Just a little feeler--dont get excited

[apistodave]

Would anyone be interested in an expedition up the Napo to count dolphins and collect fish. It would be in October.

 

[Mike Wise]

Been there, done that. It was fun (and expensive). I recommend it. BTW there some very nice (for the Amazon) rooms at the bodega in San Rafael on the Río Curaray, just upstream from where it joins the Napo. Also a nice hotel in Pantoja.

 

[apistodave]

Mike, we're looking at taking a ship from the confluence to the Ecuador border as close as we can.

 

[Simon Morgan]

Maybe next year

 

[themountain]

Thats a highly dangerous area...I would only go there with local(military) support !

 

[Mike Wise]

One of the commercial river boats (launcha) from Mazan to Pantoja takes about a week, depending on conditions. This is why Tom, Julio & I rented a 'rapido' (speed boat). It took ~9 hours, but the cost in fuel was high, about $800 for the round trip. As for danger, that's relative. We required permission from the Peruvian Navy to travel upstream on the Rio Aguarico, the river that forms the border between Peru & Ecuador, however. We actually had to have a Peruvian Army soldier escort us when we went looking for fish near the Peru/Ecuador border. Otherwise, we wouldn't be allowed in the area.

 

[Avid Outdoorsman]

What would be a realistic expectation of cost for a trip like this. I am not as knowledgeable as most I. Here it seems, but I trip like this would be a great adventure I would love to take on. Being realistic I would more than likely need a year or so to prepare, but it sounds extremely interesting.

 

[apistodave]

What would be a realistic expectation of cost for a trip like this. I am not as knowledgeable as most I. Here it seems, but I trip like this would be a great adventure I would love to take on. Being realistic I would more than likely need a year or so to prepare, but it sounds extremely interesting.

Bare bones--6,000

 

[apistodave]

One of the commercial river boats (launcha) from Mazan to Pantoja takes about a week, depending on conditions. This is why Tom, Julio & I rented a 'rapido' (speed boat). It took ~9 hours, but the cost in fuel was high, about $800 for the round trip. As for danger, that's relative. We required permission from the Peruvian Navy to travel upstream on the Rio Aguarico, the river that forms the border between Peru & Ecuador, however. We actually had to have a Peruvian Army soldier escort us when we went looking for fish near the Peru/Ecuador border. Otherwise, we wouldn't be allowed in the area.[/

Hey Mike how much did the soldier cost

 

[themountain]

What would be a realistic expectation of cost for a trip like this. I am not as knowledgeable as most I. Here it seems, but I trip like this would be a great adventure I would love to take on. Being realistic I would more than likely need a year or so to prepare, but it sounds extremely interesting.

http://www.wildperu.net/tour-pricing.html

but the pricing of Mike is more realistic

 

[Mike Wise]

The soldier didn't cost us anything extra. I'm pretty sure that the commanding officer of the forward base just didn't want us to wander off into Ecuadorian territory. It helped that we had a local 'bush meat' hunter as a guide. He was friends with the commander. I'm pretty sure the soldier was happy to go with us. Before this, he was trimming the grass - with a machete!

As for costs (not including air fare to Iquitos) expect a minimum of $50/day living expenses + transportation costs of at least $50/day (rapido boat rental with pilot(s) & fuel are expensive). These costs are based on living "local"; no fancy hotels (who really needs air conditioning and hot water?), local food, and where possible local transportation.

 

[JG]

Tempting trip.