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.
