Diciembre 2012: Curso Básico y Avanzado de Supervivencia en Selva

Del 18 al 22 de diciembre de 2012, Amazon Explorer estará organizando el curso de supervivencia en selva para todas aquellas personas o viajeros que quieran adquirir conocimientos básicos o avanzados de la supervivencia en la selva o busquen retos físicos.

El Curso Básico de Supervivencia en Selva será dictado del 18 al 20 de diciembre y los que cuenten con el tiempo necesario, podrán continuar con el entrenamiento con el Curso Avanzado que se extenderá hasta el día 22.

Los cursos son dictados por instructores militares calificados y contienen aspectos relativos a la supervivencia en la selva, indicando la manera más práctica de adaptarse al medio ambiente y al uso de los recursos naturales.

Se dividen en 2 fases: Teórica, dictada en un salón de la ciudad de Iquitos y Práctica, dictada a 60 km (37 mi) de la ciudad de Iquitos.

Durante los cursos se impartirán temas como fundamentos de supervivencia en la selva y características de la región amazónica, especímenes nocivos, seguridad, señas, orientación, herramientas, fuego, refugio, alimentación, entre otros.

Al término de cada curso cada participante recibirá un Certificado firmado por la Gerencia y el Instructor principal de Amazon Explorer.

Iquitos, ciudad 420,000 habitantes emplazada a orillas del río Amazonas, en el extremo nororiental del Perú (América del Sur), es la principal ciudad amazónica del país. Iquitos posee los servicios de toda gran ciudad como cajeros automáticos, bancos, supermercados, restaurantes de comida vegetariana, peruana o internacional; un hotel de 5 estrellas, varios hoteles de 3 y 2 estrellas, así como alojamientos económicos y dormitorios compartidos para todo tipo de viajero.

Existen tres aerolíneas que cubren diariamente la ruta Lima-Iquitos:
• Peruvian Airlines (www.peruvianairlines.pe)
• Star Perú (www.starperu.com)
• Lan Perú (www.lan.com)

Asimismo, dos veces por semana se disponen de vuelos Panamá-Iquitos:
• Copa Airlines (www.copaair.com)

Para los que viven fuera del Perú y quieren un vuelo directo a la Amazonía peruana, Copa Airlines se presenta como una opción ideal pues gracias a su alianza con United Airlines y su membresía en Star Alliance, la principal alianza de aerolíneas del mundo, posee conexiones desde EE.UU. (New York, Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Newark y Washington), Canadá, México, Costa Rica, Colombia, América Central y el Caribe.

Curso Básico (3 días):
Inicio: 18 de diciembre.
Final: 20 de diciembre.

Curso Avanzado (5 días):
Inicio: 18 de diciembre.
Final: 22 de diciembre.

Contáctese con nuestros asesores a: info@amazonexplorer.com

More information: info@amazonexplorer.com

ACTIVITIES
Jungle survival training course

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:

• http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150672638870780.383410.329177975779&type=3

• http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150855257905780.394764.329177975779&type=3

• http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150861683605780.395386.329177975779&type=3

Matses Expeditions:

• http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150287740245780.330548.329177975779&type=3

• http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150336460065780.339584.329177975779&type=3

• http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150368815175780.344859.329177975779&type=3

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

ACTIVITIES
Jungle survival training course

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

Matsés Indigenous Traditions III. Barbasco (Lonchocarpus sp.)

Also known as “cubé” is a plant part of the Fabaceae family that grows in the South American rainforest, used in the traditional fish by indigenous peoples of the Amazon.

Fishermen take the barbasco roots and smash them with a piece of wood. In a brook, they contain the water current in different points; then dip and shake the smashed roots in the water, releasing the venom and waiting until it works. Immediately, poisoned fish come to the surface, easy to take them with a net. Finally, fishers open the dams in the brook allowing the venom dissolves in the waters and loses its effect.

Barbasco root extract contains mainly rotenone and deguelin, as well as tephrosin and toxicarol.

Rotenone is mildly toxic to humans and other mammals, but extremely toxic to insects and aquatic life. Fish poisoned with rotenone can be eaten this venom is very poorly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract of humans.

Rotenone is used commercially as an insecticide, but use for fishing can be controversial, as it kills all species of fish.

More information: info@amazonexplorer.com

ACTIVITIES
Jungle survival training course

Matsés Indigenous Traditions II. The Frog Medicine (Kambo)

Frog medicine, known in Spanish as Medicina del Sapo, originally know as Kambo in old Matses language; sometimes referred as kambô and Vacina do sapo in Brazilian portuguese, this ancient ceremony is performed by native experts from the Mayoruna tribe (Matsés people), and other indigenous people of the Amazon.

In the Matsés, the ceremony starts by catching a giant leaf frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) also called giant monkey frog in English, because it climbs into the rainforest canopy. The Mayoruna expert immobilizes it by tying its four extremities, extracts the poison from its back with a small wooden stick and places it on a piece of cane, then release the frog. He subsequently dries and stores the stick to be used for this practice.

Later, before applying it, the expert rehydrates the dried poison with water or saliva. The expert heats up a thin piece of vine (tamshi) and burns several points on the participant’s arm or chest, producing instant blisters on his/her skin. The amount of burn marks will depend on the tolerance of each person. The blisters will then be scratched open one by one and the poison extracted from the frog will be applied on the wounds.

This practice is usually performed on rainy days by the Mayorunas in order to get more energy, trust and improve their shooting skills for hunting purposes. Several days after having been stung, the Mayorunas will go hunting and try their best shot with bow.  

According to researchs, the substance segregated by the giant leaf frog contains deltorphin, acting as an emetic and dermorphin, acting as a powerful analgesic. This practice is actually used as a treatment in alternative medicine.

An expedition to the Matses territories takes at least 2 weeks.

More information: info@amazonexplorer.com

ACTIVITIES
Jungle survival training course

Matsés Indigenous Traditions I. Nënë or Nunu, The Tobacco Inhalation

The native experts of the Matses (Mayoruna) tribe process a refined green powder that they call nënë in their own language or sometimes referred as nunu in Spanish, using tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum) and the bark of a tree called cacahuilo (Theobroma subincanum).

This practice is usually performed by two people. An adult expert Mayoruna pours a dose of the preparation inside the end of a hollow cane. The other end is placed in the nostril of the person who is going to receive and inhale the tobacco. The expert powerfully blows the powder into the nostril of the person on the other end receiving the "nunu". The amount of inhalations in each nostril will depend on the tolerance of each consumer.

One of the keys to the success of the nunu ceremony lies in that the person blowing must be an expert adult, who, besides the tobacco, also sends his spirit and power to the person inhaling.

This practice is only used by men who want to gain courage, power and energy. However, they can also decide to do it as a celebration, to have visions or just to have a good night’s rest after a bad day. Since this tribe has an obvious relationship between hunting and shamanism they also use nunu to get a good shot with bow and improve their hunting proficiency.

An expedition to the Matses / Mayoruna territories takes at least 2 weeks.
More pictures and information: Facebook.com/AmazonExplorer


More information: info@amazonexplorer.com

ACTIVITIES
Jungle survival training course