The Tamandua Experience

Squirrel monkeys enjoying some forest fruit. These little ones have never known hunting and so are completely unafraid of humans. They were foraging in a huge group — over thirty individuals — so the forest was alive with their chatter and the sound of leaves swooshing as the jumped from branch to branch~. Photo by @paulrosolie. @ageofunion

tamanduaexpeditions's profile picture. tamanduaexpeditions. #Repost @eco.dreamer. ・・・. ✈️ This was by far the greatest trip of my life (PT 1) On Dec 28th I left for the Airport to depart on a trip I had been dreaming about for years. And I almost didn’t make it. Though I had double & triple checked, my COVID results were denied. My flight left in an hr. With desperate & quick thinking, I found a clinic that would get my new results in 15 mins & a flight that would arrive in time for my connection. I arrived in Puerto Maldonado, Peru at 4pm on Dec 29th & hopped into a taxi headed for the Royal Inn where I would meet up with @paulrosolie & his team to start the adventure of a lifetime. He doesn’t know this, or maybe he noticed, but when he approached me to introduce himself, I had a total star-struck moment. I could not believe a man I admire so much for the work he does for the environment was standing in front of me. Especially knowing I had almost missed this trip. Typically, the tours consist of about 10 ppl, but with the state of travel due to COVID there were only 3 of us attending, one we’d be meeting at the river the following morning. So for now, it was just Ben & I, along with the rest of the team, Sterling, Mohsin, & Stephane. When I finally got to my room I threw down my bags & completely freaked out excited to finally be in Peru. I can’t tell you how many times I broke out into little happy dances. It was happening. I was finally here. I couldn’t freaking believe it! .The rest of the day I hung out with Ben exploring & playing in the rain on the roof of the hotel. We then joined everyone for dinner at a cute little café where we got to know each other a bit. Honestly, I expected there to be a boundary between guide & guests like my other trips had been, but it was nothing like that. I was comfortable talking with them. I didn’t know it at the time, but this trip would eventually feel like hanging out with friends I had known for years. Tomorrow we’d be waking up bright & early to start our adventure into the Amazon jungle. I couldn’t wait. Who knew the first day we’d be chasing waterfalls & the

Does anyone know what is going on here? This row of mushrooms looks like it has little black coins piled in each cup...!

There is so much comfort in the permanence of nature. That no matter what is going on in the world there are mountain streams flowing. That deep in the jungle everything is growing on everything else, and there are millions and millions of little lives clinging to the foliage. Dodging raindrops, searching for food—hiding. Coming back to the forest is like breathing again for the first time.

When is the last time you did something that changed your life? We read stories about great expeditions for science, adventures in exploration—but so rarely have the chance to take them ourselves. This year has been devastating for conservation because it has shut down ecotourism and kept many local conservationists locked down at home, and struggling for income. At the same time loggers and invaders have been doubling their efforts to make as much progress as they can while the world is shut down.

Good morning from the jungle floor! This is just a reminder that although we must discuss the constant threat to biodiversity and to habitat and all the rain forest that we are losing— that there are vast tracts of forest that are healthy and protected. THERE IS STILL SO MUCH TO SAVE! . Image by @mohsinkazmitakespictures

After seeing the destruction, the green, wild, pristine places are all the more stunning. Just that they exist. That we have the chance to see them—what a profound privilege~ . This stunning little tributary is part of the forest that will never be cut because it is protected by @junglekeepers and the crucial support from @ageofunion and so many of you who make this work possible 🙏. Photo by @mohsinkazmitakespictures

It’s not all fun and games. But some of it definitely is..

The Amazon leaf frog—the jewel of the jungle (Cruziohyla craspedopus). It’s a canopy dwelling species so we RARELY see it. But there is nothing more beautiful 😍. Photo by @paulrosolie