TIPS & TRICKS FOR Wildlife Photography in the Peruvian Amazon

Stories

Rainforest wildlife photography : tips, tricks, and a wild encounter

There’s no right or wrong way to practice wildlife photography. Everyone has their methods, but overall, my best success has been when focusing on a distinct thing, say a specific species, a location/niche type, or even a particular time of day. Generally, by doing so, I get the best photos. Repeated exposure to this same thing coupled with a strong dose of patience makes you learn a lot about it and hence helps you improve your photos of whatever this ‘thing’ may be. But nature can be unpredictable, so it doesn’t hurt to be ready in case something happens… 

Sunset on canopy tower at Posada Amazonas by Louis Guillot

Figure 1 – Sunrise at the Posada Amazonas Canopy Tower.

Wildlife photography: Focusing on a specific subject

If I’m focusing on a specific species, I will first try to learn as much as I can about it (such as its behavior and preferred habitat type). I can find such information by searching online (scientific papers, social media posts, blogs, forums); asking friends; and if need be, reaching out to respective specialists (guides, scientists, field researchers). I will also try to learn as much as possible while repeatedly observing this species in the field. If I’m lucky, I might start to learn some of this species’ predictable habits (although often in the rainforest, you will never find this predictability or even the species you’re after in the first place, so you might have to accept this and just move on. The Amazon is one of the most biodiverse habitats on earth so there will be some other species with predictability). For howler monkeys, predictable habits might look like what their favorite tree to sleep in is; for hummingbirds, what branch they like to perch on; for jaguars… well that’s quite hard really…

Red brocket deer on camera trap by Louis Guillot

Figure 2 – Red Brocket Deer passing by a frequently used mammal trail (DSLR camera trap).

Predictability is your friend in the jungle, so if you do find it, exploit it as much as you can (figures 1, 2, 3 & 4 were all taken through exploiting such predictability). But unpredictability can also be your friend, so always be prepared in case something crazy happens. How can you be prepared for the unpredictable? Bring a couple of cameras, a few lenses, and a flash. That can help. Ideally a wide, a macro, and a telephoto lens.

Spider on trebark by Louis Guillot

Figure 3 – Semi-aquatic spider (Thaumasia sp.) on the water surface.

 

Giant River Otter by Louis Guillot

Figure 4 – Resident giant river otter from the Tres Chimbadas lake.

Check out Posada Amazonas Lodge Suggested Itinerary to watch Giant River Otters

Preparing For the Unpredictable on Wildlife Photography

In fact, just the other day, unpredictability was my friend (figures 5, 6 & 7 were also unpredictable photos – things that just happened in front of me by chance). I saw something I never thought I would. And I was kind of ready for it. I mean I got some photos that are in focus. The light wasn’t ideal but interesting behaviour in a photo beats crispness or sharpness any day in my opinion and this photo captured really cool behaviour. To cut to the chase, I focused on finding good animal trails to place a camera trap (fig 2) to capture some of the more elusive jungle wildlife. I was not walking quietly to stalk animals as I was concentrating on a different mission, but I had an extra pair of hands, so it didn’t hurt to hold my camera and telephoto lens in case something just fell onto my plate (the unpredictable). You never know what you might see once you leave your room, tent, or lodge – this is particularly relevant when you’re in the Amazon rainforest, but this also applies to wherever you are in the world.

Frogs mating by Louis Guillot - wildlife photography

Figure 5 – Two male frogs (Dendropsophus minutus) attempting to mate with a larger female.

 

kingfisher with prey by Louis Guillot

Figure 6 – Green-And-Rufous kingfisher with frog (nearly completed metamorphosis) prey.

About an hour in, scouting for camera trap locations, I hear an animal noise I have never heard before. A noise that is almost impossible to ignore as it is right above me and being repeatedly called four times with a short pause at the end before starting again. I stop to try and find the source of this noise… I notice movement in the trees and suddenly see a flash of red right in front of my eyes. Too fast to properly identify the animal I continue searching and start imagining what it could be… The noise sounded like an alarm call and reminded me of squirrel monkey social calls… So, I started thinking the red was blood from an injured squirrel monkey being preyed upon by something larger… The movement carries on and suddenly I see a bird fly from one branch to the next. The red flash wasn’t blood but just the color of this bird’s ventral tail feathers. I continue searching, this time through my camera’s viewfinder when suddenly I see the characteristic beak of a toucan. But this beak was holding another winged animal that was very much still alive and seemingly screaming for its life. 

Howler monkeys on claylick by Louis Guillot

Figure 7 – Two howler monkeys eating mineral-rich clay at a clay lick.

Visit 2 or more clay licks on an expedition to Tambopata Research Center- Check out here.

With its beak, the toucan starts hitting this animal on the branch it is perched on. It is clearly predating something, but I still can’t see exactly what. Eventually, I noticed the toucan was holding a bat in its beak. 

Tucan with bat by Louis Guillot

Figure 8 – White-Throated Toucan predating a bat (Stenodermatinae subfamily).

I start taking as many photos as I can. Very quickly the toucan flies higher in the canopy where I can no longer see it. I am still hearing the bat making this unique noise. After about a minute, the bat noise stops… The toucan must have killed/eaten the bat.

I knew that toucans were predators capable of eating anything they could swallow, from frogs to birds, but I guess I had never witnessed such behavior. In my mind, I had pictured toucans as cute, gentle birds, with their characteristic beaks. But witnessing this commotion has changed my perspective on them: they’re awesome and I’m sure cute in many ways, but not cute in the way I was thinking… Anyway, the moral of the story is to be prepared. My camera was in my hand when this happened. If it had been in my bag, I probably would have missed these shots as everything happened so quickly.

By Louis Guillot

About me

My name is Louis Guillot, I’m a wildlife photographer, zoologist, and children’s forest educator. I have long been interested in wild places from all corners of the world, from the streets of urban London to the depths of the Amazon rainforest. I’m often asked what my favorite animals/groups are… The truth is I love everything from ants to hummingbirds, to larger mammals and parasitic wasps. I get obsessed with certain things, stick with those for a while, and then move on before realizing I’m coming back to the original obsession again and going in circles… But I love doing this.

If you want to follow more of my stories and photos, please check out my Instagram here. 

  • What our guest say

    • Valuation Excellent
    • 5/5

Maria Carrero June 2026

Lauren Kuenstner June 2026

Adam C June 2026

Perry Killam June 2026

Brad Taylor-White June 2026

Sue_szb April 2026

Beam May 2026

David Staro May 2026

Serg Averkin April 2026

Carlotta May 2026

Asha S May 2026

Laurence W April 2026

We stayed last february for 4 nights in the TRC lodge. I never could have imagined that I would explore the amazon in such confortable and immersive way. The lodge itself is such a luxurious place, in the middle of nowhere! The food was nicely curated everyday to offer new bits and pieces of the Peruvian cuisine. The absolute highlight of our stay here was for sure the activities and our guide Carmen, who accompanied us everyday! We were able to choose our everydays activities with our very reduced group and our guide. Carmen guided us on very activity, spotting and explaining what animals we saw and interesting facts about our surroundings. Her knowledge and excitement were so infectious that it would even make the sightings even more special! Read all

One of the most unique experiences we’ve had! You are deep in the heart of the Amazon and truly feel immersed in nature. Our guide Dino was awesome and taught us so much about the rainforest-he is like a walking encyclopedia, and his love for the forest really shows. Also very unique to listen to nightly talks from the research team-it really adds to the experience. Food was great and staff very friendly. Bring lots of bug spray and an adventurous spirit! Read all

The lodge was fantastic; they were very attentive to our needs. The dining staff brought special bread for my wife because of her celiac disease and offered to prepare dishes specifically for her to meet her dietary needs. The lodge guides were truly knowledgeable and went out of their way to help us see all the local wildlife. I especially loved the mosquito net service they provided. I was worried we’d be eaten alive, but their setup is fabulous; I had no concerns once I saw how they installed the impenetrable nets and curtains. The meals were as good as—or better than—anywhere else we ate in Peru. We saw the following animals: macaws, parrots, parakeets, pale-winged trumpeters, tamarins, caimans, capybaras, and a ton of insects on our night hike. Read all

We had an excellent guide who was very knowledgeable about the local animals, birds, and plants. I learned a lot. We also participated in the Wired Amazon experience and just received the video clips of the animals that walked by - ocelots, agoutis, ... some amazing animals. It was fun to set up the camera traps, and now I'm inspired to get one for our backyard. Read all

Refugio Amazonas was one of the most memorable and immersive experiences of our entire trip to Peru. From the moment we arrived, it felt like we had entered a completely different world. Waking up to the sounds of the rainforest, exploring the Amazon with knowledgeable guides, spotting wildlife, and disconnecting from everyday life created an experience we will never forget. The guides and staff were exceptional throughout our stay. Everyone was warm, welcoming, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the rainforest and the guest experience. Their enthusiasm and expertise added so much to every excursion and activity. For this type of Amazon adventure, Refugio Amazonas felt top-tier. The wildlife experiences were remarkable, the setting was beautiful, and the overall level of immersion was exactly what we were hoping for when we added the Amazon to our Peru itinerary. Read all

Wow what an experience! If you want to be fully immersed in Amazon life in a wonderful , comfortable eco lodge, and not have expectations of a 5 star city hotel (I'm not sure why you would, but some reviewers seemed disappointed it wasn't!) you will love this. You will be in a group, 6 in ours, but you don't all have to do the same activities, you just join another group. Plenty of spaces to chill and downtime if you need it...its hot and humid! There's a fan in the room and I heard the superior rooms have a fan under the mozzie net. Take a torch! We were never bitten, used deet repellent only. They provide rubber boots if you want them, some of the trails were very muddy, but we managed in our walking boots. We loved the open wall to the jungle, despite some bugs, but not too many surprisingly. Sooooo much wildlife, all sorts of monkeys, otters, turtles, caiman, different birds, capybara etc. Luis M was our guide, a local, and he could spot a spider from 5 metres I'm sure... great sense of humour and a wealth of knowledge, loved him. We spent 3 nights 20th-24th April, it rained on a couple of occasions but not much. Perfect holiday for an immersive wildlife experience! Read all

Beautiful lodge in the rainforest, very well maintained and clean. We had a lot of fun and excellent guides. The rooms and facilities were top-notch! Read all

We stayed at Posada Amazonas Lodge in May 2026, and it was a truly unique experience. It’s important to note that the concept is unlike a traditional hotel: the rooms (the lodge has around 30 in total) are built entirely of wood and open completely to the rainforest, with no windows. The walls are about two meters high, and everything is open-air, meaning you can hear your neighbors as well as the sounds of the forest throughout the night. There is a hot-water shower with drainage flowing through wooden beams beneath the floor, and the beds are protected with mosquito nets. The food is delicious and nutritious, and one pleasant surprise was the excellent Wi-Fi connection (Starlink) available both at the lodge and on the boats. The logistics are flawless from the moment you land in Puerto Maldonado, including a short car ride (accompanied by a security company) followed by a forty-minute cruise along the Tambopata River. The staff is incredibly friendly. Our guide, Luis M. (a member of the local community that manages the lodge), was simply outstanding, with eagle-eyed vision for spotting wildlife and always wearing a smile. Tour highlights: Canopy Tower: a 42-meter tower rising above the treetops with panoramic views. We loved seeing the river, the rainforest, and even the distant Andes Mountains on the horizon. We returned at night during a nocturnal wildlife tour, where we spotted tarantulas, white sloths, and tree frogs. Lake Tres Chimbadas: a peaceful catamaran ride (without a motor) where Luis showed us a group of red-bellied monkeys, giant otters, and caimans. The scenery and tranquility are incredible. Trek to the “Great Tree”: a forest hike where we saw deer, jaguar tracks, a three-toed sloth, and more wildlife. At the end of the trail, we reached the gigantic ceiba tree: around 500 years old, approximately 60 meters tall, and with an impressive 11-meter base diameter. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to experience the true Amazon! Read all

An exceptional experience that truly exceeded all expectations. What impressed me the most is that here they genuinely want to make your stay as comfortable as possible — and that, to me, is what real high-level service is all about. The guide really tries to fill every excursion with emotions and memorable moments, turning simple activities into meaningful experiences. The kitchen team puts great effort into variety and introduces you to Peruvian cuisine — it feels like a small гастрономic journey. Housekeeping works like invisible bees — you don’t notice them, but everything is always perfectly taken care of. Another big highlight is the comfort level: stable electricity and surprisingly good internet both on the way and at the lodge, powered by Starlink. Having this level of connectivity in the middle of the jungle is something truly special. From reception and the bar to the boat driver — everyone is genuinely warm and happy to have you. You can really feel that each person is a small but important part of one big system delivering outstanding eco-tourism service. Bravo — achieving this level of service in the wild is not easy, and it shows. This experience was very valuable for me and my family. I won’t get tired of thanking you for the emotions you gave us. Highly recommended. Dear travelers — don’t hesitate. Go, enjoy the incredible nature and the level of service. This is something you will remember for a lifetime. Read all

We had the most amazing time at Refugio Amazonas for 3 nights, with a huge thanks to our guide Juan Carlos! On the first afternoon we sat down and planned our activities, which we loved! We came face to face with hundreds of birds, tarantulas, leaf carrying ants spanning 10 meter motorways to work and deliver the leaves to the ant house for food, parasites, and even leaves that cause natural dyes on oxidation - we learned so much. Carlos was genuinly interested in showing us everything the jungle had to offer, humorous and caring too. Carlos knew anything and everything about what was around us, pointing out things and creatures that the untrained eye would miss, carrying a telescope at all times for us to see the birds, ensuring we got magical videos on our phones using the telescope! Read all

Many thanks to Refugio Amazonas for an unforgettable experience! Brenda and team were so wonderful and accommodating, and Alan was a great guide. Thank you for a memorable experience! :) Read all

We had an excellent time at Tambopata research center. We are tourists like most who now visit the center, but it’s great to know that you can support research and the local community by visiting a place like this. Our guide for our trip, Esau, was extremely knowledgeable and showed great passion for his job. He described it as a hobby and he would get very excited if you spotted a specific bird or a tree. His specific knowledge about each and every creature in the forest was very impressive and I would recommend asking for Esau to be your guide in the future if you plan to visit. The hotel itself is unique. You are in the middle of the Amazon rainforest - the accessibility to nature is second to none. There are no windows in the hotel rooms. We had bugs in our room, of course, but the mosquito nets keep everything out and, actually, we both slept very well. The bar staff, Harrison, is very knowledgeable with drinks and works very hard. The food isn’t the best you’re ever going to have, but you have to remind yourself you are in the middle of the rainforest and that it takes a 6 hour round trip to get to the nearest town, and so the job that the hotel does in respect of the food is actually intuitive and very good. I would recommend this hotel to my peers and I would love to visit again in a few years time. Read all

Join To Our Newsletter

Write your e-mail

Join