Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Regional Conservation Area, Protected rainforest reserve near Iquitos, Peru
Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Regional Conservation Area is a large forest reserve in the Peruvian Amazon with both flooded and non-flooded woodland regions. The area is crossed by rivers that allow visitors to explore different habitats and observe the variety of the rainforest.
This protected area received official status in 2009 after local communities had resisted commercial resource extraction along the rivers for decades. The conservation designation came from the sustained efforts of residents to defend their forest home from outside exploitation.
Local communities living along the Tahuayo and Blanco Rivers have deep knowledge of the forest and continue to practice sustainable ways of using its resources. Visitors staying at the lodges can interact with residents and learn how they have lived with these lands for many generations.
Access is through Iquitos followed by a boat journey to specialized lodges where visitors can take guided tours. Bring insect protection and be prepared for a water-based journey, as river travel is the main way to move around the area.
The area hosts an Amazon Research Center with extensive walking trails where scientists study rare animal species found nowhere else. This ongoing research work demonstrates how the forest is being actively studied and protected.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.