I often tell people that when you visit the Amazon, a good guide can be the difference between a "black and white experience" and a "full color experience". There are lots of guides who can spot animals, but they might not be able to explain the relationships and other details that a good one can go into depth about.
Though I had been sending clients to Refugio Amazonas and Posada Amazonas for many years, I had never been there myself until recently and I had a wonderful experience. Former guide, and now titled "Rainforest Specialist", Pierina Carranza accompanied our group of agents and Rocio Guzman, who handled my reservations for several years and is now the sales and marketing manager, was also there at various times. So, after many years of communicating electronically, it was great to finally be able to converse face to face to enhance our friendships.
You may not know it, but some lodges hire guides just for the summer, often bringing in biology or other natural science students to help during the high season. Or sometimes there are "traveling guides" - people who might work in one place for a season or two, and then decide that they want to see something different.
I was pleasantly surprised that our guides had worked at the lodges for many years - they even remembered several clients that I had sent maybe 15 years ago who had been in an accident because they insisted on defying safety protocols. So these guys had extensive knowledge about the animals, plant life and historic changes that had occurred in the local ecosystems over the years and it was great to talk to them about the changes that had been made over the years. They are from the local Ese'eja indigenous community and Pierina was thrilled when I showed her an article about recent research that showed that those people had lived there, in harmony with nature, for over a thousand years!
You may not know it, but some lodges hire guides just for the summer, often bringing in biology or other natural science students to help during the high season. Or sometimes there are "traveling guides" - people who might work in one place for a season or two, and then decide that they want to see something different.
I was pleasantly surprised that our guides had worked at the lodges for many years - they even remembered several clients that I had sent maybe 15 years ago who had been in an accident because they insisted on defying safety protocols. So these guys had extensive knowledge about the animals, plant life and historic changes that had occurred in the local ecosystems over the years and it was great to talk to them about the changes that had been made over the years. They are from the local Ese'eja indigenous community and Pierina was thrilled when I showed her an article about recent research that showed that those people had lived there, in harmony with nature, for over a thousand years!
Last, but not least, I need to mention that the lodge facilities were of a very high standard and the food was outstanding - I never knew there were so many delicious ways to prepare quinoa! You definitely don't have to feel like you're "roughing it" when you visit one of these lodges.
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