Hi everyone,
For those of you who might be planning to explore the Amazon on the Peruvian side, I wanted to share a little feedback about my own experience, which I had back in 2018. It was honestly one of the most amazing travel experiences of my life—I’d dreamed of discovering the Amazon since I was a kid!
I’m sharing this now, in 2024, because I’ve just finished putting together a short documentary about the family’s ecotourism project. This gave me the chance to reconnect with them, and thanks to the magic of social media, even though they’d had to pause their activities after COVID and the closure of international borders, our reunion helped me put them in touch with the association ARUTAM Zero Deforestation, which has allowed them to restart their ecotourism. That’s why I’m posting here! :)
You can find all the details of my experience in this immersive adventure via this link:
http://kikienvadrouille.com/?p=7939Here are some key highlights from this adventure:
I spent 5 days with Wilder and Jessica’s family, along the banks of the Tahuayo River, a 7-hour slow boat ride from Iquitos <3
I arranged this experience through a French association (Latitud Sur at the time), which fights against deforestation and works to promote and protect the culture of Indigenous peoples in South America.
This is an experience far from the "clichés" you might have about the Amazon—simple yet authentic, with a focus on funding projects that preserve biodiversity and support the well-being of local communities.
The stay is completely customizable in terms of duration and activities (you can ask to go on a hike in the Amazon rainforest, learn about medicinal plants, fish in the river, make necklaces, baskets, or other Amazonian handicrafts, understand the Amazonian agroforestry system, and meet local producers, etc.)—everything is open for discussion! :)
The cost is calculated per day per person: 50 USD per person per day (down from 90 USD previously).
This price includes the 7-hour boat trip from Iquitos (an adventure in itself!), as well as food, accommodation, and activities.
If you buy any handicrafts on-site, you’ll obviously need to budget a little extra.
It’s essential to speak and understand at least some Spanish :)
The intercultural exchanges with the family are what truly make this stay special.
Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions! I can also put you directly in touch with Wilder.
Happy travels, everyone!
Christelle
