Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve
12 April 2024 | Peruvian Amazon
Encompassing an area as large as of Wales and more than three times the size of Yellowstone National Park, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is a vital asset in the Amazonian rainforest and river system.
For explorers of the Amazon, the appeal of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve rests in the sheer number of different habitats it hosts. Pacayasamiria is located between the Marañón and Ucayali tributaries and at the head of the mighty Amazon River, the Reserve contains two large alluvial river basins, flooded forests (in the high water season), seasonal and permanent freshwater lakes and lagoons, gorges and canals, as well as tropical forest cover. With its extensive nutrient forests (known as the ‘varzea’), the Reserve has been designated as a Ramsar wetland under UNESCO’s purview.
Home to Plentiful Wildlife
Every day in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is a chance to see different species of flora and fauna.
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.
Exceptional Natural Beauty
The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is also known for its exceptional natural beauty.
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.
Insights into Native Culture
Roughly 200 communities numbering 42,000 people live within the Reserve.
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.
Amazon River Cruises: Getting Here
River cruises that explore the beauty and richness of Pacaya-Samiria start and finish in Iquitos, a city on the banks of the Amazon River, or in the town of Nauta, two hours south by road.
Both Iquitos and Nauta are conveniently accessible by air from Lima (1 hour 45 minutes) and Cusco (2 hour 10 minutes) to Iquitos airport (IQT).
Meanwhile, the lack of road access plays a big part in keeping this region of the Amazon untouched and pristine. This is also why Aqua Expeditions has positioned its Amazon river cruise itineraries in this region of the rainforest.
