Located deep within the Amazon rainforest and accessible only by water, the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, also known as the “Mirrored Forest”, offers one of Peru’s most fertile havens for sighting Amazon mammals, birds and plants that thrive among its five million acres (that’s twice the size of Yellowstone Park).

In winter, when the Amazon River is high, visitors can explore small inlets and winding river systems that make up Pacaya Samiria’s flooded jungle. In summer, the river recedes as picturesque sandy beaches form and it is possible to explore on shore. Throughout the year, entering Pacaya Samiria is to come upon a world filled with neon-brilliant birds alighting on emerald green trees inhabited by playful packs of acrobatic monkeys and an azure sky crisscrossed by graceful hawks and herons above a panorama of fluttering butterflies.

Endangered pink Amazon dolphins curl elegantly just above the water, tantalizingly close to our tenders while three toed sloth hide high up in the tree canopy. A very few lucky Aqua Expeditions travelers have even seen the Amazon’s sleek black jaguar. After dark, our naturalist guides still manage to spot caimans and capybara under the star filled sky.

Only about 30,000 people live within Pacaya Samiria. Our guests have opportunities to meet some of them so as to gain a firsthand understanding of life along the Amazon. In addition, Pacaya Samiria park rangers introduce Aqua Expeditions guests to some of the innovative conservation and sustainability projects taking place within this vast Amazon rain forest reserve.