Amazon Explorama Lodges

Our Familiy

MANAGEMENT TEAM

  • PAM BUCUR

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    PAM BUCUR

    General Manager, Iquitos Pam's extensive experience in handling all aspects of Explorama Lodges

    MARISOL RIVERA

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    MARISOL RIVERA

    Reservations Manager Marisol has worked for Explorama

    LUIS GONZALES

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    LUIS GONZALES

    Administrative Manager Luis started off with Explorama as a guide over 30 years ago

  • LINNEA SMITH

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    DR. LINNEA SMITH

    aka 'La Doctora', Iquitos Dr. Smith, affectionately known as La Doctora, really cannot be considered a member of Explorama's 'staff'

    PAUL CAIRA

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    PAUL CAIRA

    Manager/Itinerary Planner, Boston, MA (USA)
    Paul has to smile when he recalls an outdoor lobster/clam bake in the Boston

    ELAINE BUDNIK

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    ELAINE BUDNIK

    Reservations Manager, Boston, MA (USA)
    Coming from a background of meeting planning

Tour, Excursions & Itineraries

GUIDES TEAM

All of Explorama's guides are local people, raised in the Peruvian rain forest, with an extensive and sensitive knowledge of the ecology and culture of the Amazon. Our guides have an average of 8 to 14 years experience with the company, and while many of them have only completed a few years of formal schooling, all have worked closely with the most prominent scientists in rain forest ecology and conservation. Their expertise is utilized in rainforest workshops, Earth watch projects, and to assist doctoral students in all areas of rainforest studies.

Explorama guides are able to explain the rainforest on a scientific level, while also expressing a love for the place that only comes from having grown up within it. When traveling with Explorama you can be assured of a warm welcome from the villagers as you learn about their daily life. You will never feel intrusive when accompanied by our guides because they share a common background with those who live there. Explorama has also sought to be an integral partner in the life of the local villages we visit by initiating and supporting educational programs for village school children and their teachers.

  • Team Member

    Aristídes Arévalo Lozano

    Was born in the village of San Pedro de Marupa on the Amazon River. Ary has been guiding 31 years and has been working for Explorama for over 38 years. He speaks English, Spanish and Italian. Ary likes teaching people about the place he loves and working where every day is a new adventure. He also enjoys playing the quena and guitar and learning any new instrument.

    Team Member

    Armando Del Aguila Del Aguila

    Was born in Iquitos, Perú. He has been guiding tourists for 26 years and has worked for Explorama for 16. Armando speaks Spanish and English and is certified in his field as a "Guia Oficiál de Turismo". He likes every aspect of guiding tourist guests in the jungle. He loves the natural world, loves his job and hopes to be part of helping to save the rain forest.

    Team Member

    Abelardo Flores Hidalgo

    Was born and raised in the town of Indiana, Perú on the Amazon River. He has been guiding tourists for 12 years and working for Explorama for 14. Abelardo speaks Spanish and English and says he tries to know a little bit about everything in the rainforest environment. He enjoys his profession because it allows him to present his culture and environment to new people he meets from around the world.

  • Team Member

    Amner Ismodes Soplin

    Was born in the villaje of Tamanco on the Napo River in Perú. Amner has been guiding guests for 11 years and he has worked for Explorama for 26 years. He speaks Spanish and English, his area of expertise is environmental education and he says simply, "I love my job".

    Team Member

    Basilio Sahuarico Huayta

    Was born in the village of Padre Cocha on the Nanay River in Perú. He has been guiding tourists for 28 years and he's worked for Explorama for 17. Basilio speaks Spanish, English and Cocama (the language of his parents). His major areas of expertise are plants and constellations but he generally knows a little bit about everything in the rainforest. He loves his job because he loves the natural environment. He's also a great guitar player!

    Team Member

    Celso Hidalgo Ruiz

    Was born in the village of Timicuro on the Amazon River, Perú. He has been guiding tourists in the rainforest for 29 years and has worked for Explorama for 18. He speaks Spanish and English and has knowledge in all areas of the rainforest environment. He says he's in the profession because he loves it so much!

  • Team Member

    Cliver Rioja Acosta

    Was born in Iquitos, Perú. He has been guiding for 17 years and has been working for Explorama for 16. He speaks Spanish and English and his area of expertise is in environmental education, wild life, and Peruvian geography and culture. He enjoys his profession because he is a nature lover and wants to pass on this passion to help educate people. Cliver is proudest of his invitation to be a speaker at "Semester at Sea" and to be able to travel the length of the Amazon from Belem to Iquitos.

    Team Member

    Cesar Sevillano Guerra

    was born and raised in the village of Palmeras on the Amazon River, Perú. He has been guiding for 8 years and working for Explorama for 13. He speaks Spanish and English and feels he knows a little about everything in the jungle, rain forest environment. Working with Explorama runs in Cesar's family as his father is responsible for the original construction of the Canopy Walkway.

    Team Member

    Luis Chanchari

    Was born in the village of Bretaña located in the Pacaya Samiria reserve. He has been guiding for 25 years all of which while working for Explorama. His area of specialty is Peruvian culture and he says he simply loves his job!

  • Team Member

    Luis Mayanchi Del Aguila

    Was born in Puerto Amelia, Brazil. He has been guiding for 15 years and has worked for Explorama since 1980. He speaks Spanish and English and his area of expertise is birding. He loves his job very much.

    Team Member

    Lucio Pando Vasquez

    Was born in the community of Iquique along the Amazon River in Perú. He has been guiding for 31 years while working for Explorama for over 38! He speaks Spanish and English and his area of expertise is birding. Not only does Lucio recognize birds by sight but also by their calls. He's happy to be doing what he loves!

    Team Member

    Orlando Guerra Alcade

    Was born in the city of Iquitos, Perú. He has been a guide for 18 years and worked for Explorama for 27. He speaks Spanish and English and his area of expertise is dolphins and Amazonian cultures. He enjoys meeting new people from around the world and teaching them all about the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

  • Team Member

    Paul Hoyos Flores

    Was born in Iquitos, Perú, has been guiding for 21 years and working for Explorama for 13. He speaks Spanish, English and German. He has a "Certificado do Guia de Truismo-Botanica". He is in this profession because it is different each day and he has the opportunity to meet many new and interesting people.

    Team Member

    Percy Reyna Inuma

    Was born in the village of Santa Rita de Castilla on the Chambira River, a tributary of the Manañon River which flows into the Amazon River in Perú. Percy has been guiding for 14 years, all of which have been in the employment of Explorama. He speaks Spanish, English and German with his area of expertise being fishing and nature walks. He likes his job because he can share his culture with many different people, and he has the chance to show off the beauty of the rainforest to the world.

    Team Member

    Roberto Campos Alvarado

    was born in Iquitos, Perú. He has been guiding for 8 years and working for Explorama for 14. He speaks Spanish and English and sees his area of expertise as botany and animal behavior. Since he was a boy, he always wanted to learn English and learn about and explore the natural world. Working in this profession allows him to do both!

  • Team Member

    Roldan Hidalgo Peso

    was born in the village of Timicuro Grande along the Amazon River, Perú. He has been guiding for 27 years and has worked for Explorama for 30. He speaks Spanish and English. His area of specialty is fish, animals, plants, insects and spiders. He enjoys his job everyday, especially working with student groups!

    Team Member

    Raul Petit Manuyama

    was born and raised in the community of San Pedro de Mangua on the Napo River. He has been guiding for 18 years and working for Explorama for 21. He speaks Spanish and English. His areas of expertise include plants, birds, fish, insects and the local, native culture. He always dreamed of being a naturalist and working in the rainforest. Guiding international guests allowed this dream to come true.

    Team Member

    Ricardo Rengifo Gonzales

    was born near Iquitos in a Yagua village on the Putamayo River. He has been guiding for 28 years and has worked for Explorama for 15. He speaks Spanish and English, loves environmental education, and is quite familiar with the local legends and beliefs of rainforest inhabitants. He is dedicated and loves his job! In recent years Ricardo has been a great liason for visiting medical groups working in villages.

  • Team Member

    Renilo Vasquez Carbajal

    was born in the village of Timicuro Grande on the Amazon River, Perú. He has been guiding for 19 years all of which has been spent with Explorama. He speaks Spanish, English and German and his area of expertise is rainforest plants. He very much enjoys his job and the guests he meets along the way.

    Team Member

    Segundo Inuma Acosta

    was born along the banks of the Manati River, a tributary of the Amazon River. He has been guiding for 41 years all of which have been in the employment of Explorama. He speaks Spanish and English and enjoys specializing in the area of local fish and he has the patience to wait to catch them! He very much enjoys his professional life guiding visitors in the jungle.

    Team Member

    Willy Flores Lanza

    was born in the village of Cañaveral along the Amazon River, Perú. He has been guiding for 18 years and working for Explorama for 15. He loves the natural environment and enjoys sharing it with others. Willy's specialty is finding and identifying amphibians and reptiles.