Canoe the Challuayacu
Yacu is kichwa for stream, and from the Challua you will experience the rainforest in a whole new way. Sneak up on birds, amphibians, and other Amazon wildlife from a steady canoe paddled by an expert native guide and notice the difference in rainforest vegetation which grows along and overtop of the river. Caiman Watching - Whether from the bar with a pair of binoculars, or up close and personal in a canoe, you will be able to view the active and healthy Black Caiman population (a rare and endangered Amazon species) which resides in our lagoon.
Night Caiman Watching
Our black-water oxbow lake is one of the increasingly rare havens for the endangered Black Caiman, supporting a healthy population of these large, up to 5-meter long, crocodilians. After the sun sets, these non-aggressive and shy reptiles become active along the water’s edge, hunting fish, mammals, birds, even anacondas, and sometimes can be seen swimming lazily across the lake. Take a dugout canoe out onto the water at night, with the moon casting an eerie glow into the humid fog, the frogs and nightjars singing, and you will see the glowing red eyes of baby, juvenile, and adult caimans.
Night Hiking
Many animals stay hidden away for most of the day, depending on their cryptic colouration and camouflage to avoid detection, sleeping motionless in the canopy, or under rocks, logs and leaf-litter on the forest floor. But at night the forest comes alive with a myriad of insects beyond your wildest imagination, tree frogs ranging from the size of your fingernail to the size of your whole hand, and mammals such as Night Monkeys, various bat species, and Kinkajous. A hike through the Rainforest at night is an opportunity to discover the mysteries of what happens in the dark, hidden behind the shadows, in the deep recesses of the forest, where few dare to venture.
Bar Observation
Because the Challuacocha is such a superb place to observe birds and aquatic wildlife, it is possible to see Magpie Tanagers, Cocoi Herons, Amazon Umbrella birds, freshwater turtles, and maybe even an Anaconda or Black Caiman while enjoying a cocktail and relaxing in our lakeside bar.