Georgia
Albania
Mammal Watching
The Blackwater Flooded Forests of the Peruvian Amazon are amongst the most biodiverse habitats on Earth. Close to Iquitos lies the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve protecting two and a half thousand square kilometres of varied habitats in the headwaters of the eponymous rivers. The reserve was set up to protect the habitat of the iconic Bald Red Uakari Monkey but has since been found to harbour populations of at least fifteen other species of Primate making it home to more species of primate than any similar sized area on the planet. The owners of the two lodges we’ll stay at were instrumental in the reserve’s foundation and these two lodges have unique access to the reserve’s trails and waterways.
We’ll stay at two lodges only fifteen kilometres apart but importantly these offer a very different mammal-watching experience. Equally pertinent is the timing of the tour. Mammals, primates as well as more terrestrial species, are much easier to find when the forest is under water. They are significantly easier to spot and easier to approach isolated in emergent tree canopies. It is rather like floating around in a magic carpet that you can direct into the tree tops to see what normally remains hidden to humankind stuck on terra firma below.
From Tahuayo Lodge we will explore tahuampa (or flooded forest); terra firme forest and remnant oxbow lakes in various stages of ecological succession. Here are Amazon Pink River Dolphins, Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths, Howler Monkeys, Black-fronted Tamarins, Pygmy Marmosets, Neotropical River Otters, as well as Harlequin Toads and Poison Dart Frogs. Nancy Ma Night Monkeys sleep in tree cavities near the main lodge.
Dates and Prices
14th May - 29th May 2025 (16 days)
* doesn't apply if you're willing to share and a room-mate can be arranged
Mammals
The maximum group size is 6.
All flights. All accommodation, transport and meals in Peru. Services of your leaders. Please note: items of a personal nature, including insurance, visas and tips, are not included. Mammal and bird checklists are available.
We’ll stay at the comfortable Tahuayo Lodge for five nights. This lodge has a beautiful setting and you’ll find nature all about you. There are very tasty buffet meals, private bathrooms, wifi, and electricity (limited) provided by solar panels. Next are five nights at the Amazon Research Center Peru Lodge located approximately 15km upriver from the Tahuayo Lodge. The ARC Lodge is smaller, quieter, more remote and in more pristine undisturbed forest. The rooms are private cabins and there’s a hammock room, 24 hour electricity provided by solar panels, wifi through satellite connection, warm water showers and modern plumbing (but in shared facilities) and delicious buffet-style meals. The first and last two nights of the tour will be in the quiet Vista Amazonica rooms with as the name suggests a fine view of the Amazon. This is a B&B with pleasant airy rooms. Facilities are en suite at Tahuayo Lodge and at Vista Amazonica, but at the Amazon Research Center there are only shared facilities available.
Generally easy, no more than three or four miles in a day, we’ll be spending a lot of time in boats/canoes.
UK flights are from London Heathrow via Sao Paulo and Lima. Routes from regional UK Airports* are available but may incur a supplement.
Iquitos has more diurnal range in temperature than it does during the entire year! And that’s not much either. Essentially daily maxima are 31°C and at night it drops to around 22°C-23°C. You are visiting at the end of the wet season so rainfall amounts are no so high but you can expect some rain most days.
Contact us to check if there is availability for the number of places you require. Click on the ‘Book this Tour’ button on this page to be taken to the online booking form or contact us and we will send one to you which you can complete and send back to us. You will receive confirmation of your place, and then a detailed information pack will be dispatched to you about twelve weeks before departure. This will contain up-to-date health information.
