1 space still available (as of June 2026) - ACT FAST!
Description: Our second herpetology and photography trip of 2027. Join us for 1 night each in Iquitos and Requena, Peru, and 8 nights in the Amazon jungle at the Area de Conservacion Tapiche on a tour designed for reptile and amphibian lovers and photographers. Veteran Amazon trip leaders Matt Cage and Mike Pingleton will be your hosts. You may be well familiar with these trip leaders! Check out Mike’s Notes from the Field. These trips regularly encounter over 100 species of snakes, lizards, crocodilians, turtles, geckos, frogs, toads, caecilians, salamanders and dragons (yup!). A list of the reptiles and amphibians recorded from this and other sites is available on the Project Amazonas website.
The Tapiche Reserve is a 40,000 acre (16,000 ha) reserve that was granted formal protection status in early 2026. This is a remote (but accessible) area that has experienced minimum hunting pressure and has a high density of wildlife. In the lakes and rivers there are giant otters, black and white caiman, and large waterbird colonies, along with both pink and gray river dolphins and a large populcation of Podocnemis river turtles. If you are very lucky, you might even see the critically endangered Amazonian manatee. On land (and in the trees) there are 13 species of primates, including the charismatic Ucayali red uakari monkey. Expect to be woken daily by a chorus of howler monkeys. Tapirs, peccaries, paca, tamanduas, and other mammals are seen regularly, and there is the full suite of predators, including jaguars, also present. The birding is fantastic with nesting harpy and crested eagles, zigzag and agami herons, and five species of macaw, amongst a dazzling array of other species. At least one species of reccently described plant has also been found on site, a first record for Peru.
Participants have the opportunity to hike on your own, or with a guide, both day and night. We prioritize immediate access to great habitats at the field stations. Hear a weird frog call at 4 AM? Get up and look for it!. Want to hit the trails at 6 AM for early morning birding? Fresh coffee will already be on. To join the conversation about Amazon herp trips, visit the MT Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MTAmazonExpeditions/) or Matt Cage’s website (www.cages.smugmug.com). Many past trip participants post regularly on these sites, so you can obtain first-hand, honest, and unfiltered information on what a trip is like. Don’t just take our word that the trips are great fun, and be sure to ask about the food.
IMPORTANT: This trips is limited to 10 participants to ensure a quality experience and for logistical purposes. There is only one space left open currently (June 2026), first come first served.
Cost: $2395 (1st time adult rate). This includes airport reception and drop-off, 1 night hotel in Iquitos (at beginning) and in Nauta (last night), all meals, lodging and fees at field stations, river and ground transportation, field station fees, guides and crew services. Repeat client rate is $2195 (adult). Discounted rates are available for teens (ages 13-18-75% of adult rate) and pre-teens (age 12 and under - 50% of adult rate)
Itinerary: Arrival in Iquitos on 1 Feb 2027. Travel to the university arboretum (dart-frogs), dinner and overnight in Iquitos. On 2 Feb, an early (0500) departure by bus to Nauta, connecting to large speedboat onward to Requena, with transport on to the Tapiche Reserve from there. Arrival in the late afternoon. 2-9 Feb 2027 - at the Tapiche Reserve with day and nighttime excursions. On 10 Feb, travel from Tapiche to Requena, with overnight in Requena. Early departure (0400) from Requena back to Iquitos; day use of a couple of hotel rooms for luggage/showers; final group meal and departure onward from about 2 PM.
Leader(s) & Contact:
Matt Cage or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cage150 (herp identification, photography)
Mike Pingleton (Expedition Co-Leader - herp identification, photography)
Devon Graham (MTAE - logistics, booking, payments)