PACAYA SAMIRIA 5 days / 4 nights

PROGRAM DETAILS

Places to be visited : City Tour, Pacaya Samiria, Iquitos.
Type : Archeological and Cultural
Airfares : Not included, available upon request
Feel free to ask for extra services, this tour is customizable.

ITINERARY - DAY BY DAY

Day 1: Iquitos - Tambo Amazonico Lodge

You will be met at the airport by one of our native guides, trained in Amazon ecology. On the way to the dock you will have a brief tour of the XIX century colonial city, and its places of interest. At the dock board a typical Pamacari boat and navigate on the Amazon River for 4 hours, beginning your adventure. The majestic Amazon River is 4,000 miles long on its way to the Atlantic Ocean, and has 200 fish species. You will see interesting places along your river travelling, until you arrive to the Tambo Amazonico Lodge. Lunch.
Afternoon, hike to visit a bird community to observe macaws, parrots and other colorful birds, that are attracted to the mineral salts of the giant Machimango Tree.
Bring some extra T-shirts because you will also have an opportunity to trade them for or buy local crafts in the village of Jaldar. Dinner
Bring your flashlight for an exciting evening boat ride in search of Black Caiman or other nocturnal creatures.
At night there will be a night expedition in search of alligators. Dinner. Lodging.

Day 2: Tambo Amazonico Lodge - Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

You'll want your binoculars and camera for this early morning boat excursion to the Yarapa Creek for birdwatching. The Yarapa is known for it's many hidden lakes where you'll find the primitive Hoatzin Birds nesting in thorny palm trees, and Horned Screamers roosting on giant lily pads. Breakfast.
Leave the Yarapa behind continuing south up the Amazon, (remember, the current of the river flows south to north) where you´ll pass through the joining of the river the Ucayali and Maranon.

This is the actual point where the two great rivers meet to form the Amazon River. Continue up the Marañon River making a brief stop in the small town of Nauta before arriving at the mouth of the Yanayacu-Pucate River, the entrance into the Reserve. Look for large groups of pink dolphin feeding here. Stop in the village of 20 de Enero (January 20th) to visit forest police checkpoint. (You will also get a chance to see the artificial beaches where villagers are raising Taricaya and Charapa Turtle eggs as part of the reserve's conservation efforts.)
Continue up the Yanayacu to the village of Yarina. Interchange experience about local and native life. Yarina is the last settlement on the Yanayacu River and will be our base. Here you'll get a chance to stretch your legs with a late morning hike along the Shushupe Trail, where you may see Squirrel Monkeys, Huapo Negros, Pichicho, or White Mustachioed Tamarins. We have also seen larger rodents like Anuje, and Majaz scurrying along the path, and endless trails of Leaf Cutter Ants.
After lunch, continue up river to Japon Cocha (Lake Japan) where you will discover an amazing diversity of giant trees and palms. This lake is literally teeming with aquatic fauna such as King Fishers, Horned Screamers, White Heron wading on the banks of the lake, and trees filled with Cormorants and Anhingas. Squirrel Monkeys, Woolies, and Tamarins are abundant. You and your guide will also paddle your way into the Quebrada Martin Caño to explore. Return to Lake Japan. Dinner camp out in tents at the lake.

Day 3: Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

Early morning, boat excursion into the Quebrada San Juan (San Juan Stream) and El Fraile for spectacular birdwatching. Here you'll be able to observe Scarlet, Blue, Red and Yellow Macaws, with many other exotic bird species. Return to Yarina for breakfast.
Full day to Chingana Creek where you'll quietly paddle in search of Howler Monkeys and Saimiris. The jungle here is thick and the trees have grown to form a canopy over the creek, creating a primate "super highway". Box Lunch.
Back out on the Yarina, you'll get a chance to see the primitive and mysterious Amazon Pink River Dolphin. Dive in for a closer look!
Afternoon, excursion to Pasto Lake, where families of Giant River Otter make their home. Continue the journey into the Del Huapo Stream to observe giant Lupuna and Renaco Trees. This is also an excellent area to view Macaws. Return to Yarina.
Evening, boat ride in search of Black Caiman, and other nocturnal creatures such as Night Jars, Hawks, Owls, Tiger Heron and Great Potoos. Dinner camp out in tents.

Day 4: Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

After breakfast, you begin the most interesting tract in the whole journey, having the opportunity to observe the pink and gray dolphins. Carry out a handmade fishing tour with arrows, under the direction of our native guides. With great care, you will observe the second time what you did not have the opportunity to see the first time; some enigmatic river wolves that live in big family flocks in their own burrows. Lunch.
Take a walk, until you reach some ponds where live huge Black Caymans (alligators) that can measure up to 6 mts. long. We then return to Pona Cocha. Dinner. Spend the night in tents.

Day 5: Pacaya Samiria National Reserve - Iquitos - Lima

Breakfast. Return to Iquitos. At proper time transfer to the airport. End of services

TOUR INCLUSIONS

- 1 night accommodation at the Tambo Amazonico Lodge.
- 3 nights camp at the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
- In and out transfers.
- All applicable taxes.
- Bilingual guided tours.
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary.

** Custom made programs may be prepared for groups with special interests. Extra nights, optional starting and ending points, additional tours and extra flight reservations may be arranged upon request. All tours may be provided in private upon request as well.