Discover the Peruvian Amazon: Jungle Adventures from Iquitos

 
 
 
 
  EXCELLENT  
  
 Based on 425 reviews 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 A H 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Curuhuinsi Lodge is awesome!
My boyfriend and I spent 4 great days with Gerson and his family at the jungle lodge. The name “Curuhuinsi lodge”(meaning Leaf-cutter ant) greatly fits this organization, as they have a respect for creatures down to the smallest size. Our guides were Gerson and Bala, who showed genuine contagious excitement any time we encountered an animal in the jungle. My favourite animal encounter was feeding monkeys some fruits provided by Gerson and Bala. The accommodations are simple but comfortable - I appreciated the double layers of bug netting (around the bed and insulating our cabin), and we had our own bathroom too. Meals were so fresh and very flavourful. Any fish we caught they would serve us later and we tried heart of palm that we harvested on one of our jungle walks which was delicious and super cool. Speaking of jungle walks, this was another highlight. As true locals to the area, Gerson and Bala brought us to multiple different areas for jungle walks. We were blown away by the variety of flora we got to see. The hikes are not so physically demanding, but I would advise packing very lightweight long sleeve and long pants, as these are needed to avoid scratches from the plants. I would also advise buying a good quality headlamp & a flashlight- we purchased cheap ones and it made it a bit harder to see all the cool stuff around us on night walks. We would also recommend bringing binoculars if you are interested in bird-watching.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Kris M 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Fantastic jungle lodge stay
My partner and I did the 3 night stay with Gerson and his family at his lodge. We cannot thank him enough for hosting us and making our experience special. On various jungle expeditions we encountered monkeys, anacondas, tarantulas, toucans, macaws, caimans, piranhas, and (our highlight) a baby sloth, among many others. It’s very clear Gerson is passionate about what he does and takes your enjoyment seriously. Gerson has strong relationships with all neighbouring communities and has profound respect for the land and animals. The accommodations were simple but comfortable, with good bug protection for your sleeps. The food was healthy, fresh and flavourful. The transportation to and from Iquitos was well planned - even with a few bumps in the road (protest in Nauta) on our return trip that were outside of Gerson and his team’s control, Gerson remained with us and made sure we returned safely to Iquitos. We wouldn’t hesitate to book this again. Thanks again Gerson and family for hosting us.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Dalia P 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Best guide, best experience
We had a wonderful experience in Iquitos Amazon rainforest with our tour guide Gerson. Himself and his uncle Bala brought us through amazon and connecting rivers to different rainforest places to show us different animals and plants. Thanks to them, we got to see lots of different monkeys, coati, pink and grey dolphins, lots of different jungle birds. Went fishing caught piranhas, catfish and Sardines. Gerson caught white Cayman, Anaconda, Bull frog, Scorpion. We could hold them and take pictures. Our last day we were brought to jungle survival tour. We stayed in Curuhuinsi lodges located about 1.5 hr boat ride deeper into jungle's national park. Each lodge was very basic, but had private shower, sink and toilet. Each bed had protecting net from mosquitos. Towels and sheets provided. Bring your own toiletries and mosquito repellant for evenings. Meals were plenty and freshly prepared by Gerson's Aunt. We could not recommend enough Gerson and his family team for anyone who wants to visit Peruvian Iquitos amazon rainforest.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Rebeca N 
 
 
 
 Verified 
AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE
I wanted to leave a review because I truly think it is worth it. We found Gerson by looking a little bit on the internet. On our trip to Peru, we wanted to visit the jungle and for it to be as authentic as possible, and we achieved it. He provided the round-trip transfers firsthand; he even picked us up and dropped us off at the airport later. We completed the promised activities one by one: expeditions in the middle of the jungle, survival, medicinal plants and trees, fishing, searching for wild animals in different areas (of which we fortunately saw the vast majority), visiting nearby communities, and many more things. But of all of them, I would like to highlight living with them in their small home. The people who participated, of great human quality, made our stay something incredible. Gerson, a great guide who gave us a whole history throughout our expeditions, Tatiana making sure everything was ready, Aunt Emilia with her delicious meals and her stories that moved me so much, Rodolfo who accompanied us day by day and made everything more beautiful, and Ángel, Segundo, and Bala who were also with us collaborating and gifting us their chats and smiles!!!!!!!! My trip through Peru was many things, but the one I am most glad to have done was this one. The most enriching for me, without a doubt, and the one that gave me the opportunity to meet my new friends ;-)
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Javier 
 
 
 
 Verified 
An unforgettable experience
How lucky to have been able to share these 3 days in the Peruvian Amazon at the hands of Gerson and his entire team! From the first moment we felt like we were in our own home. We do not have enough words of gratitude for the affectionate treatment received from Aunt Emilia (fantastic cook and artisan), Gerson and his top-notch guides Ángel and Bala, Segundo, tireless worker at the Lodge and Rodolfo, guardian of the camp and excellent connoisseur of the region, for whom we hold a special affection. As for what we saw, experienced, and did, we could make an endless list… 3 days in the jungle disconnected from the world, living with pink dolphins, monkeys, sloths, birds of all sizes and colors, caimans, spiders, and insects never seen before, piranha fishing, seeing the way of life and customs of the native communities, and a long etcetera… always under the watchful eye of Gerson, making sure that everything was okay. Both my partner and I highly value the care of the environment and nature, and Gerson and his team are outstanding. We 100% recommend Curuhuinsi Lodge to get to know the Peruvian Amazon in a professional and safe way.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Alexander L 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Incredible experience in the wild
This year i had the pleasure to spend some days in the peruvian Jungle. When researching for my stay i found Curuhuinsi lodge and contacted the owner gerson via whatsapp! After a brief chat i booked with him! I did so because i wanted my guide to be an actual local from the area and that was probably the best decision i could have made! On arrival gerson waited for us at Iquitos airport and picked us up with a taxi! After an adventurous car ride to nauta we switched into a boat and continued onwards the mighty amazon river! The lodge is located in the deep deep jungle surrounded by tall trees and right next to the river! We had our own cabin with mosquito netting and restroom/shower! On the first day i told gerson that i am a Hobby photographer and what kind of animals / nature i would like to see and he tailored our trip around that! In the following days we saw different kinds of monkeys, birds, dolphins and even sloths! We got served homemade food and fruit smoothies everyday and one could tell that it is a family owned business that cares! An honest review also paints a whole picture! This accommodation is not a luxurious resort, there is no wifi/ no tv and only when the generator runs there is electricity ! I wholeheartedly recommend Curuhuinsi lodge to those that want to experience the deep amazonian jungle! The raw and pure sounds of nature, the humid air and the knowledge about the area gerson and his experienced team provide! I also want to thank the team for an unforgettable vacation i never knew i would enjoy as much as i did! Best regards from Germany Alex
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Georgia W 
 
 
 
 Verified 
We love Bala and Angel
We had an amazing 7 day trip exploring the jungle with our guides Angel and Bala. These two seriously went above and beyond - I’m talking laying down sticks in the mud after watching us flail around in it, climbing up trees so we could see the wildlife better, and cooking us the most delicious local indigenous meals from food hunted and gathered whilst on our 3D/2N camping trip. Bala and Angel’s knowledge of the jungle is so deep and we are so grateful that they were willing to share this with us and teach us about it too. We learnt a lot about natural plant medicines, foods and different uses of things found in the jungle. We really enjoyed the night tours (these guys are crazy good at spotting animals), fishing, spending time with a sloth and the whole camping experience in general. The camping was very special. Bala and Angel worked tirelessly to look after us jungle princesses. During our 3D/2N trip, we drove 3hours by boat deeper into the jungle from the lodge. The boys set up tarps and mosquito nets and we learnt how to spear fish, went for walks through the jungle during the day and night (learning how to find water, different plants and their uses, how locals hunt etc.), and floated down the river during sunset where we got to spot wildlife along the way and watch the beautiful starry sky - an exceptionally peaceful experience. What makes this tour stand out from the rest is that they are true locals. The whole family running this lodge grew up in the area and are Cocama, so the places that they take you too are genuinely in their backyard. Most of the other lodges employ guides that are from Iquitos and are not locals. A few cons - we found the organisation of the lodge to be dreadful and Gerson to be difficult to communicate with. Despite promising us over WhatsApp that he would be our guide it felt like he abandoned our tour only joining us on the first day and then on the last day and a half of our 7 day tour in what felt like a ‘seal the deal’ attempt to get us back on his side. Whilst in the end this was ideal for us as our time with Bala and Angel was so exceptional (!!) we were initially confused. Additionally, Gerson messages like a scammer but he is in fact real. Despite this I would still strongly recommend booking with this lodge and requesting to go with Bala and Angel. It is 100% worth it and we would book again. I really recommend doing the camping trip if possible as we found this to be a really authentic experience that I’m not sure you can find anywhere else. Thank you so much Bala and Angel!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Siddharth Gurjar 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Authentic, unadulterated, local rainforest experience
My wife and I first went to Curuhuinsi Lodge in December 2014 as a couple. After nearly 12 years we chose to go there again, this time with our 7 year old child. Their USP according to us is their people and their expertise. Gerson himself is a local with tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in the jungle, but he had assigned another guide, affectionately known as Bala (bullet in Spanish). He blew our mind the first time with his tracking skills and knowledge. This time also we specifically asked for him. And it was no different this time. An extremely humble and simple person. Besides Bala, Angel who is equally good at tracking animals was our another guide this time. Bala with his simple demeanours and Angel with his humorous strike made it an unforgettable experience for us, especially our child. The lodge itself is rather basic, but that is another plus in my opinion. It can be somewhat uncomfortable if one is used to living in resorts and star rated hotels. But it is an authentic experience which a visitor to the jungle should have. Also since they do not have running electricity, one is forced to use one's mobile phone frugally, which is great. In 2014 we saw plenty of birds (not many macaws though), caimans, tarantulas, monkeys, river dolphins, and numerous sloths. But we did not have any luck with anacondas. This time though it was more than made up for, with Angel finding a 4 meter long anaconda on one of our treks through the jungle. We saw more macaws this time. Although caimans were more elusive this time, Bala and Angel, determined to show our little one managed to get their hands on one literally on our last night at the lodge. And all the usuals like sloths, birds, and monkeys. The only thing which is amiss where the lodge is located is that there are no clay licks nearby. Everything else is gold. If you want an authentic, unadulterated jungle experience while at the same time supporting locals, I cannot recommend Gerson and his time more.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Hannah S 
 
 
 
 Verified 
The Best Amazon Adventure!
Fun, adventurous experience! Gerson Pizango is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. He grew up in the Peruvian Amazon, on a nearby tributary. It was awesome to be guided by a local. Also, I was blown away with his passion and excitement for his job! We did the three day tour and got to see so much in a short time! Swimming in the Amazon, spotting dolphins, seeing anacondas, sloths, monkeys, and a baby caiman was awesome! Gerson also provided interesting information about the animals and the Amazon. Also, the food was great! Homemade by his family. It’s been some of my favorite food here in Peru. During our stay, only one other group was with us at a time. Having a small group was awesome- Gerson made sure we all got to do the activities we wanted and also had a great itinerary planned. Overall, I highly recommend this tour! Gerson Pizango is a talented guide, and you’ll have a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 pierre 
 
 
 
 Verified 
4-day excursion.
We did the 4-day excursion, and we highly recommend it! You will live with Gerson on the banks of the Amazon, and will see exotic animals (sloths, caimans, dolphins, anacondas...). Bring an external battery if possible, because you will only be able to charge your devices for a few minutes in the evening (electricity is not common). Big shout-out to Angel, Gerson's right-hand man, our trip's star!! Don't hesitate to chat and get to know him!! And say hello to him from Pierre and Valentin if you see him, it will make him happy ❤️