Night Hikes

Hiking the Tambopata National Reserve after dark is an entirely different experience than doing it by day. While the sun still shines, the forest is alive with birds and butterflies who dart and flutter among the foliage. After sunset, however, the character of the jungle changes as a new bunch of nocturnal critters come out to play. Follow a guide into the murky depths of the forest at night and you’ll hear a symphony of caws, calls and cackles from the creatures of the night.

As your senses attune to the dark, be on alert for pairs of glowing eyes watching on from the forest. This eye-shine, created by a reflective layer at the back of the eye, is an adaptation for nocturnal living. Among the mammals you might encounter after dark are the small cat-like kinkajou, or honey bear as it is also known, and the doe-eyed night monkey. These nocturnal monkeys are famous for their monogamous relationships and the hands-on role monkey fathers play in rearing their young.

Away from the canopy, you might also see frogs lurching and snakes slithering, and – should you take a nighttime boat excursion – the black caiman, whose eyes shine glow red like burning coal in the dark. The black caiman, which resembles an alligator in appearance, is the largest predator in the Amazon rainforest.

Embark on a group or private tour to Peru’s Tambopata National Reserve after dark and experience a nightlife quite unlike any other.  Contact us today and get your free Peru trip quote.  At Kuoda Travel, all trips are custom and personally designed for you by one of our professional travel experts.