Saturday, September 29, 2012

Expeditions Available For October 2012


All around the year, Amazon Explorer runs three days to two weeks or longer expeditions to the deep rainforest from Iquitos, Peru, South America. To ease take you the decision sign you up to a group, on our calendar (http://www.facebook.com/AmazonExplorer/app_128953167177144) are available all the scheduled expeditions till the moment.

In this regard, beginning on the 2nd till the 7th we will head to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, the largest government protected area within the floodable Amazon rainforest in South America. This is the best place for wildlife spotting and birding for less than ten days available. These dates above in October are closed now, but it is possible to open a new group beginning the 10th or with months in advance for 2012 or 2013.
15-day Matses Expedition
From October 16 to 30 we head our tracks to the Matses tribe territories, near the border between Peru and Brazil. If you are a cultural-oriented traveler and have available 15 days this is your opportunity for visit this interesting people far from the cities and the beaten tourist paths. Because Matses live far away, we visit them two to four times per year. Take advantage of your time and this opportunity once in life…!
With less than three weeks missing for beginning this adventure, it is strongly suggested you contact us as soon as possible to join to this trip. Our rates include transfer from Iquitos airport, all land and river transportation, plane ticket from Iquitos to Angamos, all meals provided for duration of trip, purified water, indigenous Matses guides and support for the tribal communities. Materials: Mosquito nets, sheets, hammocks and rubber boots. Discounts are available for group bookings.

Iquitos, located on the north of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, South America is a 420,000 inhabitant city, bordering with Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil. Iquitos has a 5-star hotel, many comfortable 3 and 2-star hotels, and budget accommodations and dormitories, as well as luxury river cruises (have to be booked in advance), restaurants offering Amazonian, Peruvian, vegetarian or international food.

For those who live in the USA, Iquitos can be reached easily from New York, Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Newark, and Washington through Panamá by Copa Airlines (www.copaair.com) with available flights Wednesday and Saturday (Panamá-Iquitos-Panamá). Additionally, Copa Airlines has connections to Panama and from there to Iquitos from Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Central America and the Caribbean. Note: Copa Airlines has an alliance with United Airlines and is member of Star Alliance (the world's first and largest global airline alliance).
If you are now in Peru or wish to begin your Peruvian adventure from the jungle, there are three airlines flying daily from/to Iquitos:
Peruvian Airlines (www.peruvianairlines.pe), from/to Lima.
Star Perú (www.starperu.com), from/to Lima, Pucallpa and Tarapoto.
LAN Perú (www.lan.com), from/to Lima and Tarapoto.

At this moment Peruvian Airlines and Star Peru are the cheapest airlines, and LAN is really expensive for non-Peruvians, but is the most punctual company. You can book by Internet either buy a ticket direct at a travel agency or at the airport.

Iquitos has daily river boats towards Yurimaguas/Tarapoto, Pucallpa and Brazil or Colombia.

Check some pictures on:
Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve:

Matses Expeditions:

Amazon Explorer welcomes nature enthusiasts, families, birders, scientists, and adventurer tourists that wish to enjoy real jungle.

If you have any question or concern about Iquitos and the Amazon, please do not hesitate to contact us. Also, we strongly suggest you contact iPeru, the National Tourism Board (iperuiquitos@promperu.gob.pe; phone: (+51 65) 23-6144, 26-0251 from Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9am-1pm, or call the 24-hour line (+51 1) 574-8000, www.peru.travel).
At iPeru you can obtain free and official information about Iquitos, Peru, a list of registered tour companies and interesting places. This organization only gives information about registered companies and their record of complaints (reputation), in order to have a good and safe tour.

More information: info@amazonexplorer.com

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Matsés Indigenous Traditions IV. Copal Torches

Indigenous people of the Amazon extract the copal tree (Protium ferrugineum) resin through incisions for use in different applications. Matses / Mayoruna, stockpile this resin to make torches, with an elongated shape of 50 cm. Then they cover it with palm leafs and tied with barks. These torches are used by them to light up their homes at night.

More information: info@amazonexplorer.com


ACTIVITIES
Jungle survival training course