LATA Webinar: Discover Peru’s Wild Side
This webinar, led by PromPeru’s London Director Aldo Parodi, showcased Peru’s “wild side” beyond Machu Picchu. Jose Pilares of CREES presented Manu National Park — a biodiverse Andes-to-Amazon corridor — highlighting conservation-led regenerative tourism, tech-enhanced wildlife experiences, and family/experiential-learning trip formats. Giovanna Villacorta of Amazon Expeditions then presented the Iquitos region, covering the lodge’s setting, activities (Monkey Island, guided walks, pink river dolphins, birdwatching, turtle release program), sustainability and community work, and dining/comfort offerings.
Key Takeaways
Peru’s wild side is a major but underused selling point. Around 60% of the country is Amazon rainforest, offering wildlife, birdwatching, and river experiences well beyond the classic Machu Picchu/Cusco/gastronomy narrative.
Manu National Park is exceptionally biodiverse. Sitting in the tropical Andes, its unbroken gradient from high peaks to lowland jungle creates a huge range of species and makes it a strong candidate for one of the world’s best birdwatching destinations.
Crees/Ecoton operates as one conservation-tourism platform. Directly protecting over 20,000 hectares of legally protected land, with indirect impact reaching much further, blending science, community work, and travel under one brand.
Two clear product lines serve different traveller types. Regenerative tourism (comfortable lodges, immersive but accessible) for families/couples/small groups, and experiential learning (embedded, longer-stay work alongside scientists) for students and young researchers.
Technology is used to reveal hidden wildlife. Tools like the Ecodrome (GPS-tracked bear cameras with National Geographic), Forest Whisper (immersive soundscapes), and a citizen-science species explorer let travellers engage with real-time conservation data, unlike the more visible wildlife of an African safari.
Family Discovery Quest packages kids as “junior researchers”. Dedicated family product turning children into explorers/storytellers, designed so kids lead the trip and parents rediscover a sense of adventure.
Iquitos and the Amazon River offer an accessible, roadless gateway. Reachable only by air (1h30 from Lima) or river, making it feel remote and special while remaining logistically easy to add to a Peru itinerary.
Heliconia Lodge blends comfort with conservation. 26 rooms with private terraces/hammocks, full board with dietary options, set on stilts due to seasonal flooding, alongside community education and a Tarikaya turtle conservation/release program (“Vida Dando Vida”).
Signature wildlife encounters drive demand. Pink river dolphins (viewable/swimmable at a respectful distance), sloths, anacondas, monkey rescue centres, and 500+ recorded bird species are key draws, with activities varying daily as the rainforest changes.
Certification is a work in progress but sustainability is already embedded. Amazon Expeditions is pursuing sustainability certification, while CREES holds past Rainforest Alliance credentials and is in process for B Corp status, with both operators emphasizing genuine community and conservation work regardless of formal certification status.
Watch again here: