Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

Covering an area of 8,000 square mile (20,800 sq km), the Reserve shelters more than 965 species of wild plants and 1025 vertebrate species. The animals in the Reserve accounts for 27% of the diversity of all animal species in Peru and 36% of the total recorded for the Amazon. The Reserve is also a bird-lovers paradise, with 449 recorded ornithological species.Endangered or threatened species protected in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve include giant otters, pink river dolphins, Amazonian manatees and yellow-spotted river turtles, together with howler, squirrel and saddleback tamarin monkeys, scarlet and blue-and-yellow macaws, paiche or pirarucu fish (that can grow as long as 10 feet), hoatzin and caiman. Other well-known species include the spider monkey, brown three-toed sloth and the capybara.

The Reserve is nicknamed the “Mirrored Forest” because of the beautiful reflections of trees and the sky on its dark ‘black water’ surface. In the mornings, a mysterious mist blankets the river, creating a phenomenon in which the Reserve’s largest trees appear to float. In the evenings, the setting sun turns the sky and water into flaming paintings of orange, purple and vermillion.Within the forest, wimba trees of up to 55 metres tall dwarf explorers. At eye level underneath the canopy, admire a collection of colorful flowers and notice the myriad intricate patterns of plant species as you follow your guide into the jungle in search of medicinal trees, birds and wildlife from large three-toed sloths to diminutive poison dart frogs.

Comprising of native and traditional residents as well as relatively recent settlers, the people of the Reserve live off hunting, fishing and subsistence farming and largely rely on the Amazon River’s abundant fish stock for their survival.Aqua Expeditions continues to engage local communities to ensure their well-being through health initiatives, as well as to communicate the benefits of good management of the ecosystem and its natural resources. Guests on the Aria Amazon have the opportunity to participate in outreach and conservation efforts as they learn about ethnic Amazonian traditions and way of life.