Matses-feline tribe

When we mention our Mayoruna brothers, also known as the Matses, we are referring to one of the last Amazonian families who maintain their language and customs intact.

Despite the remoteness and limited comfort, at Jungle Reps and Expeditions, we differentiate ourselves by providing a unique experience of living with the Mayorunas.

By promoting their culture and respecting their ways of life, we avoid creating a negative impact during our time with our Matses brothers, also known as Mayorunas, and actively participate in their daily activities.

The Mayorunas are also known as the feline tribe for their unique hunting skills.

According to our latest census, there are approximately 2,000 (two thousand) Mayorunas. As in most indigenous communities, the main factors behind this decline are:

The migration of young people to large cities to find work.
Deforestation of their habitats affects the local flora and fauna, and consequently, the native community’s food source.
At Jungle Reps and Expeditions, we focus on providing you with the most authentic experience of living with them. We will visit their farms, learn as much of their language as possible, and accompany them on their hunting and fishing activities.

We’ll also spend time talking with them and learn about their worldview of the world visitors live in, a problem that threatens them, such as oil exploration in their reserved area.

We’ll learn about their mythology, how they rely on animals and other natural elements to guide them in their hunting and fishing activities.

Also, if there’s a chance, we’ll have the unique experience of how a man learns from a very young age to be a responsible head of the family.

Below is the 10-day program, which is subject to change without notice depending on weather conditions.

Day 1

Light aircraft flight to the Matses Reserve. This trip departs from the Peruvian Air Force base. The trip takes approximately one hour. Recommendations: Bring the essentials in a backpack.
The limit is 10 kilos, and each extra kilo will be charged to the passenger. Permits must be obtained two weeks in advance to enter the reserve, which is cared for and protected by the Matses.
After the flight to Colonia Angamos, depending on the arrival time, a long boat ride awaits. This trip takes approximately 6 to 8 hours. Along the way, we will experience the beauty of this reserve, as well as the exuberant flora and fauna.
Upon arrival, we will be welcomed by the Apu, or community chief. Here, we will be assigned to a family where we will spend our days with them and other members of the native community.

Day 2

Very early this morning, we will go to the farm, the place where the Mayorunas plant and harvest various edible vegetables.

In this community, we don’t eat three or five times a day like in other communities or cities around the world. Here, we eat twice a day. The first meal is at 9:00 a.m., which is breakfast and lunch, and the second meal is at approximately 4:00 or 5:00 p.m.

Before darkness and the mosquitoes arrive, we will be able to talk with the village elders, who are highly respected people.

Day 3

Walk through the jungle to learn how the Mayoruna or Matses obtain their food. Here, they will teach us how to hunt with traps, using techniques they have used for thousands of years.

They will also show us a clay lick, a place where salts and minerals emanate, and many animals come to eat this soil to aid in their digestive processes.

Many animals come down to feed in these places, such as felines, deer, wild pigs, monkeys, and more. We can spend the night if the guest requested option.

Day 4

This day we will learn how to build observatories to wait and see animals passing by. These observatories are known as barbacoas (barbecues).

On this day, we will hike to an area that the Matses or Mayoruna consider the best, with good opportunities for observing felines such as jaguars and others. Overnight in the jungle or at a native community.

Day 5

This day, like the others, will be very interesting, as the Matses will teach us how they make their hunting weapons, such as the bow and arrow. We will learn how they recognize the raw materials for their respective craftsmanship.

Day 6

This day, we will learn about many plants that the Matses use for different purposes. They use plants to hunt, to cure different types of illnesses, and to ward off pests that could affect their crops.

They will also learn about plants they use to obtain water without having to worry about carrying water to the jungle. They will also show us ancient trees that they consider the protectors of Mother Nature, humans, and animals that inhabit it.

Day 7

On this day, we will witness how they use frog poison to sharpen their senses and increase their hunting skills.

If you wish to participate, you are welcome. It is a very interesting cultural process, since the Mayorunas are the only Amazonian family that performs this ancestral ceremony, better known as Kambo.

Day 8

Jungle excursion to observe animals in their purest and most natural state. Bird species and monkeys, many of which are exclusive to this reserve area, are observed. Survival course and learning how to obtain food in the jungle. Farewell ceremony with the native community.

Day 9

This day, very early after breakfast, we will depart on our boat to Colonia Angamos, where we will spend the night before our flight the next day to Iquitos.

After a 5 to 6-hour cruise, we will arrive at our destination. We will spend the night in Colonia Angamos.

Day 10

Flight to Iquitos. Our program concludes at the airport or hotel of your choice.

If returning by plane is not an option and you would like to continue a more adventurous program, we suggest booking an additional 4 days. The additional 4 days include boat navigation, exploring the area and observing different animal and plant species.