Curuhuinsi Lodge

The four days and three nights with Gerson were spectacular, and I'll remember them for the rest of my life. Before we even reached the lodge, we watched pink and grey dolphins leaping from the river. Gerson stopped the boat so we could sit and watch, and explained where the dolphins came from and why they live in the Amazon. That evening, after we arrived, ate and dropped off our things, we took a night walk in a nearby indigenous community. We saw huge tarantulas, a four metre anaconda and a caiman. Gerson picked up the tarantulas and anaconda with his bare hands, and let us hold the caiman before releasing it back into the lake. In the following days and nights we saw all sorts of animals, fed monkeys, held sloths, fished for piranhas that we ate for dinner, and went caiman hunting. The caimans weren't harmed. Gerson would lift them out of the water by hand to show us. Gerson Pizango is an enthusiastic, charismatic and funny person as well as a sensational guide. He's won numerous awards as one of the best guides, and experts in the field say the same. He explains things in English, and even teaches you animal and plant words in his native dialect, Kukama. He also shares knowledge about Amazon wildlife, indigenous communities and the history of people who have lived on these lands. If you're concerned about booking a guide who doesn't speak English, Gerson does. I really can't imagine regretting a tour with him.

The five-day, four-night trip in Pacaya Samiria National Park was one of the most intense and beautiful adventures of my life. At Curuhuinisi Lodge, Gerson handled every detail from the start and made sure I felt safe, comfortable and immersed in the Amazon. The room was simple but comfortable. In the jungle, being surrounded by nature felt like luxury. I woke to rainforest sounds and fell asleep to insects and distant animal calls, which felt like a five-star experience. Every day brought something new: swimming with pink river dolphins, spotting an anaconda in the plants, holding a tarantula, seeing a huge frog, caimans glowing at night, colorful parrots overhead, countless birds, and monkeys jumping through the trees. You hear, feel and breathe the jungle all around you. Gerson knows so much about the ecosystem and wildlife, and his respect and understanding of the jungle really come through. Gabriel, the boat driver, and his wonderful mother also made the stay more personal and meaningful with their warmth, kindness and hospitality. This wasn't just a tour. It was a deep connection with nature that I'll carry with me.

Guerson and his team did a great job, adapting the program to the things we wanted to do. We saw lots of animals and met some of the nicest people. The food was good too. We got to experience what we hoped for, and the people were competent, kind, and did their best to make the trip enjoyable.

Gerson and the crew have spent most of their lives in the jungle, and their knowledge showed. During our four days we handled wild anacondas, fed monkeys, watched birds, held a sloth, fished for piranhas and went caiman hunting. Ask about a particular animal or activity and they'll do their best to make it happen. We also visited local communities along the Amazon. If you go on a Saturday, you might even get asked to play for one of the local football teams. It was my first time in the Amazon and I loved it. Knowing that the money for Curuhuinsi Lodge goes back to the local community instead of a businessman made the experience more satisfying. If you're travelling around Peru, this is a MUST DO!!