THE WORLD WE LIVE IN RUNAPA KAWSANA ALLPAN
Art for Change for the Amazon Rainforest
WHERE HEAVEN MEETS EARTH
PACAYA SAMIRIA NATIONAL RESERVE
A natural wonder for explorers and nature lovers who are interested in a deeper experience of the rainforest, where you can really feel the rainforest; its sounds, wildlife, and friendly people - in all of your senses.
You will become part of landscapes and families that can only amaze you about this wonderful world.
Pacaya Samiria Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Peru containing a flooded tropical forest and covers a vast wilderness of unexplored forests, lagoons, inlets, rivers, species, trees, and plants. We can indeed travel for weeks. Our clients say:
" A multicultural experience - an extreme journey to beauty "
The Reserve is a hub for biodiversity research and amazing scenery, which is why also filmmakers and scientists travel here. It is worldwide known for its range of biodiversity and shelters animals from pink dolphins to spider monkeys and giant South American turtles. It's also home to hundreds of bird species, like colourful macaws.
One tree alone is not a forest, here you will be able to explore a number of different trees and species, including medicine trees and plants and we will take you to the largest trees of the Amazon, home and source of life for the indigenous peoples.
The expedition is co-guided by a local friend and expert, born and raised in the Reserve, working to protect the forest and its species.
Together, we offer you a private customised tour where we will take you to places in the Reserve where not many people go.
If you want to travel alone with us, you are welcome, many of our guests prefer this option. Or you can travel in a group.
PART OF THE FAMILY
When you travel with us, you simultaneously support our activities and work in the Peruvian Amazon through our Healing Art project THE WORLD WE LIVE IN / RUNAPA KAWSANA ALLPAN for and with the Amazon and the indigenous people. We believe we together can create a better world in and with nature.
Contact us for your special focus, research area and interest - and we will do our very best to fulfil it.
Facts about The Reserve
A NATURAL WONDER
Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is a vast area of the Amazonian jungle and floodable forest in northeastern Peru, bordered by the Marañón and Ucayali rivers.
It is a protected area located in the region of Loreto, Peru and spans an area of 20,800 km2 (8,000 sq mi) and forms a biodiversity hotspot in the Amazon jungle.
The extension of the reserve represents 1.5% of the Peruvian territory and 6% of the Loreto region, likewise, it is somewhat larger than the surface of Slovenia and comparable to 50% of the territory of Denmark, or Costa Rica, which ensures the ecological and genetic representativeness of the region. It comprises around 208 populated centres with approximately 40,000 people living within the area and 50,000 in the buffer zone. There are 56 native communities affiliated with indigenous organizations and the main native population belongs to the Kukama-Kukamiria indigenous group.
Getting there, Time to go & Climate
THE MONKEY ROAD
At all times of the year, it is good to visit the Reserve as you will have unique different experiences. The seasonal pattern of crescent and reflux are as vital to the Amazon as the tides are to the oceans and provide two very different experiences when visiting the Pacaya-Samiria.
July - January*: "Summer" is when the rain decreases radically, beaches arise in the rivers and families grow crops such as rice, beans, and cucumber and as magic, you will experience the taricayas (turtles) laying their eggs. Summer also means higher temperatures and amazing reflections in the water.
February - June*: "Winter" is when we experience a rise in rivers and lakes and more waterways appear with a cooler climate. During this period our boats venture deeper into the flooded forest and we can take shortcuts.
*Due to changes in the climate, we do not have totally defined seasons so this should be seen as guiding rules.
The annual mean temperature ranges between 20 and 33 °C, while the annual mean precipitation ranges between 2000 and 3000 mm.
We meet in the capital of Loreto, the largest Amazon region in Peru -in the city of Iquitos.
You can reach the capital of the Loreto region, Iquitos by air (approx. 3,5 hours) or travel at the Amazon River from the Amazonian town of Colombia, Leticia - by speed boat (approx. 10 hours) or slow boat (around 3 days).
Location of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
SEASONS
MEETING POINT
5 days / 4 nights and up
WAKING UP TO THE JUNGLE CALL
When travelling in the rainforest we always adjust the program to your needs and wishes as well as the weather, and transportation time. Normally we wake up early, travel often before or with the sun, and enjoy an early night's sleep. For deeper insights into our excursion trip
WE INCLUDE:
Preparation calls.
Checklist.
Small private car to and from the city of Iquitos.
Public slow transportation to Pacaya Samiria National Reserve on the Marañón River.
Private local boat in the Reserve as well as a canoe.
Two guides.
Boatdriver.
Cook.
Entry permission to the Reserve.
Accommodation in a large, simple village house.
Possibility of Private room / Double room.
Possibility of camping in a tent.
Three local homemade and healthy meals a day.
All water (filtered).
Rubberboots and raincoat.
EXCLUDING:
Flight ticket to and from Peru.
Accommodation and meals in Iquitos.
Insurance.
Special diet.
Additional foods, drinks (sodas), and handicrafts from the local people.
LEAVE NOTHING BUT FRIENDSHIPS AND MEMORIES BEHIND
We wish to leave no waste behind and always ask/inform our guests, local families and guides on how to optimize our ecological footprint in the expeditions.
LOCAL FEELING
We travel as the locals and with the locals and work our best for you to be comfortable and pay special attention to safety and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Flexibility is always a key asset we ask from our visitors, as weather and departure times are likely to change accordingly to nature. We are available at all times on our excursion and you also have the opportunity to explore on your own.
Next trips & Prices
2023
You are welcome to join our upcoming expeditions for the soul and contact us for availability and dates.
4 days / 3 nights
Sunday the 20th of October - Wednesday 23th October 2023 (Winter trip)
max. 6 people
5 days / 4 nights
Friday the 6th of October - Tuesday 10th October 2023 (Winter trip)
* EXTRA- this tour includes a one-day special focus tour on 5th October.
max. 6 people
10 days / 9 nights
To be announced
max. 4 people
14 days / 13 nights
Dates to be announced max. 4 people
Travelling alone? You are very welcome, many of our guests prefer this option.
5 days / 4 nights
28th March- 1st April 2024 (Easter trip)
15th - 19th July 2024 (Summer trip)
(with camping on the islands / beaches that arise in summer)
max. 6 people
More dates to come
2024
SUNRISE & SUNSET
Our clients say
" TRAVELLING TO PACAYA SAMIRIA NATIONAL RESERVE WAS A COMPLETELY NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME THAT LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ME.
SUCH A LARGE ECOSYSTEM, SO FAR SPARED FROM HUMAN INFLUENCE, HAS STRUCK ME WITH ITS DIVERSITY, VASTNESS AND BEAUTY. WITH ELVIO AND MARIA AS GUIDES BY MY SIDE, I FELT SAFE AND COMFORTABLE AT ALL TIMES ".
KLAS SCHMIDT / GERMANY
" MARIA WORKS FOR HER DREAM AND GENEROUSLY SHARES IT THROUGH HER TOURS. A TRANSVERSAL, DIVERSE, MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE, AN EXTREME JOURNEY TO BEAUTY AND HER GREEN AND WISE HEART ".
ANEL ESTELAR FIGUEROA / MEXICO
" I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE AMAZON WITH YOU AS A GUIDE DURING THE WINTER WHEN MUCH IS FLOODED. YOU ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND YOUR GREAT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE FOR THE AMAZON SHOW OTHER SIDES OF LIFE THERE".
YVONNE WIESE / DENMARK
" MY TRIP TO THE RESERVE HAS BEEN UNFORGETTABLE! I HAVE MET GREAT PEOPLE, TASTED WONDERFUL FOOD, AND SEEN THE MOST AMAZING PLACES ON OUR PLANET. I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SEE IT WITHOUT MARIA AND HER FRIENDS. I WILL DEFINITELY COME BACK!
MARIA CHUNYS / UKRAINE