Iquitos-Nauta-Pacaya Samiria

Day 1    Lima-Iquitos-Nauta-PS Lodge (L.D)

Board one the earliest morning flights to Iquitos. Flight takes approximately  90 minutes. Greet and meet at the Iquitos airport. Overland transfer to the town of Nauta located on the Marañon River (60 miles SE of Iquitos). After a smooth 90 minute ride on the road you will reach Nauta's river wharf where you will board one of the lodge's comfortable motor boats. First, you will boat down the Marañon River (20 minutes) to the its junction with the Ucayali River; this confluence is known as the place "where the Amazon River is born." You will have the opportunity to climb the 100-foot observation tower for a spectacular view of the three rivers and the surrounding and never ending forest. Then you will head up the Marañon to the Pacaya-Samiria Lodge (approximately a 90 minute ride) which lies on a green mild hill, just across the national reserve. Arrive to the lodge around noon and check-in. Lunch will be served at the panoramic restaurant. In the afternoon, your guide  will take you hiking to the forest near the lodge where you will see some of the typical rainforest flora and fauna specie. Later, and depending on the weather conditions, you will able to see a beautiful Amazon sunset.

If the weather conditions are permissible, there will be an evening boat excursion to hear and/or observe the nocturnal animals and insects. The sounds and sensations perceived in the jungle in a star-lighted night are unbelievable. Dinner. Overnight.

Day 2    PS Lodge- Pacaya Samiria Nat'l Reserve-PS Lodge (B.L.D)

At dawn, your guide will take you birdwatching around the lodge. After breakfast, a boat will be ready to take you across the Marañon into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. It will be necessary to register your entry at the guard post but don't worry because your guide will take care of everything. After this formality you will proceed with your journey by boat in Pacaya-Samiria. As the motorboat takes you down the Yanayacu-Pucate River you must be alert as "gray" and "pink" dolphins or giant river otters may suddenly appear. Atop the high trees you may also spot blue and gold macaws, green parrots, wooly, howler and spider monkeys, three-toed sloths amongst others. There can also be found a vast diversity of flora in particular palm trees that are very important as feeding source both for local villagers and wildlife.

Something that impresses visitors as they enter the reserve,  is the mirror-like reflection of the sky and vegetation on the rivers' and oxbow lakes' dark waters. Such characteristic gained Pacaya-Samiria the namesake of "The Mirrored Jungle".

A short stop along the way will be made for lunch (box lunch). In the afternoon, you will visit the Japon and Plantano lakes, where you will explore onboard a dugout canoe. You may also fish for piranha with the assistance of your guide or do some birdwatching or just relax and enjoy the spectacular landscape. .

At the end of the day, you will go back to the lodge in time for dinner. Overnight.

Day 3    PS Lodge- Nauta Creek-PS Lodge (B.L.D)

Start the day with a birdwatching session early this morning followed by breakfast at the lodge. Immediately after, boat excursion to Nauta Creek and nearby lakes, where you will observe the flora and fauna found on this area (monkeys, sloths and a wide variety of aquatic birds). Enjoy lunch (box lunch) under the shadows of the surrounding trees. Later, during the excursion to primary forest, the guide will identify medicinal plants and trees considered very important nowadays for the natural medicine industry.

Finally we rreturn to the lodge for dinner. Overnight.

Day 4    PS Lodge-Riverside Village-Nauta-Iquitos-Lima (B)

After breakfast we will visit a riveside (ribereño)  village to learn about its people lifestyle as well as their daily survival activities such as hunting, gathering, fishing or small agriculture. We can also collaborate with the community development by purchasing typical handicrafts made by villagers (seed bead collars and small carved figures made of vegetable ivory). Return to Iquitos via Nauta and transfer to the airport at an appropriate time to board your flight to Lima.

B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner