Here are some of the most impressive examples of camouflage we’ve come across in Tambopata.
Sphaenorhyncus lacteus,
Sphaenorhyncus lacteus, the greater hatchet-faced treefrog. Photo by Phil Torres
A katydid. Photo by Jeff Cremer.
Do Butterflies Sleep?
Do butterflies sleep? If you walk around the forest at night with a flashlight, you’ll quickly find the answer:
Yes, kind of.
Here’s a collection of images of some ‘sleeping butterflies’ I’ve come across in Tambopata.
And to check out more otherworldly jungle creatures — and even help with scientific discovery — join Wired Amazon a collection of citizen science projects
‘Sleeping’ butterflies
In general, there are a few common traits for this nighttime behavior.
They almost always ‘sleep’ hanging upside-down and underneath a leaf. This hanging requires minimal energy, as their tarsi (aka ‘claws’) can grasp onto the leaf with little effort, opposed to standing right side up.
Why do butterflies sleep under a leaf?
Two main reasons. For one, they gain protection from the rain that often falls at night. Secondly, they are more hidden from early-rising birds looking for a meal that may be active before the butterflies are warm enough to take off.
I have often noted that butterflies with warning coloration (black and bright yellow, orange wings) sleep more exposed, for example under a thin twig rather than under a covering leaf. This coloration is there as a signal to warn birds that they may be poisonous to eat. So, it may work to the butterflies’ advantage to show their entire color signal (aka wings) to birds, rather than keep their wings partially hidden under a leaf, explaining why they may tend to sleep more in the open.
So, are butterflies actually asleep?
Depends on your definition of sleep. If you want to define sleep as an inactive, low metabolic state: yes. This low metabolic state is often driven by the temperature in the air itself; ectothermic butterflies require outside heat energy to become active.
There’s really no use in being active at night for most butterflies- they can’t see each other to mate, and empty flowers are restocking themselves with nectar for the following day. So, it makes sense that they would go into this ‘sleep’ state which likely helps them digest the day’s feed, produce eggs/sperm, and basically take advantage of a time in which there is nothing better to do.
During this nocturnal state, they are still capable of flying off if disturbed. Also, there are some butterflies that specialize in roosting together at night in groups, and others I’ve seen regularly in pairs. Some butterflies in temperate climates are capable of overwintering as an adult, which is basically a physiologically extreme version of this normal sleep, kind of similar to hibernation.
Now the obvious follow-up question:
Do butterflies dream?
I think not.
To discover these stunning insects, along with dozens of other incredible species, why not exploring the Amazon rainforest and make your own discoveries?
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By Phil Torres
Phil Torres is a biologist, science communicator, photographer, and television host based in New York City who works on projects all over the globe. His work ranges from leading specialized ecotourism trips to photographing expeditions to being an on-camera personality and presenter.
Find his videos online at The Jungle Diaries.
Follow Phil Torres on Twitter @phil_torres
Contact Philp: http://www.phil-torres.com/
Frog Weather
Phyllomedusa palliata hanging from a leaf near Posada Amazonas. Image by Phil Torres
Ask any field biologist who has worked with frogs: there is such a thing as frog weather. I have been on easily over 100 night surveys in the rainforest in search of frogs and it doesn’t take long to notice a pattern emerge uniting the weather with your success in the night’s excursion.
Frogs, especially here in the rainforest, require moisture for activity and flock temporary pools/swamps of water to reproduce and lay eggs. I was last here in Tambopata during the dry season when there were very few temporary pools, so many of the frogs were hard to spot and likely hanging out up in the canopy rather than being more visible closer the dry ground. But now, it is the rainy season. Frog season.
Frog eggs with developing tadpoles inside. Image by Phil Torres
The perfect weather scenario for frogs based upon my observations: No rain for two to three days. Then, moderate to heavy rain that day, clear weather for a couple of hours as the sun sets, and no rain to light drizzle at night. I often look at the leaves to tell me how many frogs will be out-do the leaves look dry and dusty or dewy and glistening? If it’s the latter, you have a pretty good chance of spotting a frog- or dozens of frogs- that night.
If the rain is too heavy at night, there will be few frogs visible. The males come down closer to the ground at night and call to females to reproduce- what’s the point in calling for a mate if they can’t hear you through the rain? This also helps researchers- you can identify frogs and their activity based upon the amount of calling.
Phyllomedusa camba
Image by Phil Torres
So why should you go look for frogs? For one, they are quite photogenic, typically sit still, and make for great rainforest wildlife photos. Secondly, consider one of the reasons biologists go looking for them: frogs can be bioindicators. Meaning, a healthy frog population typically means a healthy environment. Many frogs breathe at least partially through their highly permeable skin, so if there are a lot of pollutants in the water the frog populations may be the first to be affected.
Also, many species of frogs are in decline due the chytrid fungus. Thus, the sad reality is that the frog extinction rate is much higher than many other animals, so you may not have long to photograph some of the more unique or rare species. Tambopata has been tested recently and no chytrid fungus was detected, so you’ll be sure to encounter some spectacular hopping frogs during your visit.
That being said, it is starting to rain here, so let’s hope for another night of frog weather. Happy frogging!
By Phil Torres
“Best” High Solar Halos Photos Ever Captured in Tambopata
A boat ride down the Tambopata River in Peru this September took an incredible turn when rare optical phenomena, known as high altitude solar halos, were seen and photographed with what is being considered the best images of the solar halos ever recorded.
What appeared to be an upside-down rainbow at first glance out the side of the canoe ended up being part of the rainbow-filled display seen here. Biologist Phil Torres and photographer Jeff Cremer were there to document it in the images and video seen here while on a Tambopata Research Center photo tour.
What are high-altitude solar halos?
According to the atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley, these solar halos are caused by very specific reflections and refractions of the sun’s light with ice crystals located in cirrus clouds high in the atmosphere. Normal rainbows are created by interactions of the sunlight with low-level raindrops rather than high-altitude hexagonal crystals of ice.
Rainbow – Tambopata River
Solar halos seen in Tambopata. Image by Phil Torres
Cowley also mentioned that after first sharing the photos with others in the field of study, the consensus was that these images are considered “the best high sun halo images seen” and are strikingly clear compared to other images of this phenomenon, possibly because of the tropical origin opposed to a more temperate one typically associated with the halos.
Solar ice halos are seen in Tambopata. The fainter white halos are considered the rarest. Image by Phil Torres
Image by Steve Gettle
Aren’t these sun dogs?
No- many consider all ‘rainbows around the sun’ like these to be sun dogs, they are not. Sun dogs are a specific type of ice halo found closer to the horizon with paired glowing refractions horizontal with the sun, as seen here. The halos seen in Tambopata were considerably higher in the sky than a sun dog.
While many think these ice halos are found only in colder climates, Cowley says that they are actually present throughout the world.
A full analysis of the display can be seen on Optics Picture of the Day.
Simulation of the phenomenon with names of corresponding ice halos seen in the images.
Image created by Les Cowley with HaloSim.
By Phil Torres
Phil Torres is a biologist, science communicator, photographer, and television host based in New York City who works on projects all over the globe. His work ranges from leading specialized ecotourism trips to photographing expeditions to being an on-camera personality and presenter.
Find his videos online at The Jungle Diaries.
Follow Phil Torres on Twitter @phil_torres
Contact Philp: http://www.phil-torres.com/
Why are some animals so well camouflaged?
A Plica plica tree runner camouflages against the bark of a large Ficus tree. Photo by Phil Torres
Another related katydid- some camouflage against dead leaves, others against live, green leaves. Photo by Jeff Cremer
Predators- like monkeys and birds- have remarkable vision, pattern recognition, and learning abilities. Young birds can quickly learn which butterflies are distasteful or poisonous, and monkeys can learn which ‘fake leaf,’ like the katydids pictured, are actually edible insects.
Because of that learning ability, many of these camouflaged species are polymorphic- meaning the same species will come in a variety of different camouflage schemes. Within the above katydid species, for example, some will look more like a live leaf while others have dead-leaf venation. The variation helps prevent monkeys from learning one single false leaf pattern as food and makes it more difficult for them to find and eat these cryptic creatures.
Camouflage is one of many survival tactics that have evolved in the animals of the rainforest. While some species may focus on being poisonous, dangerous, or fast, these guys do an incredible job of looking more plant-like than animal-like, and it seems to pay off.
Discover amazing rainforest creatures in Tambopata, Peru
by Phil Torres
We Solved An Amazon Rainforest Mystery (w/Video)
The Silkhenge spider. About six months ago, graduate student Troy Alexander took photos of this odd structure. What was it? The images went viral and neither the internet nor experts could figure it out what was this weird web tower in the Amazon
The inside ‘tower’ and outer ‘fence’ of this Amazon mystery.
So we returned to the Tambopata Research Center six months later with a team lead by myself, Phil Torres, to solve it. Alongside were entomologists Lary Reeves and Geena Hill, both from the University of Florida entomology department and with strong field experience, and photographer Jeff Cremer to document the structure with macrophotography.
The previous theories on how these structures were formed were vast: slime mold, spiders, fungus, lacewings, and some even thought it was a hoax. With just the pictures to go on and no other similar structure found in the literature, we approached this very open-minded but did suspect a cribellate spider for the reasons well outlined here.
For this expedition, the goal was to find more of these structures, find what’s making them, and try and figure out a function for the odd ‘fence’ with a ‘tower’ in the center.
We weren’t even sure we’d find more on the small fish pond island in which the first two were seen, but over a stretch of trail about 200m long we ended up finding upwards of 45 of them as the week went on. After isolating some of the structures and long hours of observations in the field, day and night, we’ve come up with the following conclusions:
1. It was created by a spider. Three of the structures hatched out these spiderlings.
structures hatched out these spiderlings.
We’re still attempting to identify the spider. There are several things that make this unusual. For one, it is not common for spiders to lay eggs and abandon them, they typically place silken egg sacs in their own web to protect. More oddly, it appears that there was only a single egg per structure (see image below). This, as far as we can tell, would be the only known occurrence of a spider laying a single egg per egg sac.
We saw a few adult spiders around that were prime suspects, but never saw any making it, so the construction and culprit remain a mystery.
2. There were a lot of mites around. The mites we found on and in the structures threw us off the trail for a bit as we’re unsure of the potential for the few groups of silk-producing mites to create such a structure themselves. We were able to rule them out once the spiderlings hatched, however, we noted several instances of mites being seemingly trapped inside or along the ‘fence’ of the structure, and other times crawling directly on the inner tower (below).
One ‘tower’ toppled, leaving an egg exposed. Mites like this were often seen in or on the structures.
One hypothesis is that the structure might be designed to trap mites, serving as an easy first meal for a hatching spider. There is also the possibility of the spiders putting some sort of chemical attractant on the egg case to bait the mites, as chemical lures have been documented several times with spiders.
Mites (the round, shiny objects) appear to be trapped within this structure.
Mites (the round, shiny objects) appear to be trapped within this structure.
In addition to potentially capturing mites, the ‘fence’ part of the structure may function as a defense against ants. The silk could potentially ensnare ants, and the distance from the center may prevent ants from easily detecting a food source within.
3. The spider appears to be habitat-specific. We only found them in a particular area of successional forest habitat with a high abundance of Cecropia and bamboo. This seems to fit the habitat of another single structure that was photographed in Ecuador. This information will allow us to survey other similar habitats to search for more.
The island where the spider was found can be seen in the lower-left corner.
Watch footage of the spider: We’re eager to hear from spider experts out there who can provide some guidance on ID and the evolutionary origin of the structure. There is much work to be done observing these in their natural environment to truly get to the bottom of it, but until then we can at least sleep at night knowing we’ve solved one part: it’s a spider.
For image/story usage please contact: therevscience@gmail.com
By Phil Torres
New species of Decoy Spider likely discovered at Tambopata Research Center
From afar, it appears to be a medium-sized spider about an inch across, possibly dead and dried out, hanging in the center of the spider web along the side of the trail. Nothing too out of the ordinary for Amazon. As you approach, the spider starts to wobble quickly forward and back, letting you know this spider is, in fact, alive.
I’ll tell you all about this amazing spider below. If you’d like to discover — literally — even more jungle species, join in our Discover New Species project!
The ‘decoys’ were built with a variety of forms and numbers of legs.
Step in even closer and things start to get weird- that spider form you were looking at is actually made up of tiny bits of leaf, debris, and dead insects. The confusion sets in. How can something be constructed to look like a spider, how is it moving, and what kind of creature made this!?
It turns out the master designer behind this somewhat creepy form is in fact a tiny spider, only about 5mm in body length, that is hiding behind or above that false, bigger spider made up of debris. After discussing with several spider experts, we’ve determined it is quite probable that this spider is a never-before-seen species in the genus Cyclosa.
This genus is known for having spiders that put debris in their webs to either attract prey or, as in this case, confuse anything trying to eat them.
Update: See the discovery of this spider on video!
Decoy Spider
You could call it a Decoy Spider, in a sense. The spiders arrange debris along specialized silk strands called stabilimenta in a symmetrical form that makes it look almost exactly like a larger spider hanging on the web. Studies have found that some Cyclosa species have a higher survival rate against potential predators like paper wasps because the wasps end up attacking the debris on the web rather than the spider itself. As seen here, Cyclosa can make debris look a bit like a spider, but not nearly as detailed as the spiders found at the Tambopata Research Center which have a complex form that actually looks like a bigger version of themselves, complete with legs and all.
After asking other experts, I cannot seem to find another example of an animal creating a bigger, decoy version of itself to escape predation, making this species not only interesting to taxonomists naming new species but to those who study animal behavior, as well.
After 3 days of searching, we found about 25 of the spiders found in one floodplain area surrounding this Amazon jungle lodge, the Tambopata Research Center. Extensive searches in other areas did not turn up any of the spiders, showing that they have a rather restricted range, at least locally.
What’s the next step after discovering a new species?
It takes a lot of time and effort to go from finding it in the field to actually describing it. Specimens will have to be collected to compare to known species, dissections will be done on identifying features like the genitalia, and descriptions will have to be written to show why this species is different from others, a type specimen will have to be selected, and the eventual publication of all of that information in a journal. Only then can it be considered a named new species to science.
For now, enjoy pointing it out with other explorers from around the world who come to Tambopata to check out all of our strange, interesting wildlife.
By Phil Torres
Phil Torres is a biologist, science communicator, photographer, and television host based in New York City who works on projects all over the globe. His work ranges from leading specialized ecotourism trips to photographing expeditions to being an on-camera personality and presenter.
Find his videos online at The Jungle Diaries.
Contact Philp: http://www.phil-torres.com/
Posada Amazonas Pack For A Purpose
LIMA, Peru, Nov. 19, 2012 – Posada Amazonas Lodge, one of three accommodations under the directive of Peru’s visionary leader in sustainable tourism, Rainforest Expeditions, has partnered with Pack for a Purpose that encourages travelers to carry with them five pounds of school or medical supplies that can make a difference to communities they’re visiting www.packforapurpose.org.
Rainforest Expeditions’ team has identified the needs of its local community of the indigenous Ese’eja of Infierno who owns this lodge that is located within a communal reserve. Some 170 native and ribereño families (second or third-generation settlers) work and profit from this 30-room eco-lodge, wellness, and holistic center.
«Because we partner on a daily basis with this 500-person community, we know intimately the academic challenges and shortcomings faced by its 65 children between the ages of 6 and 14,” said Rainforest Expeditions’ spokesperson Jeff Cremer. He said that community schools welcome computer equipment, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, rulers, English teaching books, English/Spanish dictionaries, software, ecology-focused teaching aids, and playground equipment along with puzzles, rubber balls, crayons, modeling clay, and colored pencils.
Cremer encouraged travelers to the region to first visit the website or email Rainforest Expeditions for specific needs that also include clothing and shoes plus medical supplies for the Native Community of Infierno Clinic. Most items are easily found in hometown pharmacies and discount stores. Five pounds equates to 400 pencils, or five deflated soccer balls with an inflation device or a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, and 500 band-aids.
A remote, comfortable lodge
Posada Amazonas is a remote, comfortable lodge in the Madre de Dios region of southeastern Peru, teeming with monkeys and more than 850 species of birds. In biodiversity-rich surroundings, The Rainforest Alliance Verified™ lodge hires from within the community, and sources locally produced goods whenever possible. Since joining Rainforest Alliance’s verification program, the lodge has implemented a biodegradable sanitation system, reduced air and water pollution by purchasing eco-friendly boats, improved waste management, and conducted extensive training in sustainable management.
A common area at the lodge includes a hammock lounge, dining area, a meeting room, and a bar. A 30-meter Canopy Tower offers views of the vast expanses of standing forest and nearby Tambopata River. Residents are toucans, parrots, and macaws; hoatzin, caiman, and horned screamers. From a catamaran on Lake Tres Chimbadas guests are treated to sightings of a family of Giant River Otters. Activities include walking an ethnobotanical trail, visiting a working vegetable farm, community visits, kayaking, and mountain biking.
A Peruvian Ecotourism Company
Rainforest Expeditions is a Peruvian ecotourism company that shares with visitors in a sustainable manner the miracles of the Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone, 1.5 million hectares of pristine, still wild, tropical rainforest encompassing an area of land the size of Connecticut and stretching from the Andean highlands to the Amazon lowlands. It includes the Tambopata National Reserve, a 275,000-hectare conservation unit created by the Peruvian government in 1990 to protect the watersheds of the Tambopata and Candamo rivers. Conservation and ecotourism is helping to protect some of the last untouched lowland and premontane tropical humid forests in the Amazon.
Since 1989, guests of the first one and now three Rainforest Expedition eco-lodges have added value to the region’s standing tropical rainforest. A sensitively conceived and managed (in some cases by native communities) touristic infrastructure creates a competitive alternative to such unsustainable economic uses as clear-cutting the forest for timber or for cattle grazing. The partnerships Rainforest Expeditions has forged with local people eager to share Amazonian traditions with guests provide connection, expertise, adventure, and access to wildlife in the jungles of Tambopata. Rainforest Expeditions has been verified and certified “a sustainable tourism business” by the Rainforest Alliance.
Rainforest Expeditions’ string of three jungle lodges is accessed from Puerto Maldonado airport with flights arriving daily from Lima or Cusco. Motorized wooden canoes then take guests on a 45-minute trip to the first lodge, Posada Amazonas. Refugio Amazonas, the second lodge, is a 3.5-hour boat trip from Puerto Maldonado. The third and most remote is Tambopata Research Center, requiring a 4-hour additional upriver boat ride from Refugio Amazonas. Each lodge is only a few minutes on foot from the river bank.
16 Gigapixel Machu Picchu Photo Sponsored By Rainforest Expeditions
Photography tour guide for Peru’s Rainforest Expeditions Captures the Highest Resolution Photo Ever Taken of Machu Picchu
LIMA, Peru, Nov. 14, 2012 – Peru’s visionary leader in sustainable tourism, Rainforest Expeditions, recently sent its photo tour director Jeff Cremer away for some rest and recreation. Cremer returned with what he believes may well be the highest resolution (15.9 gigapixels) photo of Machu Picchu ever taken.
The unprecedented image has been made available to the public on a special web page. Users can explore the remarkable detail of the photo by zooming in and out of the image. Individual snapshots may also be taken from within the image.
A behind-the-scenes video on the taking of the photo was created by Destin Sandlin of the YouTube channel Smarter Every Day.
Cremer’s work was partially assisted with professional equipment regularly used in photography tours based on Rainforest Expeditions’ three eco-lodges deep in the Peruvian Amazon. He used a Canon 7D with a 100-400mm f/5.6 lens and a Gigapan Epic Pro mount and Gitzo Basalt Explorer tripod.
1920 images
The photo consists of 1920 separate images recorded by a photo robot in 1 hour and 42 minutes. To stitch the image together a 2.67Ghz Hexacore MacPro with 32GB Ram and an OCZ 960GB RevoDrive was used. Render time was 1.5 hours. The final resolution of the image is 297,500 x 87,500 pixels or 15.9 gigapixels.
“Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of the World and the most familiar icon of the ancient Inca,” explains Cremer when asked about his destination choice for the photo. “In 2008, the World Monuments Fund placed it on its Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world due to environmental degradation mostly from tourism. Beautiful, historical, and threatened, I believed that this extraordinary site deserved a remarkable photo to hopefully raise awareness and help in its preservation.”
When not applying his craft elsewhere with the same state-of-art, professional-quality cameras, lenses, tripods and flash available for guests to use on Rainforest Expedition Nature Photograph Tours, Cremer arranges and leads 7-day/6-night photo tours from eco-lodges perched along the wild Tambopata River in the Peruvian Amazon. Shorter 5-day programs are also available. All of these tours have been specifically designed to let clients experience what it is like to be a National Geographic wildlife photographer.
Photography…
While in the field participants may try out the latest high-tech gear including Canon 600mm f/4 lenses, carbon fiber tripods, specialized macro lenses that can photograph in startling clarity the eyes of an ant, and robotic panorama cameras that can make photos of over 100 gigapixels. In addition to camera usage, workshops include topics on Photoshop, photography, and ethics, the psychology of beauty, and technical presentations on how digital cameras work.
Rainforest Expeditions’ lodges are accessed from Puerto Maldonado airport arriving from Lima or Cusco on daily commercial flights lasting 45 or 90 minutes respectively. A bus transports guests to the Infierno River Port to board motorized wooden canoes for a 45-minute trip to the first lodge, Posada Amazonas. Refugio Amazonas, the second lodge, is a 3.5-hour boat trip after departing the bus. The third and most remote is Tambopata Research Center, requiring a 4-hour additional upriver boat ride from Refugio Amazonas. Each lodge is only a few minutes on foot from the river bank.
The Caracaras of Tambopata
Caracaras are rather large birds of prey that occur in grasslands, dry forest, and rainforests from southern Texas south through Central and South America to Tierra del Fuego. The origin of their name comes from the Tupi language of Brazil and may be related to the sound made by the Yellow-headed Caracara. Two to three species are found in most parts of the Amazon rainforest and in Tambopata, Peru, four species of caracaras occur. The Red-throated Caracara frequents the rainforest canopy, and the Black, Yellow-headed, and the Southern Crested Caracara occur along rivers and in open habitats. Most guests of Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas, and the Tambopata Research Center see one or more species of these noisy, conspicuous raptors during their stay.
Adult Caracara
In the Amazon rainforest, the two most common caracara species are the Black and the Red-throated. One of them (the black one) is often seen along rivers and in clearings and other open habitats while the Red-throated is found in primary rainforest. Peru all have fairly long wings and tails, and bare skin on the face. The Yellow-headed and Southern Crested Caracaras have large pale patches on their wings and the base of the tail.
Caracaras are pretty common in most of their range. Although Yellow-headed and Southern Crested Caracaras are easily seen in other parts of their range, these open country birds are very uncommon in Tambopata and occasionally seen along the Tambopata River or in farmlands. The Black and Red-throated Caracaras are the species that are typically seen around rainforest eco-lodges such as Refugio Amazonas and are commonly found on rainforest hikes or during boat rides on the river.
Juvenile Caracara
Some interesting facts about caracaras:
- Odd falcons: Caracaras actually belong to the same family as the falcons. Unlike the Peregrine Falcon and kestrels, caracaras have broader, less pointed wings and don’t catch their prey after hovering or a swift dive from the air. Most species scavenge for carrion and small animals along rivers, beaches, and other open habitats.
- A wasp specialist: The Red-throated Caracara is one of the strangest raptors to occur in the rainforests of Tambopata. Unlike other raptors in the Amazon, it occurs in family groups of four or five birds (and sometimes more) and makes harsh calls that can sound a bit like a macaw. It also appears to be a specialist that feeds on wasp larvae, flying termites, and other insects. Although it is still common in the Amazon jungle, it may need large areas of rainforest to survive as it has disappeared from all but the largest tracts of rainforest in Central America.
Adult Caracara
How to see caracaras during a jungle tour in the Peruvian Amazon:
- Watch for these conspicuous raptors when traveling by boat: Most boat rides on the river turn up sightings of one or more Black Caracara. They are usually seen in flight and can be separated from vultures by their orange face, white at the base of the tail, and flying with floppy wing beats. Red-throated Caracaras are sometimes also seen as they fly across the river but are more commonly encountered on jungle hikes or visits to oxbow lakes. Canopy towers are also excellent places to see caracaras as they fly over the green roof of the jungle and perch in tall snags.
- Go birding with a guide: Although these large, noisy raptors are pretty easy to see on your own, a guide can help identify them or even bring them closer with an imitation of their calls.
Visit the Peruvian jungle with Rainforest Expeditions to see caracaras and other large raptors along with many other interesting Amazonian birds.
Three Easy Options for Solo Travel in the Peruvian Amazon
When we make plans for a trip, one of the first things we have to figure out is whether we are going to do solo travel, share the adventure with family, or travel with a friend or two.
This decision is the primary one because it will affect where we go and how we do the trip. For example, if we decide to travel with friends, we should plan the trip together to make sure that everyone is on the same page in terms of what we hope to see and do. The same goes for a family trip along with whatever is required for traveling with children or senior citizens. With that in mind, it almost goes without saying that you have a lot more freedom when traveling on your own. In fact, since you don’t have to meet any other expectations than your own, you have all the freedom in the world to hike the Inca Trail, sample the best in Peruvian ceviche, and even explore the Amazon jungle.
For our three options for solo travel, read below! And don’t forget to check out our free guide to Amazon jungle travel here:
Macaw clay lick – Peruvian Amazon jungle excursion for solo adventurers. Image by Paul Bertner
Well, maybe not that last idea because wouldn’t you need an expedition team to explore the Peruvian Amazon? Well, that would be best if you wanted to try and reach little-explored areas but thanks to successful ecotourism projects in certain parts of eastern Peru, you don’t need an expedition to experience the wild heart of the Peruvian rainforest.
Here are three ways that even the least experienced solo travelers can make that happen in the Amazon:
1. Visit Tambopata
This wild corner of the Amazon is much easier to visit than most people realize. It only takes a short flight from Lima – almost 2 hours – or a much quicker flight from Cuzco – just 30 minutes – to land in Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the rainforests of Tambopata. Upon arrival, you are met at the airport by your personal guide and transferred to your jungle lodge.
Tambopata-Landscapes-Lianne-Herbruck
2. Stay at Unique Lodges with a Purpose
Guests (including folks who go their own way) who stay at Posada Amazonas or Refugio Amazonas Lodge can take guided hikes through the wild, mature rainforest, watch for monkeys, and birds from canopy towers, and take part in other activities recommended by their personal guide. But also, these rainforest lodges make your travel unique since each of them is alive for a purpose.
While Posada Amazonas is the only lodge in the region owns by the Native Community of Infierno, part of the Ese Eja tribe. The lodge wants to exchange cultural experiences and share out all over the world thru its visitants their traditions and stories.
Refugio Amazonas, on the other hand, believes that the protection and conservation of the area can be possible thru science. Because of that, they encourage every guest to become a citizen scientist and save the Amazon across the activities they have at the lodge.
Solo travelers have more opportunities to spot wildlife when traveling to the Amazon. Image by Louis Guillot
3. An off-the-beaten-path experience inside the National Reserve of Tambopata
Head further upriver is located at the Tambopata Research Center, the only lodge inside the National Reserve of Tambopata, fronting the Bahuaja Sonene National Park. Here you can access one of the wildest parts of the Amazon, even if you do the trip on your own. As with the other Rainforest Expeditions lodges, a personal guide will take you on trails through the wild Amazonian rainforest in search of wildlife, bring you to an incredible macaw clay lick, and make sure that you have an unforgettable and safe Amazonian experience even if it happens to be your first trip abroad.
Solo travel to Amazon isn’t just possible — as long as you go with an experienced operator like Rainforest Expeditions, it’s downright easy. They have helped thousands of solo travelers experience their jungle lodges in the wild Amazon, contact them to see how they can help you achieve the trip of a lifetime!
Tambopata Research Center inside the National Reserve of Tambopata. Image by Paul Bertner
By Patt ODonnell