A week immersed in the paradise that is the Amazon jungle

THE Amazon rainforest is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the globe, sprawling across nine countries and rich with millions of species of tropical plants, animals and fauna.

In December, Brendan McFadden travelled 52 miles north of Iquitos, the capital of the Peruvian Amazon, to go on adventurous excursions with  tour company Otorongo Expeditions; in one of the hottest and most beautiful  regions on Earth. 

After flying into Iquitos, the largest city in the world not accessible by land and then spending two hours on a speed boat from Iquitos, me and my companion had arrived at Otorongo’s lodge.

 The lodge is located off a small Amazon tributary called Quebrada Oran and is the brainchild of husband and wife team, Anthony and  Ivonne Giadinelli,  who built it from the trees in the surrounding jungle in 2005, in an effort to develop the area through ecotourism.

Surrounded by a beautiful exotic garden and lush with palms, butterflies and songbirds, the rustic Otorongo lodge is located in a wonderfully tranquil setting. 

And so it began, for the next seven days and six nights our every moment would be filled with adventure, awe and astonishment.

After dropping our bags in our room we were shown to the dining area. Here we enjoyed a buffet lunch made up of the typical delicious Peruvian cuisine and exotic local fruit available at the lodge, whilst chatting to other guests about what lay ahead.

Each room at Otorongo comes with its own private bathroom and has either single or double beds, which are covered with mosquito netting to ensure guests’ sleep peacefully.

The facilities at the lodge are basic, but it soon becomes clear that the lodge is where you eat and sleep, as most of the time is spent enjoying daily excursions, which start early at 8am.

Some excursions saw us head out on walks, allowing us to see a wondrous amount of bugs, insects and tarantulas. Others allowed us to enjoy enchanting boat trips around the Amazon and its tributaries, where we fished for piranhas and spotted countless amounts of tropical animals, such as grey dolphins,  birds, monkeys and sloths. Such is Otorongo’s prime location deep in the jungle, we did not have to wander far from the lodge garden to see such wonders.

On other outings we were able to visit nearby villages, where we mingled with locals and bought charming hand-carved trinkets.

Excursions at Otorongo are completely customised for each guest, meaning we really had free reign to enjoy  the magnificent terrain, which is made up of beaches, lakes, rivers, palm swamps and much more.

Our guide Wilver Anhuanari Chota explained that by providing  customised tours, guest who stay at Otorongo  are able to take more from their experiences in the jungle.

He said: “There are many lodges around Iquitos but Otorongo is the only one that is completely customised for each guest.

“At other companies they take large groups out but that is no good as guests do not always get to do the activity they want to do. Otorongo gives each guest a choice to do whatever they want each day.”

Wilver was born in a small rural village on the banks of the Amazon not far from Iquitos and is part Cocama indian, an indigenous tribe which has populated Peru for thousands of years . He is highly skilled as a guide thanks to his extensive knowledge of the ecology of the area, acquired through his father and from several years in the Peruvian army. Above all he has a warm endearing personality and is always happy to help.

In one of our many activities we set out with Wilver and boat driver Mikey on a camping trip to search for caiman alligators.

After heading out on a long boat, we pitched our tents near the shore and as darkness fell we headed out to scour the area for caimans.

Wilver stood at the front of the boat and scoured left and right with his head torch beaming into the darkness.  After 45 minutes of gently wading through swamps we had almost given up hope of seeing anything but then Wilver suddenly whispered with great enthusiasm “caiman!”. He had spotted a young caiman hundreds of yards away. We pulled onto shore – our guide leaped out and marched along the banks – before snatching the young reptile from the water and bringing it back to us. “This is a baby one, do you want to hold it,”  Wilver said with a beaming smile. Before passing me and my companion the two-foot caiman. Wilver explained:  “This one is only ten months, it will grow as big as four metres long – it would be very dangerous to hold it at that size”. It was humbling to be in such close contact with one of nature’s great predators. As we headed back to our tents I was hoping to see an adult caiman and my wish was granted when one glided past the boat and looked us straight in the eye! The experience was truly exhilarating and encapsulates how activities with Otorongo allowed us to engage and explore the buzzing ecosystem around us.

Seven days staying at Otorongo felt like seven years,  there was so much to be experienced but yet it was still far from enough.  It is a place where you can unleash your childish sense of adventure and be exposed to nature in all its rugged glory, whether that be kayaking through swamps or holding a terrifying tarantula.

So it is without a doubt that I will be returning to Otorongo  for another adventure. I leave with my mind enlightened but my thirst for adventure is far from quenched and there is no doubt I will be enjoying the vast expanse of the Amazon again soon.

To find out about trips with Otorongo Expiditions visit otorongoexpeditions.com