PeruNorth's musings on events & destinations in Northern Peru, Amazonia ... and beyond. Detailed tour reviews.
For most visitors to Peru’s Amazon region, the pleasure of encountering flora and fauna - and local inhabitants - in the company of a naturalist-guide is sufficient. But for those of a scientific bent, there is the opportunity to get hands-on with some conservation-oriented research, during a stay at the Rio Amazonas Research Station.
PeruNorth was contacted by German journalist, Richard Kienberger, in August 2022 as he looked for a private vehicle to take him from Chiclayo to Yurimaguas, with a day’s break in Chachapoyas.
This was part of a longer trip to go across South America from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. His particular interest was in the motorised vehicles - especially trucks - that ply their trade in these geographically-challenging areas.
Read an abridged, English-language version of the article Richard wrote for French transport magazine France Routes:
Three friends from Texas - father and son Joe and Matt Barth along with Virgil Burkhardt - ‘did the double’ in the Peruvian Amazon near Iquitos in September 2022 ie a lodge stay followed by a river cruise.
Two Canadian students, Patrick Duke and Austin Pugh, spent 6 days at Muyuna Amazon Lodge in September 2022. Here is what they said about the experience:
‘We had an amazing time in the Amazon with Muyuna.
Carnival - the exuberant celebration that precedes the Christian observance of Lent - is most closely associated with Brazil, and especially Rio de Janeiro with its famous Sambodromo floats and dancers. Nonetheless, there are carnival festivities throughout Latin America, with Peru being no exception.
Arguably the best-known in Peru is the Carnaval de Cajamarca, a vibrant and colorful festival celebrated in the city of Cajamarca.
Rochester, NY native, Margaret Riley, took here niece, Jessica, on holiday to Peru as a graduation present in June 2022. Their 10-day itinerary took in:
The Sacred Valley
2-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Cusco
Palccoyo (an alternative Rainbow Mountain)
Here is what they had to say about the experience:
“Our trip to Peru was remarkable.
Dance is a fundamental part of Peruvian cultural expression and identity, taking pre-Columbian traditions and combining them with later Hispanic and African influences.
If you are lucky enough to witness one of Peru’s many festivals, you are sure to see locals expressing themselves and their region through dance, just as they have for centuries.
Read the testimony of Sam Watkins, a UK national living in Malaga, Spain, who travelled solo to Northern Peru in July 2022.
He stayed in the little-visited village of Cuispes, from where he visited Yumbilla, Cristal, Medio Cerro and Gocta waterfall.
He did a day trip to El Tigre Sarcophagi; and finished by visiting the Chachapoya citadel of Yalape (in lieu of Kuelap that was closed owing to restoration work).
The last night was spent in Chachapoyas city; and much of the transport was by mototaxi, in order to keep costs down.
Two thirty-something doctoral researchers in Biological Sciences from Mountain View, CA were drawn to Tambopata Research Center [TRC] for its history of scientific investigation deep in the Amazon jungle, and so booked a 4-day / 3-night stay in July 2022. Here are their impressions:
Read the impressions of a young Colorado couple, who visited Treehouse Lodge, in the Amazonian department of Loreto, for five days, as part of their honeymoon.
