At my request MT Amazon Expeditions (formerly Margarita Tours) has laid on a trip up the Nanay to the Pintoyacu river (85 miles up from the mouth of the Nanay) for 31 July to 6 August 2011. The Nanay is the river that has the Peru Red-spotted Green Discus - see this article http://www.aquatic-experts.com/Searchin ... TICLE.html. In addition to Discus the Nanay is also a great source for many cichlids and other catfish (especially some interesting cories.)
BTW: last trip I finally found myself on a stream bank loaded with amazon swordplants.
The purpose of this thread is to ascertain interest in a organizing a group of us going together to take advantage of direct shipment from Peru to BWI. I asked Julio if he'd help with that and he responded favorably.
I recently found a fare to Lima from Dulles for only $233 on Avianca - the downside was a layover in Bogota, but there was an upside too - it was long enough to visit a Colombian exporter. Not sure that deal can be found again, but, I will continue to look as plans develop.
Cost: If you are interested in the trip it would be safe to plan on at least $500 (RT) to get to Iquitos. Then factor in the MT costs, incidentals in Lima and Iquitos, and the shipping of the fish. So plan on at least $2-2.5K. If we get a good number of folks interested we can probably drive down the MT cost.
Please post your interest here in this thread. As we build a critical mass of interest I'll (if folks are willing) organize things to make it easy for the first timers. Meantime, start a savings plan - if you set aside $250 a month starting now you'll have everything covered!!! Just a few good months of auction sales can help too. And to help I'll buy dinner for everyone one night in Iquitos and if we have time in Lima my treat for ceviche.
Link to MT tours - http://www.amazon-ecotours.com/
Michael
Amazon trip - Collecting Red-spotted Green Discus
Amazon trip - Collecting Red-spotted Green Discus
Member of GWAPA, CCA and PVAS plus American Begonia Society and Potomac Branch. Former PVAS President (twice) and Treasurer since 2015. Check out GoWildPeru on the web and FB for Peruvian Rain to Cloud Forest Tropical Fish and 'Plant' collecting trips.
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marydotson
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Michael--I know Rick and I want to go on one of these, but I'm not sure if that date is good--I believe Rick had issues with it. What are the differences re. the other rivers they go to? Also, how is August collecting different than other times of the year?
BTW--I've been to Bogota many times. It is a very pretty and safe city, so long as you don't leave the city. It's got the ultimate perfect climate (upper 70s every day) and there are lots of good restaurants & museums. Just don't head out of town for a collecting trip--while the kidnapping threat has largely migrated out of Colombia to Venezuela, when it does occurs, it's not in Bogota, it's up in the mountains...
BTW--I've been to Bogota many times. It is a very pretty and safe city, so long as you don't leave the city. It's got the ultimate perfect climate (upper 70s every day) and there are lots of good restaurants & museums. Just don't head out of town for a collecting trip--while the kidnapping threat has largely migrated out of Colombia to Venezuela, when it does occurs, it's not in Bogota, it's up in the mountains...
