//
Photo: Verlic Redclaw, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The most extensive national protected area in all of Peru, and the most extensive in all of the floodable Amazon rainforest in South America. It is home to more than 1000 species of animals and 965 species of wild plants.
Pacaya–Samiria National Reserve, is a protected area located in the region of Loreto, Peru. It spans an area of 20,800 km2 (8,000 mi2). and protects an area of low hills and seasonally flooded forest in the Amazon rainforest. Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and the near Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve both form a biodiversity hotspot in the Amazon jungle.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Centro de Rescate Amazonico
Run by the ACOBIA NGO, supported by the IIAP-Institute for Investigation of the Peruvian Amazon and the Dallas World Aquarium. This projects aims to rescue orphaned manatees, whose mothers have been killed by locals for food, and other animals such as ocelot. They also have educational programs for local communities and schools about the importance of the preservation of this species. The employees are very enthusiastic about the animals. This is probably the only place in the world where you can bottle-feed manatee babies. Take a mototaxi from downtown to get there. They also accept volunteers to educate local school kids.
The biggest square in Peru, there are very good 'Chifa' (Peruvian Chinese) restaurants around the square.
Tapiche Jungle Reserve is deep inside the jungle where you can see primary rainforest and an abundance of wildlife in a natural setting. Activitues vary depending on the weather. It is a private rainforest conservation project in a remote location. It does not keep wild animals as pets.
This lodge is in primary rainforest which is exceedingly rich in species of both plants and animals, offering many opportunities for observing birds (the area has almost 500 species) and many kinds of animals and plants, including the giant water lily (the biggest aquatic plant in the world). Camping, hiking, canoeing, visiting local villages, eating exotic foods and navigating the Amazon River are all part of the experience, too. Tours from 2 days/1 night up to 6 days/5 nights. U.S. calls: +1 775-232-2243.
At Pilpintuwasi you can see the complete life cycle and learn about the impressing development of butterflies. At the Amazon Animal Orphanage you can see the rescued endangered animals that were ill-treated, such as anteaters, monkeys, tapirs or Pedro Bello, the Jaguar. Pilpintuwasi is on the Nanay River Front near the village of Padre Cocha. It's about 20 min by boat from Bellavista-Nanay. There are boats all day long. During the dry season you have to walk about 15 min from the village. Volunteers are also regularly needed for help!
It houses spectacled alligators, paiches (the biggest freshwater fish in the Amazon basin and one of the longest fish in the world), and the Victoria amazonica (the biggest lily-pad in the world). The admission fee includes a bucket of fish food.