Extreme survival expedition in the Peruvian Amazon from Iquitos · 10 days and 9 nights

US$1300 per person, based on 2 travelers booking together.

Prices in US dollars (USD) per person · 10 days, 9 nights

Hidden Trail: extreme survival in the Peruvian Amazon · 10 days and 9 nights

Experience a 10-day, 9-night extreme survival expedition in the Peruvian Amazon from Iquitos, featuring camping, treks through the Amazon rainforest, and hands-on training in survival techniques. Gerson Pizango, a local guide and founder of Curuhuinsi Lodge, shares his knowledge of the Amazon and his military background during this demanding experience.

What's included

• Pick-up at Iquitos Airport (IQT) and transfer by minivan and boat to the lodge.
• Return transfer by boat and minivan from the lodge to your hotel or Iquitos airport, included in the price.
• First night at the lodge, in private rooms with showers, bathrooms and mosquito nets.
  
• Eight nights camping in the jungle, subject to weather and local conditions.
  
• Full board: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with drinking water included.
• Vegetarian meals upon request.
• Guided jungle and river excursions as per the itinerary, in English or Spanish.
• Rubber boots and camping equipment.

Your day-by-day adventure

Day 1: Arrival, River Journey and Canoe Exploration
Pick-up in Iquitos, transfer to Nauta and boat journey to the lodge. Look for river dolphins along the way, explore by canoe in the afternoon and head out after dark to look for caimans. Dinner and your first night at the lodge.

Day 2: Into the Jungle and Your First Camping Experience
Leave the lodge and travel towards the expedition area. Set up camp and learn about shelter building and traditional fishing under your guide’s supervision. At dusk, help prepare dinner over a campfire before heading out by canoe to look for boas. Spend your first night camping, surrounded by the sounds of the forest, weather and local conditions permitting.

Day 3: Jungle Trekking, Wildlife Tracking and the Search for Larger Caimans
Set out on a trek lasting approximately 3 to 5 hours, adapted to the terrain and the group’s fitness level. Look for signs of wildlife and learn to identify potential water sources in certain vines and tree roots under your guide’s supervision. After dark, take a boat excursion to look for larger caimans, observing from a respectful distance without disturbing them. Return to camp to rest.

Day 4: Jungle Navigation, Piranha Fishing and a Night Walk
Begin with a guided navigation exercise using landmarks and the sun’s position. Then explore lakes and channels by canoe, looking for monkeys, sloths, macaws and toucans in their natural habitat. Round off the afternoon with piranha fishing.

After dinner, venture into the forest to discover the wildlife that becomes active after dark. Look for poisonous frogs, tarantulas, snakes and other nocturnal animals under your guide’s supervision, without touching or disturbing them. Return to camp to rest.

Day 5: Amazonian Lakes and the Secrets of the Clay Licks
Follow forest trails towards Amazonian lakes, learning to recognise tracks, sounds and other signs of wildlife along the way. Pause for lunch in the forest, surrounded by the sounds of the Amazon.

After dark, explore a clay lick, a place where some animals come to consume minerals. Try to observe tapirs, peccaries and other mammals in their natural surroundings, keeping a respectful distance and avoiding disturbance. Return to camp at the end of the excursion.

Day 6: Traditional Fishing and Dinner by the Campfire
Spend the day learning and practising fishing techniques passed down through generations of Amazonian residents. With your guide’s help, learn to use traditional fishing equipment and interpret river conditions.

At dusk, prepare dinner together over the campfire, including freshly caught fish if the catch allows. Share local flavours, stories and the sounds of the jungle before settling down to rest at camp.

Day 7: New Trails, Wildlife Watching and Night Exploration
Pack up camp and continue towards a new area of the jungle. Along the way, look for different species of birds and monkeys, including howler monkeys, in their natural habitat. Your guide will help you recognise their calls and movements among the trees. You will also practise your navigation skills using landmarks along the route.

On arrival, set up the new camp with your guide’s help. After dinner, head out on a night excursion to look for anacondas and boa constrictors, keeping a safe distance without handling or disturbing them. The excursion will depend on the weather and local conditions. Return to camp to rest.

Day 8: Medicinal Plants and Traditional Amazonian Knowledge
Walk along jungle trails to discover plants with traditional medicinal uses and learn to recognise their features with your guide’s help. Explore knowledge passed down through generations and the essential role these plants play in the culture and daily lives of Amazonian residents.

Walk at the group’s pace, pausing to observe plants and discuss their traditional uses and the importance of conserving them. At the end of the day, return to camp for dinner and rest, surrounded by the sounds of the forest.

Day 9: Wildlife Tracking and Traditional Survival Skills
Explore the jungle to learn how to interpret tracks, markings and other signs left by animals. Under your guide’s supervision, discover the importance of wind direction when observing wildlife and put the skills acquired during the expedition into practice.

As part of your survival training, learn about the design and operation of traditional traps through a guided demonstration. The route and pace of the activities will be adapted to the terrain and the group’s fitness level.

After dinner, take a final night walk near camp to look for and learn about frog species traditionally used as food by local residents. The activity focuses on identification with your guide, without collecting or consuming the frogs. Return to camp to rest and enjoy your final night in the jungle.

Day 10: Farewell to the Jungle and Return to Iquitos
After breakfast, pack up camp and begin the journey back to the lodge. Along the way, enjoy a final opportunity to look for birds, monkeys and other wildlife in their natural habitat as you say goodbye to the landscapes explored during the expedition.

At the lodge, share a farewell lunch and discuss the conservation of the Peruvian Amazon and the role of tourism in supporting local communities. Afterwards, continue by boat and road transport to your hotel or Iquitos Airport. If you are flying that day, share your flight details in advance so that return and transfer timings can be coordinated.

Accommodation and expedition conditions

The program includes the first night at the lodge and the following eight nights camping in the jungle. Camping arrangements, routes and the order of activities may be adjusted depending on the weather, local conditions and the group’s fitness level, with safety taking priority.

All survival activities take place under the guide’s supervision. Wildlife sightings and the size of the animals encountered are not guaranteed.

Activity organization

Activities are flexible and can be adapted to your personal interests. The program may vary depending on jungle weather conditions.

What to bring

• Long and short pants.
• Long-sleeved shirts or light-colored t-shirts.
• Camera and extra batteries.
• Mosquito repellent.
• Sunscreen.
• Swimwear.
• Hat or cap.
• Water bottle.
• Extra cash for purchasing handicrafts.

Before booking

This expedition is physically demanding. Please review the necessary preparation and details of the included camping equipment.

The return trip from the lodge to Iquitos takes approximately four hours and departs at 1:00 p.m. after lunch. Please share your flight number and arrival/departure times to coordinate transfers and confirm schedule compatibility before booking.

All tours are personally guided by me, Gerson Pizango, founder of Curuhuinsi Lodge. From your first message to your jungle adventure, you deal directly with your local guide.

Plan your expedition

Message us on WhatsApp at +51 955 785 965 with your travel date and number of people to check availability and arrange the details of the experience.

How to book your adventure

1. Choose your adventure: explore our tours and pick the experience that suits you best.
2. Message me on WhatsApp: we’ll arrange your dates, confirm availability, and you’ll get answers to your questions directly from me, Gerson, with no intermediaries.
3. Confirm your booking: we’ll arrange payment through a payment link or Western Union. Once I receive the agreed payment, I’ll send you your booking confirmation.