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Your Tropical Disease Free Experience

by | Jan 10, 2017 | Amazonia Expeditions, Nature | 0 comments

Amazonia Expeditions has been operating in the Amazon Region for over 40 years and we have shown over 30,000 guests the beauty and wonder of the rainforest. During this time we have built an impressive track record.

NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CONTRACTING MALARIA: 0

NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CONTRACTING ZIKA: 0

NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CONTRACTING YELLOW FEVER: 0

NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CONTRACTING DENGUE: 0

NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CONTRACTING ANY TROPICAL DISEASE: 0


WHY?

The only species of mosquito in Peru to carry zika, dengue, and yellow fever is Aedes aegypti. The only species of mosquito in Peru that carries malaria is Anopheles darlingi. These two species of mosquitos can only breed in water that is alkaline, which in the Iquitos area is found in pools of water south and west of the city (many marine fossil sediments such as calcium, phosphorus , and magnesium in the clay soil, deposited from water originating in the Andes). These mosquitos only survive for 3-4 weeks and does not stray more than 100 meters from the place where they hatched.

In the Tahuayo River basin we do not have these mosquito species, because our water ecology is highly acidic. Our water does not come from the Andes (we are on the other side of the Amazon River) but from swamps in the interior of the ACRCTT conservation zone, where phenolic chemicals leach from our jungle plants into the standing water.

If you put your hand in the water of our rivers and lakes you can see the red color tint of the water. This indicates high acidity, water in which Aedes aegypti & Anopheles darlingi cannot reproduce. For this reason, we have also never had any tropical disease outbreaks in the Tahuayo River basin. (See examples below)

 

 

Mosquito-Bourne illness in the Iquitos area

You may find on the several online sources that the larger Iquitos region has had an estimated 150,000 cases of dengue since 2001 (25% of the population) and over 100,000 cases of malaria (15%). These statistics are true. However, the overwhelming number of these cases come from the area south of Iquitos, along Nauta Road. This area is a hot zone for malaria and dengue. We do not travel there and we suggest you avoid travelling there as well. Rest assured, this area is far from downtown Iquitos and even farther from our main lodge which is over 140km away Remember that Aedes aegypti and Anopheles darlingi do not stray more than 100 meters from the place where they hatched.

Conclusion

Since 2001 we have had about 30,000 tourists (over 40,000 since 1981) and not one has ever contracted dengue, malaria or any other tropical disease. This is statistical proof that our itinerary, consisting of transfer from Iquitos Airport, through downtown Iquitos to the port, and then to the Tahuayo River, does not expose people to the species of mosquitoes that carry disease. This means that if you are visiting our lodge no vaccinations or malaria prophylaxis (which can have serious side effects) are required.

Estefani Mishel Maytahuari

Mishel got her degree in tourism from Nauta Institute in 2016. After working as a guide with other companies, Mishel came to study with Amazonia Expeditions as a training guide in 2023. Mishel was promoted to head guide in 2025.

Leyner Arian Ijuma

Leyner got his degree as a tour guide in 2010 at the Nauta Institute and came to work at Amazonia Expeditions in 2021. He was promoted to head guide in 2023. He has biological field work experience from supporting Nicholas Gardner of the University of Florida who he helped study the adaptations of birds in seasonally flooded igapo forests. Birding is one of Leyner's strongest skills.

Julio Pacaya

Julio finished his studies as a tour guide at the Nauta Institute in 2016 and came to work as a training guide with Amazonia Expeditions in 2021. He was promoted to head guide in 2023. Nature photography and birding are among Julio's strongest skills. Julio is fluent in English and French, as well as his native tongue of Spanish.

Claudio Huayllahua Sánchez

Claudio was born and grew up in El Chino Village on the Tahuayo River. He studied primary school in El Chino and continued his education in Iquitos, earning a technical degree from SENATI Institute. He started working for Amazonia Expeditions in 2014 as a field research assistant with several biologists and as an assistant guide. Claudio was promoted to head guide in 2017 and is our camping and jungle survival specialist.

Hersog Chavez Yuyarima

Hersog first got the idea of becoming a guide after watching the tourist boats going by his village every day. He was fascinated that tourists would come to see his home and he loved the way that the guides he saw did their work. He knew that someday he wanted to be just like them. Hersog studied at technical school for 3 years leaning the basics of guiding. After graduating, Hersog worked as a guide for several years working with Peruvian tourists, later coming to work for Amazonia in 2017. Hersog was promoted to head guide in 2019. He has worked as a field research assistant in the study of the elusive pygmy marmoset. Hersog is known for his sharp eyes and his unique stories about the jungle.

Lander Juan Peña Ramirez

Lander was born in the remote jungle community of Santa Victoria. His boyhood dream was to become to best jungle guide in the Amazon. Lander studied at a local institute for several years where he learned basic English and the foundations of the being a tour guide. Later he worked for several years at other jungle loges as a guide, honing his skills as a survival camping guide. Lander came to work for Amazonia Expeditions in 2017 and along with a strong interest in birding and fishing is also one of our lead camping and survival guides.

Aladino Jr. Hidalgo

Aladino was born and raised in El Diamante Village along the Blanco River and attended school in the community of “Valentin” on the Tahuayo River. During this period, Aladino worked with his father as a trailblazer, assisting primate researchers who came to study at a local field station. Afterwards, he moved to Lima where he worked for several years while studying guiding & English. Upon returning in 2019, he was hired by Amazonia as a field assistant and actively supported researchers studying giant river otters, pygmy marmosets, and various bird species. He then joined Amazonia Expeditions as a guide assistant and was later promoted to head guide in 2022.

Jhony Hidalgo

Jhony was born and raised in El Diamante Village along the Blanco River. He attended primary school in his home village and high school in the community of “Valentin” on the Tahuayo River. Jhony later pursued further studies in Iquitos, where he obtained a guide degree from the Milagro Fe & Alegria Institute. After graduating, he worked at the Amazon Rescue Center in Iquitos (CREA), guiding visitors to the center. In 2021 he joined Amazonia Expeditions as a guide assistant and was promoted to head guide in 2023.

Sila Hidalgo

Sila was born and raised in El Diamante Village along the Blanco River. She attended primary school in Diamante village and high school in the community of “El Chino” on the Tahuayo River. Her family moved to El Chino so Sila could attend high school, as it was the closest village offering secondary education. Later, Sila joined our Angels (AoA) scholarship program to further her education in Iquitos, where she earned a guide degree from the Milagro Fe & Alegria Institute. She completed her internship at Tahuayo Lodge. After graduating, Sila began her career with Amazonia Expeditions as a guide assistant and was promoted to head guide in 2022.

Welister Perez

Welister grew up in the small community of Padre Cocha just outside of Iquitos City. He lived there for most of his life, and later worked at several jungle lodges before starting at Amazonia Expeditions. Welister has proven himself as both a talented jungle man and team player with an eagle eye for spotting wildlife. After several months of training with Amazonia he was promoted to a head guiding position in 2017.

Javier Anibal Alván Arévalo

Javier has worked at the Amazonia Expeditions lodges for 10 years, starting as a young teenager as an assistant in building repair, then moving up to motorboat pilot, then camping assistant and assistant guide, and after passing his guide exams with high grades was promoted to head guide in 2014. Javier is also our Canopy Zipline specialist and has taken professional certification classes in Costa Rica. Javier is also a fishing specialist and is beloved by families with children.