Explorations Inc. is proud to offer two Amazon programs that provide an exceptional, fun and educational travel experience! Many departures are escorted by a USA scholar as well as the resident naturalist. You can travel and learn about South American native cultures and Amazonia, the world's largest rainforest and river system! These trips are designed for people with a love of nature and foreign cultures, who are looking for a premier rainforest adventure! Our Andean Inca Exploration that explores Cuzco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Inca can be combined with either Amazon program. Custom itineraries for individuals and groups are also arranged. Explorations Inc.'s Peru Adventures Include: Amazon Jungle Safari ©- Amazon Jungle Cruise © - Andean Inca Exploration © Home ::: Amazon & Andes ::: Amazon Jungle Safari Amazon Jungle Safari © Activities - Accommodations - Trip Extensions This educational adventure includes stays in 3 different jungle lodges, located deep in forest reserves, (including ACEER, the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research), where great wildlife viewing just comes naturally! Surrounded by the rainforest's "sea of green", the accommodations at the lodges are rustic, comfortable and very scenic. Go to sleep, to a symphony of jungle sounds and awake to morning bird calls! You will be overnighting, in areas that may contain the highest diversity of bird and tree species in the world! You will also experience the rainforest from over 118 feet up on the Treetop Canopy Walkway! By boat, you will travel more than 300 miles on the Amazon River and its tributaries. You will witness subtle and grand spectacles as you observe and participate in the flow of life in Amazonia. Walk amongst the treetops and get a birds-eye view of the forest! Situated on a ridge top amidst a nature reserve, the Canopy Walkway offers spectacular views over the top of the rainforest. You will overnight in the nearby lodge and research station, allowing time for personal exploration of this little known world. Over 1,500 feet long and with a maximum height of 118 feet, the walkway is an engineering marvel. Without the need for specialized climbing equipment and skills, the canopy walkway introduces you to a seldom seen part of this world. From its conception the walkway was designed and built not only with safe access in mind, but also to be unobtrusive and not destructive to the surrounding forest. The suspended walkway is bordered by cable handrails and strong safety netting, which provide the security to enjoy the refreshing tropical breezes and a myriad of beautiful plants and wildlife. The safe design and gradual, "go at your own pace" has allowed many, who thought it impossible due to fear of heights, to experience the upper reaches of the rainforest and share in the thrill of discovery! By virtue of overnighting near the canopy walkway, you even have the options of witnessing a jungle sunset, the nighttime sky and/or sunrise over the expansive rainforest! The canopy of the rainforest is truly one of the great biological frontiers of the world! More than half the species of life on earth are found in the tropical rainforests, and of those, more than half are found in the forest's canopy. As an example, twice as many species of insects are found in the canopy as are found on the ground. Some estimates of the number of insect species found in the rainforest canopy range as high as 20 million, with as many as 80% of these species still unknown to science. With this incredible diversity of life and 90% of the forest's photosynthesis taking place there, the canopy is clearly the place to be in order to understand how rainforests work. For many people, the word Amazon evokes images of colorful birds amidst a green carpet of ferns under towering trees covered with orchids and bromeliads. Such Amazon rainforest scenes provide memories that last a lifetime. The statistics of Amazonia's wildlife and plant diversity areincredible, but not as incredible as seeing a colorful macaw close-up or watching pink dolphins frolic in the brown waters of the Amazon River. Back to top Activities Walk through the treetops on the longest canopy walkway in the world. Truly, an unforgettable life experience! An incredible place to witness a sunrise / sunset over the rainforest or to experience the jungle at night! Great birding excursions! Explore orchid and bromeliad filled, primary (virgin) rainforests. Observe the enchanting freshwater (pink & grey species) dolphins at home in their watery kingdom. Experience nighttime excursions on foot and by canoe to look for nocturnal birds, insects and mammals, spot caiman, enjoy the sounds of the rainforest at night, and witness the star-filled sky of the southern hemisphere. Visit nearby Indian villages to learn of their native cultures and maybe a little bartering for trade items. Examine exotic plants and flowers and learn about the ecosystem in which they live. Try your skill with a blow gun. Test your fishing skills with the piranha. If you succeed, you can have your catch for dinner; they are delicious! Hike to a black-water lake to see the unusual hoatzin. They are the only flying birds which feed almost exclusively on leaves and must be seen to believe. Examine the giant Victoria Regia water lilies. Paddle a dugout canoe on a jungle tributary, if desired. Hike along the "Medicine Trail" used specifically to show the local rainforest plants used in modern medicine today. Also learn of plants used in native remedies and which scientists may use in the future. Tour and learn about a unique ethnobotanical garden, directed by the shaman Antonio Montero Pisco. This impressive collection of wild medicinal Amazon plants is an experiment in propagation and identification with currently over a 161 species represented. Take boat rides on narrow waterways among a labyrinth of lush vegetation where orchids and bromeliads abound. Visit with the local ribereños, the name for the local people who live along the river, and gain insight into their daily lives. While most are "westernized" to some degree, many still hold to tribal affiliations and have a life-style that has changed little over the last few thousand years. Native tribes you may encounter include the Boras, Yaguas, Orejone and Yanamono Back to top Accommodations Although you are staying in some very remote areas, miles from "civilization", you will be pleasantly surprised with the quality and comfort that is provided. The first night's stay is in a nice small hotel in Iquitos. The remaining nights will be spent close to nature in three different jungle lodges. You will sleep and eat in "native style" structures. This trip is not about survival camping; but, neither is it about isolating yourself from the world of nature! The architecture of the lodges is pure Amazonian, built with the native materials of fine woods, vines and palm leaves. The large, thatch-roofed buildings are raised on posts above ground level with wood flooring. Covered walkways connect the main buildings, such as the dining and recreation "hall", sleeping quarters and bath facilities. The sleeping rooms at the lodges have 2 twin beds, table with wash basin and kerosene lamp. Each bed has its own individual mosquito netting. Fresh sheets, changed daily, provide comfortable bedding. All locations have well maintained shower and toilet facilities. (No hot water, but it is not exactly cold either!) Clean towels are provided daily. There is no electricity at the lodges, therefore no noisy generator motors to disturb the sounds of nature and the serenity of the forest! Even deep in the jungle, meals are a real pleasure. The outstanding chefs prepare healthy regional and international dishes. Meals are cooked over an open-hearth fire and served buffet style. Most people consider the food very good and the multi-course meals provide excellent opportunities to try new and delicious local fruits and vegetables. In lieu of a dinner bell or loudspeaker, the beating of a drum signals mealtime. Three nutritious meals a day are served and coffee, tea and purified water are always available in the dining areas. Nightfall is always an enchanting time in the jungle! The birds and insects provide a symphony of sound. The soft lighting of kerosene lanterns at the lodges add to the peaceful atmosphere. And best of all, it will not be early morning phone calls or traffic sounds that awaken you! Back to top Explorations Inc. is licensed and registered with the State of Florida as a Seller of Travel. The phone number for the Florida Department of Commerce is 904-488-2221 and our SOT registration number is 15176. We are also registered in California as Seller of Travel #2021110-40. We are also an TSI Member of IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent Network). An escrow account for trip payments is available - call for details and account number. Additional professional and client references are available upon request. Click here to contact us. Click here to go to our Photo Gallery. Explorations Inc. 27655 Kent Rd Bonita Springs, FL 34135 Phone: 1-239-992-9660 or toll free 1-800-446-9660 (in USA, Canada, P.R.) Call anytime to receive detailed trip brochures or more information! Also available are custom itineraries for small groups AND for the angler, our Amazon Fishing Adventures features Peacock Bass and other exotic species! Back to top