A rainforest is a tough place for animals to survive — after all, it’s home to giant predators, venomous insects and frogs, dangerous waters, and poisonous plants. In order to live in such a place, animals have evolved in all kinds of strange ways. Here, we’ll explore the five weirdest animals in the Amazon rainforest, and look at why their unique adaptions work perfectly for them! All five, of course, live in the rainforests around our Tambopata lodges in Peru.

1. Candiru Fish

The frightening legend of the Candiru fish has traveled far and wide, appearing in tabloids and newspapers from time to time all over the world. Rumors had swirled around for years about the small Amazon fish attacking local people’s genitalia, drawn by the smell of urine.

Then in the only documented modern case in 1997, a Brazilian man and a local doctor claimed that a Candiru fish had jumped out of the water and swum up his urethra! Later, researchers largely disproved these claims, noting that Candirus are unable to jump out of water or swim up to such a small opening, along with many other inconsistencies. So is there any truth to these wild stories? The Candiru isn’t actually drawn to urine, so Amazon, ahem, urinators don’t need to be worried. Scientists are still getting to the bottom of this strange jungle fish.

Learn more about the Candiru Fish on our animal page here!

2. Potoo Bird

On moonlight nights, you may hear the cry of “po-TOO, po-TOO” coming from deep in the jungle. These haunting sounds (listen to them here) come, of course, from the Potoo bird. There are several species of Potoo birds in the Amazon Rainforest. If you go looking for one, however, they’re incredibly hard to find without an experienced guide — their feathers match tree bark almost perfectly!

The birds are nocturnal, waking at dusk to hunt moths and other insects. They have huge eyes — perfect for spotting flying bugs — and giant, gaping mouths to catch them. This, along with their weird calls, makes the Potoo bird a truly otherworldly, strange bird.

Learn more about the potoo bird on our animal page!

3. Tarantula

You knew this one was coming, didn’t you? But while Tarantulas look undoubtedly creepy due to their huge size and furry legs, their appearance isn’t the weirdest thing about them! In fact, I include the family of large spiders here for their odd behavior.

The Peruvian Chicken Spider, a type of Tarantula, is a common sighting in the Tambopata jungle. Photo by Jeff Cremer.

Tarantulas have decidedly interesting habits, especially when it comes to mating. Male Tarantulas spin a flat silk web on the ground, then rub against it to release semen. Then, he absorbs the liquid into his pedipalps, short leg-like limbs, to store it. Later, he finds a receptive female and inserts it into an opening into her abdomen. As soon as he’s done, the Tarantula flees so that the aggressive female doesn’t attack or try to eat him! Quite a spider romance.

Learn more about the Tarantula on our animal page here!

4. Hoatzin

If you catch a glimpse of a Hoatzin perched near an oxbow lake in the Amazon, you might wonder what you just saw. Was that a wild turkey? A dinosaur? A Precolumbian god? What the heck was that, and why did it smell that way? The stinky, beautiful Hoatzin is without a doubt one of the rainforest’s most interesting creatures.

A Hoatzin near the Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake, just upriver from the Posada Amazonas lodge.

The colorful Hoatzin eats leaves, which make it smell a bit like an Iowa farm — like lovely hay, or stinky manure, depending on your nose. They’re awkward, ungainly birds, clomping around lakeside trees — from their movement to their diet, they don’t have much in common with other bird species. In fact, the Hoatzin does look a bit like a dinosaur, and many scientists see it as clear proof of the evolutionary connection between reptiles and birds.

Learn more about the Hoatzin on our animal page here!

5. Piranha

Even folks with little knowledge of Amazon wildlife know (or think they know) all about the Piranha — the villain of the rainforest, right? But the scientists who study the fish work hard to separate fact from fiction. The reality of the fish is even more fascinating than its Hollywood “bad boy” image.

During our Oxbow Lake Visit, guests get the chance to fish for Piranhas. Piranha photo by Merin McDivitt.

Piranhas are pretty small, but their infamous teeth are indeed impressive. They actually resemble the tooth enamel of sharks’ teeth, and the largest types can bite with 72 pounds of force! As for their diet, the toothy fish mainly chomp down on other fish, seeds and bugs, and sometimes other Piranhas. Occasionally, they might nibble on a mammal, but this usually happens when the larger creature is already dead or dying.

Learn more about the Piranha on our animal page here!

So there you have it, and hopefully, you know a bit more about the jungle’s weirdest creatures.

By Merin McDivitt

We’re now offering a fun, interactive activity in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest! The new “Open Lab” is available at our stunning Refugio Amazonas lodge in Tambopata, Peru. The Wired Amazon program.

Refugio Amazonas Lodge has the second floor in the main area with a perfect view of the forest. The beautiful lodge also features nightly presentations on the fascinating creatures of the jungle, and two tranquil massage rooms — still leaving enough space for our Open Lab!

Open Lab is an entomology lab in the middle of the Amazon jungle. We have a great stereoscope that projects the microscopic anatomy of insects in real-time. The lab is equipped with tweezers, pins, Petri dishes, and everything you need to get access to small insect structures.

But before going into more detail about the Open Lab, let me tell you more generally about the incredible science project we’ve started at Refugio Amazonas. The Lab is just one part of this amazing initiative! At the lodge, we’ve begun a Citizen Science program called Wired Amazon. This unique program has three main components that make science exciting and accessible.

The first part of our Citizen Science Program is the AmazonCam Tambopata. We’re using camera traps to figure out how many jaguars live in the Tambopata National Reserve. We have more than 150 cameras in a 200 square kilometer area called “The Big Grid.”

We also started an Aerobotany project, complete with drones, as part of the Citizen Science Program! Guests can help with the project and even learn about drone science in the process. We’re located in the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve, with more than 162 natural Brazil Nut trees growing on the land. So we’re using these drones to see what’s going on in the crowns of the majestic Brazil Nut Trees, known in Spanish as Castañas.

Finally, we have our groundbreaking Discovering New Species project another activity from the Wired Amazon program, conducted with the help of lodge guests. We’re trying to discover new species of insects — and that’s where our new Open Lab comes in!

1,013,000 insect species have already been discovered around the world. While this number may seem gigantic, some scientists believe that there are actually six to eight million insect species globally, meaning most types haven’t been discovered yet! Nowadays, we don’t have enough specialists in different insect types to research all of them. Also, there are lots of inaccessible places with plenty of new species just waiting to be discovered! This means that there’s a huge gap in scientific knowledge and tons of chances to discover new species!

Here at our Refugio Amazonas lodge, we focus on four groups: scorpion wasps, treehoppers, leafhoppers, and tiger moths. We use several different techniques to collect our samples. For tiger moths, we make a very simple light trap: a white sheet with a bright light in front of it, since light easily attracts moths.

For the other three groups, we use Malaise Traps and Yellow Buckets. Malaise Traps are similar to tents, drawing insects into a jar with alcohol inside. Yellow Buckets, on the other hand, are containers filled with water and soap. The yellow color attracts insects’ attention, leading the way to the water. With these two strategies, we collect a huge community of insects, especially the coveted Scorpion Wasps, Tree Hoppers, and Leaf Hoppers.

Private insect class…

This is a perfect opportunity to involve everyone in the scientific process. Our lodge guests help us sort insects and classify the information, and at the same time, they receive a private insect class! We also provide previous samples to show off the anatomy and uniqueness of different groups of insects this is part of the Wired Amazon program.

Finally, there’s the Open Lab. With our high-tech equipment, we can view the exquisite patterns on the wings of Scorpion Wasps, the filaments of Leaf Hopper legs, and even the scales on the wings of tiger moths — all with incredible edible detail. We classify all our samples there and invite everyone to help and learn. We encourage anyone interested to join us in a fun private class.

Would you like to learn more about insects? Come and visit us at our Light Trap and Open Lab!

Get the most out of your trip to the Amazon jungle in Tambopata. Get in contact with our Rainforest Experts and make science happen with the Wired Amazon program!

By Juan Diego

When planning a trip to travel to Tambopata — a spectacular destination in the Peruvian Amazon — you’ll see that all the available lodges offer tours as well. That means the lodges will have boats to take you to the lodges,  guides to escort you on activities, and so on. In other words, they’re responsible for everything: from when they pick you up at the airport, to when you return to fly home. Here, we’re going to focus on helping you find the best lodge and tour.

Here are the most important questions you should ask (How to choose a Tambopata Tour and Lodge):

1. How do you know if your lodge is good?
2. Is it clean?
3. Is the food good?
4. Are the trucks and boats on time?
5. Is the staff friendly?

Isula Bar at Tambopata Research Center 

Let visitors who have already been there help you out with their experiences! For any questions focusing on the actual service at the lodge, TripAdvisor is your best bet.

Relaxing Massages at Tambopata Research Center

You probably already know this, but TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel review site. Find the destination you’re looking to visit, and check out the best-ranked hotels. Before getting started, you should know a few things about TripAdvisor destinations and hotel ratings:

1) Destinations in Trip Advisor are defined by the users, not by an expert

So, one destination might have two different names! For example, lodges around the Tambopata National Reserve can be found in the «Puerto Maldonado» destination section, and the «Tambopata» section, too.

2) Lodge Type can be confusing

Profiles are classified as (1) Hotels, (2) Bed and breakfasts, or (3) Specialty lodgings.  Again, profiles land in one of the three categories often because a user classified it as such. Very similar Tambopata lodges have been classified in all three categories.

3) Trip Advisor ratings are straightforward, but rankings are not

What makes a property No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 in a destination is part of TripAdvisor’s «secret sauce» (i.e. their algorithm), which means that it’s unknown to everybody — but it clearly has to do with the number of stars on the rating. The algorithm probably also considers the quantity of ratings (100 ratings is more reliable than only 1 rating), and the timeliness of the ratings (3 bad ratings in the last month might trump 10 good ratings from last year). Who knows what else it includes? On the other hand, ratings are straightforward — people give a lodge operator one to five stars. (How to choose a Tambopata Tour and Lodge)

By Kurt Holle

Our expedition ventured into the deepest corners of the Peruvian Amazon to study the macaws of the remote, isolated  Candamo Valley. Since the beginning of time, wildlife has existed in the secluded valley without human disturbance. Our enthusiastic research team sailed the hostile rapids of the Candamo River, hoping to contribute new scientific knowledge about this biodiverse place.

What we never expected? That a jaguar would discover us instead…

Suddenly, we saw two eyes glowing in the dark forest. As we turned our flashlights towards them, we realized who the eyes belonged to a large female jaguar! In this deserted valley, the lithe cat had probably never seen a single human before. Her behavior was totally different from what we’d expected: She wasn’t afraid of us, and became so curious about us that she started to walk into our camp!

By George Olah

The jungle that surrounds our Rainforest Expeditions lodges is healthy and full of life. Here inside the Tambopata Reserve, wildlife flourishes — and we do everything we can to protect it. But to become truly sustainable, we wanted to do more.

Why did we decide to become carbon neutral?

For many years, we’ve been committed to promoting, showcasing, and protecting rainforest biodiversity in our Tambopata, Peru home. We were inspired by indigenous groups around the jungle, who have responsibly managed low-impact hunting, farming, and settlement in the Amazon for thousands of years. So during this critical moment for climate change, we decided that we needed to get even more serious about sustainability. Protecting our own surroundings wasn’t enough anymore. We wanted to contribute on a global level by eliminating our carbon footprint.

Rainforest Expeditions is committed to the well-being of our jungle surroundings, so it can be enjoyed for generations to come – Photo by Paul Bertner

How did we become carbon neutral?

Once we decided to become the first carbon-neutral lodges in Tambopata, we needed guidance. We discovered Regenera, an amazing organization that helps manage the carbon footprint in Peru, and they advised us along the path to becoming carbon neutral.

Today, our three lodges — Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas, and the Tambopata Research Center lodge — have become fully carbon neutral, a first for the entire region! We’re so proud of this accomplishment, which includes:

• Day-to-day operations at all three lodges
• Our offices in Puerto Maldonado
• Transportation of all permanent staff

Regenera has helped make this happen by measuring and then managing, our carbon footprint with local carbon sequestration and actions that avoid deforestation. 60% of the revenues associated with this partnership are also transferred to local communities committed to protecting the forest.

Our Refugio Amazonas lodge, along with our two other Tambopata lodges, are now carbon neutral. 

Why should carbon neutrality matter to you?

Many travelers are forever changed by their visit to the Amazon rainforest. After experiencing such a pristine, biodiverse environment, they return home passionate about protecting ecosystems around the world. That, in a nutshell, is why carbon neutrality is so deeply important: it’s a small way that all of us, from companies to individual adventurers, can preserve the world that we so love to explore. One of our greatest goals is to give our children, grandchildren, and grandchildren the chance to experience the invaluable, beautiful rainforests of Tambopata, Peru.

But we aren’t stopping with carbon neutrality. We’re currently working with Nature Services Peru (the same folks that created Regenera) to create an option for guests to offset their own travel emissions! Stay tuned for updates.

By Pat O’Donnell

Deep within the Amazon jungle, an incredible group of frogs perches high above the ground. But monkey frogs aren’t just eye-catching — they’re literally covered in medical secrets yet to be discovered.

So what makes monkey frogs so remarkable, and even potentially life-saving?

These striking animals have unique, chemical-covered skin! Their skin is coated in a protective slime, which is home to an unbelievable array of chemicals. These chemicals probably evolved to shield them from predators, illnesses, and even drying out, but many of the chemicals are amazingly useful to humans, too. Scientists have discovered over 200 unique peptides in the frogs’ slime, and they’re still finding more!

Read below to learn just how mind-blowing these Amazonian frogs are. And to check out more otherworldly jungle creatures — and even help with scientific discovery — join in our Wired Amazon project!

We spotted this Giant Monkey Frog in the forests around our Tambopata, Peru, lodges.

What are monkey frogs, anyway, and where do they live?

Here in Southern Peru — home to our Rainforest Expeditions jungle lodges — there are about a dozen species of monkey frogs. These tree frogs belong to the genus Phyllomedusa. They’re called monkey frogs because they crawl along branches like monkeys, rather than hop like a frog! Monkey frogs include large, impressive species like the Giant Monkey Frog, and beautiful types like the Tiger-Striped Monkey Frog.

And just how can they advance medicine?

Forget Spiderman! I think Frogman is more likely to save the world. Scientists discover new chemical peptides on these jungle frogs all the time, and the chemicals have many functions. Take, for instance, the Giant Monkey Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor). One study looked at the frog’s use by indigenous people in the Amazon. They found that placing the frog on burnt skin causes an «increase in physical strength, heightening of senses, resistance to hunger and thirst, exalted capacity to face stress situations.» Pretty cool!

The frog compounds are still in the testing phase, so they’re not yet used for medical purposes. That doesn’t mean that some humans haven’t found a use for them already — legal or not! Recently, a monkey frog became the center of a scandal when it was used to dope racehorses — making them both excited and numb. Other rumors have swirled about the recreational drug use of the frogs.

To discover these fascinating frogs, along with dozens of other incredible species, book your dream trip to the Amazon today!