Interview with Tour Guide Christoph Meyer
Christoph Meyer lives in the middle of the Peruvian rainforest, in Iquitos - one of the most remote cities in the world with almost 500,000 inhabitants. What's special: The city can only be reached by ship or plane because it lies between three rivers, the Amazon, Itaya and Nanay. It also has a small historical center with European architecture from the era of the rubber boom. Numerous tours into the rainforest start from here, some of the most adventurous and beautiful are offered by Christoph.
"Christoph, how did you end up in Iquitos?"
"In 2008, when I was 23 years old, I visited the “rainforest metropolis” for the first time. At that time I was traveling alone through South America and came from Brazil to Iquitos on many different ships. There I met my future wife Violeta. It's a long story with the result that I married her nine years ago and now also have Peruvian citizenship."
"From this I conclude that you want to stay in Peru forever?"
"We have decided to stay in Iquitos for the next few years because my wife has her roots here and some of her siblings and her mother live here. We have also invested a lot of time and energy in this region, so it would not be easy to simply leave everything behind us.
Of course we may move to another place in Peru at some point in the future, but for now we feel very comfortable in Iquitos! "
"Do you still have roots in your homeland?"
"Yes, I grew up on the picturesque Lake Constance in Switzerland. My parents still live in the same house while my siblings live in two different places.
Unfortunately, I haven't managed to visit home yet: We had a plane ticket from Lima to Zurich, which was unfortunately canceled due to the Covid pandemic. With the crisis, the financial situation also became difficult. And now we're investing in the "business" first. ."
"Tell me, how did you get the idea of becoming a tour guide? "
"Four years ago I decided to turn my enthusiasm for the Amazon region into a career and began training as a tour guide at the "Senati Institute" in Iquitos. The training lasted three years and I had the pleasure of learning with many young students aged around 17 to 20. The focus was mainly on theoretical topics."
"What is special about your business model?"
"Before the Corona pandemic, I already had the opportunity to accompany numerous guests from German-speaking countries on tours into the rainforest and share my love of Peruvian nature. I realized that there were no other tour operators in the region who spoke German, so I decided to start my own travel company. In March 2020 "Wildlife Tours Peru E.I.R.L" officially entered in the register and received all necessary permits."
"And why birds, reptiles and amphibians?"
"As a child, my family spent a lot of time outdoors with me and back then I was already watching birds and searching for frogs, newts and salamanders in streams and ponds. It made sense for me to specialize in birds, reptiles and amphibians."
"And how did you learn all about it?"
"On my many trips to the rainforest, I kept discovering new animal species about which I collected information on the Internet in order to identify them. Over the years I also made important contacts with herpetologists, ornithologists and people with similar interests and was able to learn a lot from them. Five years ago I helped found a bird watching club in Iquitos, the 'Club de Avistadores de Aves de Loreto'. With this group we went on numerous excursions to identify the birds around Iquitos and explore new routes. In this way, I have been able to greatly expand my knowledge over the years.
"First the pandemic, now most recently the road blockades in Peru... How did your company cope with these negative effects on tourism?"
"The more than two years of pandemic without tourists were a difficult time, but fortunately this crisis is now over and things have been looking up again since 2022. Since then I have been able to welcome a few guests and invest the small profit I made in the company. Recent protests in Peru led to another disruption to international tourism as many roads, especially in the south of the country, were blocked and numerous embassies issued travel warnings. Luckily the situation in Iquitos remained calm, but unfortunately many tourists still chose other destinations.
"Has the proportion of foreign to Peruvian travelers shifted as fewer tourists come to the country?"
"I can't say much about that because I haven't had any national customers yet. As a specialist for the rainforest and its inhabitants, I am convinced that my company will be increasingly booked by local tourists in the future, because people in Peru also long for nature.
"Are there seasonal differences, when is peak season?"
"The peak tourism season in the region is usually around Christmas, Easter week and July/August, when it is summer vacation in America and Europe. Many German-speaking tourists spend several weeks traveling throughout South America, regardless of the season.
At the beginning of the year I always help an American travel agency organize herpetology-themed tours. These tours take place at the beginning of the rainy season as the animals are particularly active at this time.
"What is special about your tours, what sets you apart from the other providers? Tell me..."
"The biodiversity in the Loreto area is truly impressive. A tour to the northeast is particularly recommended for tourists who want to observe river dolphins in their natural habitat, as they cannot be found in the south of Peru. In Loreto, tourists can observe more than 1000 species of birds and in the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Reserve
Even discover 14 different species of monkeys. During our tours we almost always have the opportunity to meet sloths and we also offer our guests the opportunity to fish for piranhas.
"We explore the rainforest both day and night, on foot and by boat. A special highlight is the opportunity to discover the unique poison dart frogs. While I lead tours, I always have the desire to observe as many animals as possible myself. That's why we often spend time outside in nature and adapt the program individually to the guests' wishes. I am constantly looking for new places where special species of animals occur and can also organize special tours to see animals that are otherwise difficult to find. "
"For example, we can accompany our guests on a search for the bushmaster (Lachesis muta), the largest venomous snake in the Western Hemisphere. Or observe the endangered species of stump-footed frogs (Atelopus spumarius) as well as endemic bird species such as the Allpahuayo Antbird (Percnostola arenarum)."
"I recently purchased an aluminum boat with a 40 HP outboard motor that can accommodate up to 10 guests. This means I can now offer many new and exciting tours around Iquitos.
"First of all, I would think that you shouldn't disturb the nocturnal animals, what's that like?"
"Nocturnal animals are often difficult to detect because they are well hidden during the day. These include, for example, tarantulas, snakes, caimans and the black bear. To save them unnecessary stress, it is advisable not to observe the animals for too long and to remain quiet to avoid unnecessary noise."
"Personally, I find the nighttime excursions particularly exciting because you then have the opportunity to see the various nocturnal animals and get an idea of how they live in their natural habitat. It is a unique experience to listen to the sounds and noises of the rainforest and be enchanted by nature."
"I think I have to come to Iquitos again, it all sounds fantastic! Unfortunately, the warm, humid climate was so unpleasant for me. “The climate doesn’t bother you, do you get used to it?”
"I like living in a warmer environment, which is why I emigrated from Switzerland. I installed air conditioning in my room so that I can retreat and cool down when needed. Otherwise, I often take a quick shower to feel fresh again. Everyone tolerates heat differently, but over time you get used to it. It is best to avoid physically demanding work and instead work in the cooler morning and evening hours.
"Isn't your job very tiring?"
"I enjoy my work a lot. Of course I'm tired after a tour, because there are many different experiences and impressions to process. Life as an entrepreneur is not always easy because you have to make a lot of decisions every day and have responsibility for the company.
"What do you do when you have time off?"
"In my free time I like to spend time with my wife. We often go to the cinema or take short trips around the area. It is important to relax and clear your head sometimes so that you can go back to work with fresh energy. "I'm grateful to have a job that allows me to pursue my passion while still having time for my relationship and personal development.
"What makes your tourism sustainable tourism?"
"I like to involve the locals on my tours and visit the surrounding villages with my guests. They have the opportunity to buy local handicrafts and thus provide local people with an income. In many places you pay a fee per guest, from which the villages benefit and can help to better protect nature. "I do many of my tours in places where nature is protected either by the state or by the villagers.
"What experiences do you have with locals? Are they always well disposed towards you?"
"So far I have only had positive experiences with the local population. Here in the rainforest the people are happy and open and look forward to visitors. It is important to me that my guests also develop an understanding of the culture and way of life of the locals and treat them with respect.
"Do you always go alone with the tourists or do you have helpers?"
"In some places, such as the Allpahuayo Mishana Reserve, I accompany my guests alone because I know the place well and civilization is nearby. In remote places, I always take a local helper with me who knows the area better.
"Have you ever had an incident such as a sick tourist or an emergency? Are you trained for this too?"
"I have attended several first aid courses and therefore have a good knowledge of what to do in an emergency. A guest was once bitten by a spider that was hiding in his boot. As a precaution, we took him to the hospital, where he was given painkillers and was able to go home without further complications.
"Isn't it sometimes a bit scary to be in the jungle with people who are actually strangers to you?"
"It's not scary for me personally because I rely on my experience and my preparations. I make sure that my guests follow the safety rules with me. It is very interesting and enriching to meet new people and go on adventures with them. The beauty and peace of nature help you forget worries and fears.
"Are there any recommendations you would like to give your clients before traveling?"
"A good flashlight is worth its weight in gold. These days these are relatively small and can last for many years if you buy a high quality one. A booster of the tetanus vaccination is always a good idea. I recommend wearing long clothes on a tour as the sun is very strong and mosquitoes are active in the evening and at night. Depending on the season, their populations can vary."
"For Android there is a useful app called Geo Tracker that allows you to record routes with GPS and view the landscape with satellite photos, which I recommend. It's also great to identify and record the wildlife. Very good apps for this are: "Merlin, eBird, iNaturalist and HerpMapper"."
"Do the tourists stay overnight with you?"
"I am currently not providing any accommodation for guests, as my house is now a quinta and I rent the rooms to locals. I have a total of eight rooms, almost all of which are rented. This gives me a stable basic income.
"What would be your wish for the future?"
"Over the years I have had many customers from German-speaking countries, also thanks to my entry in the travel guide "Across Peru". Often my guests book a 3 or 4 day tour, but I think it would be even more exciting if they planned more time for the rainforest as there is so much to explore and see! My goal is to inspire my guests to spend more time in the rainforest and make their travel experience even more intense. In the future, I also plan to run my own lodge to offer my guests an even more authentic experience.
"Thank you very much for the very, very exciting interview, dear Christoph! I wish you all the best and continued success!"
"Thank you very much!"
If you would like to book a tour tailored to your needs, simply contact Christoph directly at:
Information: Wildlife Tours Peru E.I.R.L.
Website: www.wildlifetoursperu.com
WhatsApp: +51 975 580 155
Christoph provided me with the pictures in the article.
You can see more pictures of Iquitos here!
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