Heliconia & Canopy walkway 5 days 4 nights

You will be met and welcomed by our staff at the Luggage Claim area of the Iquitos Int’l Airport where our staff will assist you and transfer to our Office in Iquitos town proper. A briefing about our services, what to expect during your stay, the do’s and don’ts in the jungle and some essential tips will make your stay comfortable. Soon after, you will transfer to the Iquitos Port, where you will board one of our speedboats to take you to the Heliconia Amazon River Lodge along the Amazon River.
During the boat ride observe the noticeable convergence of the brown turbid waters of the Amazon River with the dark waters of the Nanay River. Enjoy the impressive jungle landscapes with the rustic small houses of the riverside towns.

Then have a short stopover in Monkey Island (in dry season you will visit Fundo Pedrito), a family social enterprise focused on conserving and protecting endangered monkey species in the Northern Amazon. The goal is to enlighten rainforest guests on the effort to reintegrate monkeys and their survival in the wild. See the monkeys free in this reserve, not in cages. Their temporary stay here depends on their capability to adapt back to its jungle habitat.
After a 60 minute boat ride arrive at the Lodge where our staff will welcome you with an exotic jungle drink. Then check-in and settle in your room, at your leisure. Afterward taste your first Amazonia cuisine lunch.

In the afternoon, begin your first excursion: set out to a jungle hike into the Yanamono primary rainforest reserve, for approximately two hours accompanied by our expert guides. They will point out and identify several flora species such as heliconia flowers, medicinal plants and giant trees. You will also have the chance to sight several birds species such as the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes Aura), Black Fronted Nanbird (Monasa-Atia), And with a little luck you will be able to view a family of small monkeys such as marmosets (Saguinus Fusicollis), the  Titi (Callicebus Mollock Mollock) and the squirrel monkey (Saimiri Boliviense).

Return to the lodge for rest and relaxation and be enthralled by your first, must-not-miss Amazon Sunset. As the darkness of evening comes around, take a boat ride along one of the Amazon River’s tributaries for an exciting evening in the jungle. With no lights, the jungle flora and fauna sparkle along the river’s edge. Your expert boat guide to take you to where you can appreciate and listen to the magical sounds of the jungle.  If it is a clear night, you will see the bright magnificent moonlight, as well as observe the stars and constellations. With some luck you can also see some falling stars which are quite common in the area. Then motor back to the Lodge to rest and relax for an early wake up the next day.

Rise early for the Morning Bird Watching to see the birds flocked together during their morning feeding time, You will start very early going by boat to one of the several streams to look out for a number of variety of Amazon birds. You will be looking out for birds such as the Tuki(Jacana Jacana), Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle-Torquata), Black-Collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis), among others. Thereafter, you will return to the lodge, for a scrumptious and energizing breakfast.

Take a little rest, and then you will visit a riverside village to see an indigenous tribe of the Yaguas community where you will have the opportunity to learn and see their way of life along the Amazon River. See their homes, school, church, shops. Interact with the people, learn their techniques of fishing and farming. Observe their customs and tradition, and get enlightened by their unaffected and austere way of living.

In the afternoon, you will set off to a Native Fishing expedition unto one of the small tributaries of the Amazon River. Learn the local techniques of fishing and for the most daring you can try to fish for Piranhas. If you are lucky you have your catch cooked for lunch, when you return to the Lodge. During this excursion you can also have the opportunity to look out for the Pink River Dolphin (Inia Geoffrensis). Return to the Lodge for lunch.

In the evening, consider the Night Hike. Go on an enchanting evening trek within the secure periphery of the Lodge and you will witness the entrancing transformation from daytime to a night atmosphere. As you adjust to the dark environment you will appreciate the rainforest takes on a very different character and be aware of the existence and habits of nocturnal jungle animals. It’s the best time to see stunning tree frogs, shy snakes, and other rainforest creatures that only come out at night. Notice a range of completely distinctive fauna from the day as you listen to magical sounds of insects, birds, jungle cats and night owls. After 30 minutes of hike we back to the Lodge for Dinner.

Breakfast at Heliconia Lodge. Then transfer by boat on the Amazon and Napo Rivers to the 250,000 acre Amazon Rainforest Reserve and ExplorNapo Lodge. Lunch. Afternoon hike through primary, terra firme, non-flooding rainforest including a visit to the ReNuPeRu Medicinal Plant Garden adjoining the lodge. Evening excursion by open boat, along the Sucusari  Stream in search of caiman and to enjoy the night sounds and stars of the Southern sky. Dinner and overnight in the Lodge.

Early morning birding excursion. Morning hike to the Canopy Walkway, a suspended bridge spanning over 500 meters (one-third of a mile), connected by tree platforms and reaching a height of over 35 meters (115 feet) above the ground. Here there is time to observe a part of the rainforest rarely seen by man but accessible without any type of climbing skill or equipment. Afternoon boating excursion along one of the Napo tributaries spotting for sloth, birding and having a try at fishing for piranha. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.   Overnight ExplorNapo Lodge.

Early morning birding by boat or foot. Morning excursion to visit some of the local river people called  “ribereños” whose houses and schools can be seen along the river. They will be pleased to show you their simple way of life dominated by the movements of the mighty rivers that surround them.  Early lunch (if departure flight permits)  and start on your return to civilization by boat on the Amazon and Napo Rivers back to Iquitos. Transfer to the airport or hotel.