At Inkaterra a key part of our ethos is striving for excellence in geotourism and conservation and this includes educating ourselves and our guests. It is for this reason that we revel in catching a glimpse of the local flora and fauna that call Inkaterra home, and the last month has proven terrifically exciting for sightings.

An exhilarating sighting took place on September 17th when Explorer Guide, Lili Gutierrez, and two teammates were having lunch in the staff dining room at Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica, when they spotted four Pygmy Marmosets enjoying their own lunch simultaneously! Munching on the delicious bark of an Ubos tree, the Pygmies seemed unaware that they had an audience. The Pygmy Marmoset is the smallest monkey of the New World, often found close to waterways inhabiting the tropical lowlands of forests in the Western Amazon.

PYGMY MARMOSET
Lili G. – Inkaterra Explorer Guides

It was during a tour of Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, when Explorer Guide Plinio with eight of our guests, stumbled across a group of Red Howler Monkeys. Amongst some of the largest monkey species in Latin America, Red Howler Monkeys are famous for their loud howls can travel up to three miles through dense rainforest.

RED HOWLER MONKEY
Plinio A. – Inkaterra Explorer Guide

Plinio and a group of guests were meandering around beautiful oxbow-shaped Lake Sandoval, when they came across two bickering Giant River Otters. The otters were embroiled in a duel for a fish, which was taking place not far from the group’s canoe, providing the optimum arena to witness these creatures in a natural exchange. Fish is their principal food source so it is no surprise that on this occasion they were fighting for their lunch. Giant River Otters are included in Appendix I of the Convention International Trade of Endangered Species since 1973 so are an extremely exciting spot.

GIANT RIVER OTTER
Plinio A. – Inkaterra Explorer Guide

A group of guests were on their way back from the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway with an Explorer Guide in late September when they spotted a herd of Capybara Ronsoco resting on the river bank, basking in the late afternoon sun. The largest and heaviest rodent of the caved family, the Capybara Ronsoco is a highly social animal living in groups of around 10-20 individuals.

CAPYBARA RONSOCO
Plinio A. – Inkaterra Explorer Guide

The biodiversity surrounding the Inkaterra properties never ceases to astound us and we are always enthused upon beholding new creatures.