The Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve
Amazonia Expeditions has exclusive access to the Area de Conservacion Regional Communal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo (ACRCTT), over 1.1 million acres commonly known as the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo reserve, which provides you with the opportunity to experience an unmatched variety of wildlife. The site has more species of monkeys than any protected park or reserve in the world. Scientists have also documented the greatest diversity of species of mammals and birds of any site studied in the lowland Amazon basin.
Maps of Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve
The Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve was originally designated by the Peruvian government in 1991 to protect the range of the rare red uakari monkey, an orangutan-looking monkey with a bright red face. Amazonia Expeditions played a major role in the development of the reserve. Subsequent scientific research has found one of the world’s richest variety of plants, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
Amazon Research Center Trail Grid
The Amazon Research Center Lodge (ARC) is formally recognized by the Peruvian Governmental organization CONCYTEC (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación) as an official Research Institution. The centerpiece of the ARC research facilities is the Trail Grid system. Located behind the Research Center Lodge, it contains 55 miles (75 km) of trails laid out in a grid of transects, that spread spread over more than 1000 acres (2200 ha) and slicing through four different ecosystems. It is the largest scientific trail system offered in the Amazon. Many more miles of trails radiate out from the grid. Twelve species of primates have significant populations on the grid. Some 50 additional species of mammals are found, including apex predators such as jaguar and puma. While about half of all research takes place at the ARC on the trail grid, other research opportunities utilize the many lakes and rivers, native communities downriver and other unique ecosystems found near the main tourism lodge.
Saki Monkey Project
We are investigating a possibly undescribed species of saki monkey that lives in flooded forests along the Tahuayo River. All our guests who visit the Research Center are invited to participate in this research by sharing any photos you are able to take of the saki monkeys.
Our biologist Malika Gottstein works fulltime on the project observing saki groups in the trail grid and along the rivers around the Tahuayo River Amazon Research Center. Sakis are among the least studied monkey genera worldwide and the exact species classification, as well as ecology and behavior are not yet known. Our research projects seeks to resolve the taxonomical uncertainty of saki monkeys in the Northern Peruvian Amazon by conducting genetical and morphological analysis of the saki population. We are first to investigate feeding ecology of the Monk Saki, as well as movement patterns and social grouping.
We are putting together a photographic atlas of the sakis to document the facial patterns of these monkeys because this will help us to figure out if we have a species that hasn’t been reported in this area before. Photos also help us to document how many individuals are in each group, the identity of these individuals and any demographic changes in the groups (such as the birth of babies, departure of maturing offspring, or changes in male or female membership).
Would you like to help? If you have an opportunity to photograph these monkeys we would really like to know the following:
When did you take the photo?
We will need the month, day and year the photo was taken.
Where did you take the photo?
If you are on the trail grid, the coordinates of the nearest grid node are fine (for example, D19, or between B5 and B6). If you have a GPS unit with you and can get a reading that is also great. If you see the sakis while you are on the river again a GPS reading is ideal. It is often easier to get a good reading on the river than in the forest. No GPS? Ask your guide for helpful landmarks.
How many sakis did you encounter?
Your guide will be really helpful here as well. Guides often see monkeys that we miss.
Extra Credit Points
Was there anything that struck you or your guide as interesting or unusual about this encounter? For example, were the sakis hanging out with another species of monkey or maybe having a fight with another group of sakis?
Do we have permission to use your photos
By taking part in this project and supplying us with the photo we assume you are willing to allow us to use the photo in our research. Are you also willing for us to publish your photo in a scientific paper? If you give us permission to publish the photo we will always credit you as the photographer. Thank you for being willing to participate in this project. Your photos will be enormously helpful to us in figuring out which species of sakis are in this area and following the demographic changes in our study group when we can’t be there ourselves.
Primate Species
Please view our Primates page for more information about all of the species of primates in this region, but below is a list of primates you can see:
Monk saki
In addition to the Monk Saki, the ACRCTT possibly has another species of saki monkey not known in the area. The saki populations around our Tahuayo River Amazon Research Center are the subject of our fulltime ongoing research project. Both morphs of saki monkeys can frequently be found around the ARC. Sakis live in family groups of 2-7 individuals, have small home ranges and only move short distances. They are very shy and cryptic, but can often be observed resting at the river side or during their early morning activity hours in the trail grid behind the ARC.
Pygmy Marmoset
Cebuella pygmaea
Tamarins
Saguinus fuscicollis and Saguinus mystax
Titi Monkeys
Callicebus cupreus
Squirrel Monkeys
Saimiri macrodon
Saki Monkeys
Pithecia monachus
Capuchins
Cebus albifrons and Sapajus macrocephalus
Red Faced Uakari
Cacajao calvus ucayalii
Red Howler Monkey
Alouatta seniculus
Woolly Monkey
Lagothrix lagothricha poeppigii
Black Spider Monkeys
Ateles chamek
Biodiversity in the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Region
Biologists refer to this region as the “green paradise” of the Amazon forest. Within this region there exist exceptional national parks and reserves that contain the best wildlife viewing experiences to be found in the Amazon.
Primates
The Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo reserve has a greater diversity of species of monkeys than that recorded in any protected park or reserve in the world. This diversity (at least 15 species) is a focus of many guests. Learn more about these different species on our Primates page.
Birds
With over 600 species, the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Conservation Reserve has a higher count of bird species of any site in lowland Amazon forest. It is an outstanding experience for birders and nature lovers. Learn more about the birds in the Amazon, and their scientific names
Erika
Our time in the jungle was an absolute highlight on our trip to Peru! Truly amazing! …Again, we had the most wonderful time. Almost more than words can say. The jungle and the Tahuayo Lodge hold very special places in our hearts and CAN NOT WAIT to return. Thank you again for offering such an amazing trip.
Renee
Our trip was INCREDIBLE. The lodge was great, the food was amazing, and the staff were all so friendly. We loved our stays at the B&B, the main lodge, and the ARC.
Tia & Paula
It was incredible and a trip of a lifetime Paul! My sister Paula and I had an amazing time and loved everything — your facilities and staff are top notch and I want to come back with my husband and daughters!!
The Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve
Amazonia Expeditions has exclusive access to the Area de Conservacion Regional Communal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo (ACRCTT), commonly known as the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo reserve, which provides you with the opportunity to experience an unmatched variety of wildlife. The site has more species of monkeys than any protected park or reserve in the world. Scientists have also documented the greatest diversity of species of mammals and birds of any site studied in the lowland Amazon basin.
Amazon Research Center Trail Grid
The centerpiece of the ARC research facilities is the Trail Grid system. Located behind the Research Center Lodge, it contains 55 miles (75 km) of trails spread over more than 1000 acres (2200 ha) and slicing through four different ecosystems. It is the largest scientific trail system offered in the Amazon. Many more miles of trails radiate out from the grid. Twelve species of primates have significant populations on the grid. Some 50 additional species of mammals are found, including apex predators such as jaguar and puma. While about half of all research takes place at the ARC on the trail grid, other research opportunities utilize the many lakes and rivers, native communities downriver and other unique ecosystems found near the main tourism lodge.
Maps of Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve
The Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve was originally designated by the Peruvian government in 1991 to protect the range of the rare red uakari monkey, an orangutan-looking monkey with a bright red face. Amazonia Expeditions played a major role in the development of the reserve. Subsequent scientific research has found one of the world’s richest variety of plants, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
Amazon Research Center Peru Lodge
The Amazon Research Center (ARC) Peru was launched in 2007, as a long-term conservation initiative.
The facilities of the ARC offer a unique opportunity for scientists, students, and interested travelers to participate in scientific investigations in the Amazon rainforest. Much of the ongoing fieldwork research is conservation related, part of an effort to understand and preserve the most mega-diverse region yet documented in all the lowland Amazon forest.
Biodiversity in the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Region
Biologists refer to this region as the “green paradise” of the Amazon forest. Within this region there exist exceptional national parks and reserves that contain the best wildlife viewing experiences to be found in the Amazon.
Primates
The Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo reserve has a greater diversity of species of monkeys than that recorded in any protected park or reserve in the world. The variety (at least 15 species) is a focus of many guests. Learn more about these different species on our Primates page.
Birds
With over 600 species, the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Conservation Reserve has a higher count of bird species of any site in lowland Amazon forest. It is an outstanding experience for birders and nature lovers. Learn more about the birds in the Amazon, and their scientific names