see the Lupuna, one of the biggest trees in the Amazon rainforest.

Exploration of Iricahua lake (cocha). To get there we will walk around 2-3 hours into the jungle. In Iricahua 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. Other animals we can see here are turtles and caimans looking for some sun.

Nocturnal expedition to find and see white and black caimans (big river lizards).

Set up camping site. Camping in the primary jungle. We will sleep in camping tents.

We get up very early and start looking for primates while we explore in our canoe.

Morning botanical walk. You will get to know different medicinal plants of the Amazon jungle. We will learn how to cut and drink from one vine called “Soga de agua” (Water rope).

Pack our camping stuff and get ready for going deeper into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. We will navigate approx. 2 hours until our next destination.

Expedition looking out for primates and other animals in their habitat. The deeper you get into the Amazon rainforest, the more chances you have to see wildlife.

Creek exploration by canoe. At the end of the creek, we will hop down from the canoe and walk the surroundings looking out for wildlife like the Nine banded armadillo (Carachupa), the giant anteater (Oso hormiguero), rodents like the Paca agouti (Majaz) and the Black agouti (Añuje), among others.

Nocturnal expedition looking (and hearing) for nocturnal animals, including caimans, frogs, snakes among others. Set up camping site.

Camping in the primary jungle. We will sleep in camping tents.

Boat trip of approx. 2 hours to reach our next camping area, deeper into the virgin jungle, in a local zone called Quebrada del fraile (Fraile creek). The deeper we go into the Jungle, the more chances we have to see more different species of animals, birds and fishes.

Jungle walk to find and observe monkeys (like howler monkey or woolly monkey) and other animals. We will be on the lookout because this place is a good one for spotting macaws (red and green macaw or ara chloroptera, blue and yellow macaw or ara ararauna, among others). In the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, we can find 2 of the 8 species of macaws found in Peru.

Excursion to find and observe some giant river otters.

Night canoeing excursion, looking for wildlife.

Nocturnal walk looking for the nine banded armadillo (carachupa or Dasypus novemcinctus) and rodents like black agouti (añuje or Dasyprocta fuliginosa) and paca agouti (majaz).

Camping in the virgin jungle. We will sleep in camping tents.

Early morning exploration in the surroundings of Fraile creek, looking for more animals in the virgin jungle and by the riverside, like turtles, river otters and paiche (Arapaima gigas, the biggest fish in the Amazon Jungle). After enjoying breakfast in the middle of the Amazon jungle we pack our things, clean up and start moving into our next camping spot, deeper into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.

We will navigate approx. 1-2 hours following the Pucate river. Establish new camping spot.

Deep jungle walk to find and observe monkeys and other animals. There are chances to see Anacondas in these parts of the Rainforest.

Nocturnal hike looking for animals with nocturnal habits like Tapir (Sachavaca), Nine banded armadillo (Carachupa), rodents, snakes, frogs, and insects.

Canoe expedition looking for white and black caimans. Because now we are navigating in virgin lakes there is a high chance to spot black caimans.

Camping in the primary jungle. We will sleep in camping tents.

Early morning canoe excursion to wake up your senses. We will go bird watching. This is the best time to see wild birds in its own habitat by the riverbank and inside the jungle.

Jungle walk looking for primates, exploring the surrounding lakes (cochas) on the lookout for wildlife.

We start our way back, stopping at Buenos Aires community to stretch out our legs and get the chance to contribute to the community by buying their hand-made handicrafts if you decide to do so.

Return by boat to Nauta town. Ground transportation from Nauta to Iquitos. Arrival at our office, or if you prefer we will bring you to your accommodation in Iquitos or the airport.