One of the mysterious activities of the Amazon that we offer is in the Palotoa ecological reserve and the Manu biosphere reserve: the search for caiman. Their appearance is daunting, but it’s truly mesmerizing to encounter one of these colossal jungle creatures. In our tours, which range from 4 days to longer, participants can seek out caimans either during the day or at night.
Caimans live isolated from civilization, making them elusive and challenging to spot. This is why we have crafted this specific activity. By exploring the lagoons and small meanders of the Amazon with the assistance of your expert tour guide, you’ll have the opportunity not just to spot alligators, but also to see other wildlife like turtles, fish, and birds.
The caiman is a carnivorous reptile of the Alligatoridae family that gets its name because of its dark coloration as an adult. It is found in lakes, slow-moving rivers, and other freshwater habitats of South America, mainly in the Amazon basin. It is the largest predator in the ecosystem of the Amazon and can reach a size of 4-5 meters long, taking advantage of almost any animal its teeth can sink into.
The black caiman is a nocturnal hunter who relies on its keen sense of sight and hearing to find food. Adult caimans have no known predators; however, when they are young, they are vulnerable to being hunted by cats, coatis, birds, and other animals. The females of this species reproduce only once every two years and lay, on average, 30-50 eggs at a time. Although mother caimans protect their nests, very few offspring survive to adulthood.
The size of the group is 9 people per guide; if we have more than 10 to 14 people, we send a second guide (not an assistant). If there are more than 14 people, we divide into 2 totally independent groups, each with their own cars, boats, guides, and cooks.
The first night at Rainforest Lodge (600 m.a.s.l.) the temperature is around 27°C. In the low forest of the Manu, the temperature at night is normally around 27°C, and during the day about 35°C. As always, cold winds from Patagonia could reach the Manu area, and the temperature could drop to around 10°C. These “Friajes” are very common in the southeast of the hemisphere, during the wind season (between April until the end of August).
There are not many walks in the sense of going far. All walks are done slowly. This is because most of the vegetation in the forest allows you to see the animals, giving enough time to observe the surroundings and also hear them.
We request that hikers bring their own water on the first day since the containers with water will be accessible at dinner time. For the rest of the trip, we will provide bottled and purified mineral water that we bring from Cusco.
The risk of contracting malaria is low in the area we visit. However, the area is close to a gold mining area, and miners can travel in the same river that we use. There is a possibility that mosquitoes, which do not yet have malaria, could bite an infected miner and then bite you, transmitting the disease. This possibility is very rare, and until now, no tourists traveling to Manu have contracted malaria.
A unique and adrenaline-filled experience. Exploring the jungle day and night in search of alligators was simply amazing. Seeing their eyes glowing in the dark and getting within a few meters was magical and challenging. In addition, we observed exotic birds, turtles and other animals. The guides were knowledgeable and passionate. Totally recommended!
Une expérience unique et riche en adrénaline. Explorer la jungle jour et nuit à la recherche d’alligators était tout simplement incroyable. Voir leurs yeux briller dans le noir et s’approcher à quelques mètres près était magique et stimulant. Nous avons également pu observer des oiseaux exotiques, des tortues et d’autres animaux. Les guides étaient compétents et passionnés. Je les recommande vivement !