VIDA RURAL IQUITOS

Private Conservation Project

Peruvian Amazonia

“Sustainable Tourism and Community Involvement”

Vida Rural Iquitos

Vida Rural Iquitos is a private conservation project, located at km64 on the connecting road Iquitos – Nauta. It is part of theagricultural association Nuevo San Martin in the San Juan Bautistadistrict.

Vida Rural Iquitos was established as a form of vivential tourism.This concept goes in line with our believing that the civil societyand rural communities have a key role on the successfulmanagement and conservation of the Peruvian rainforest jungle.

For that reason, when visiting Vida Rural Iquitos, you are not atourist anymore! You become part of the community! You canexperience the way of living in the Peruvian forest, from spendingtime in our rustic bungalows, surrounded by vast areas ofuntouched forest to practicing diverse local farming activities likefeeding animals (cows, lambs, and guinea pigs), planting hardwood trees, fishing, collecting seasonal tropical fruits and muchmore.

Vida Rural IquitosOur Mission and Values

To encourage conservation and communityparticipation.

To reduce illegal logging and soil erosion in the area ofthe connecting road Iquitos - Nauta.

To reduce migration flows of local farmers to the cityas a result of unproductive farm lands.

To develop community capabilities through diverseprograms of environmental education.

To introduce sustainable farming practices by engagingthe local community.

What you can do at Vida RuralIquitos

Fishing in a fish farm

Canoeing

Bird watching

Feeding farm animals

Planting trees (we strongly recommend you to bepart of the reforestation process!)

Collecting tropical fruits

Exploring a forest conservation area (untouchedforest of around 45 ha)

Vida Rural Iquitos

In addition to the activities and attractions offeredby Vida Rural Iquitos, you can spend time withlocal farmers of the San Martin community and itssurroundings. You can get to know theircustoms, habits and traditions. Most of themsustain themselves through the smallcommercialization ofpineapples, bananas, cassavas, ranching, growingmedicinal plants and other agricultural activities.

They are proud of their work and products andthey will be always happy to show them to you!

Vida Rural IquitosActivities and Attractions

Sleep in our Private Bungalows!

•Bed (max 2 p)•Mosquito tent.•Own crafted kitchen•Diverse farming tools, available at request.•Drinking water.

Vida Rural IquitosActivities and Attractions

Enjoy the view of the fishing lake right in front of the house!

Vida Rural Iquitos Activities and Attractions

Go fishing in the afternoon!

Vida Rural Iquitos Activities and Attractions

Watch exotic birds!

Tucan

Explore more than 45 ha of forest conservation!

Vida Rural IquitosActivities and Attractions

Collect tropical fruits!

Vida Rural Iquitos offers a wide range of tropical fruits, among which you can find lemons, cassava, bananas, pijuayo, anonas, coconas, pineapples, guabas and many more!

Anona (Rollinia mucosa)

Pijuayo (Bactris gasipaes)

Vida Rural IquitosActivities and Attractions

Hands on activities! Plant yourown trees, flowers and vegetables!

Take care of farm animals!

Interact and learn together with local farmers!

Vida Rural IquitosOur neighbors

Owner: Don BederLocation: Km 66 Iquitos Nauta roadNotes: Don Beder sells every morning around 25liters of fresh milk, the product of his more than30 cows.As a forest engineer, he is also committed to thereforestation project.Don Beder has vast knowledge in forestmanagement, but he also experiments with theproduction of cacao and coffee.He is always happy to share his experienceswith family, friends and visitors!

Fundo Don Beder

Vida Rural IquitosOur neighbors

Fundo Don Lucho

Owner: Don LuchoLocation: Km 60 Itaya River bridgeNotes: Don Lucho is a small farmer who dedicates himself to the collection, production and sale of palm leaves (Irapay), which is an essential material for building homes in the Peruvian Amazonia.

Don Lucho is also a hard working man with anentrepreneurial mind. He noticed the growing demand for Irapay leaves, for that reason he decided to increase his production by taking a private loan from a local bank.

Vida Rural IquitosOur neighbors

Fundo Don Nestor

Owner: Don NestorLocation: Km 65 Iquitos – Nauta roadNotes: Don Nestor’s main production is pineapple andungurahui (oenocarpus bataua).Every weekend he sells 100 kg of ungurahui in Iquitoscity. After the sale, he takes home approximately 33USD. That is fine for him and his wife. However, his 2children have already left to the city in search of betteropportunities.In spite of the circumstances, he feels happy workingon his land, and he hopes that eventually he does notneed to travel so much to sell his products.In addition to that he is also very enthusiastic aboutagriculture. For that reason, he usually visits hisneighbors showing and offering them his latestproducts.

Vida Rural IquitosSelection of Activities in San Martin Community

Census (2009):In 2009, the community of Nuevo San Martin organized a census. Its objectivewas to request from the government the installation of a localschool, healthcare services and electricity.

Vida Rural IquitosSelection of Activities in San Martin Community

Carnival celebration (2010):Following its tradition, the community decorates a palm tree called Humisha (symbolizesthe union of man with water) with little gifts donated by themselves. After dancingaround it, they bring it down and try to retrieve as many gifts as possible.

Humisha

Vida Rural IquitosConclusion

In Vida Rural Iquitos, we strongly believe that forest conservation andsustainable development require the joint participation of the civilsociety, public organizations, private efforts, social entrepreneurs and thecommunity in general.For that reason, our offered model of vivential tourism puts a strongemphasis on people, local traditions and cultural identity.We also would like to invite you to join efforts on helping to find moresustainable ways of farming practices. In the last 5 years, the area of Iquitos– Nauta connecting road has been suffering from soil erosion, as a result ofillegal logging. The poor productivity of the land has been forcing localfarmers to emigrate to Iquitos (the capital), without having the knowledge orthe skills to sustain themselves in a city environment.Being 2011 the Year of Volunteering, we would like to invite you tocontribute with your knowledge, be it of technical or any other nature, andhelp us to achieve development in a sustainable way!

Vida Rural IquitosContact UsFor reservations and to request information, please contact:

Pilar Vergara PenaPhone number (The Netherlands): +31 622221393Phone number (Peru) : +51 65251918Email: vida.rural.iquitos@gmail.com

Address: “Vida Rural Iquitos” Km 64 connecting road Iquitos - Nauta