Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

Spanish-language Wikipedia, citing the reserve's master plan, says the reserve was set up on lands that had earlier been declared reserved zones, chiefly to conserve the paiche, or arapaima, a giant freshwater fish. A 1940 resolution reserved a stretch of the Pacaya River for the fish, and later measures in 1944 extended the zone to the Pacaya and Samiria river systems. A decree of 1968 created a national reserve in the Pacaya basin to protect the paiche, the black caiman and the giant river otter, and the Samiria system was declared a reserved zone in 1972. The reserve was formally established on 4 February 1982, enlarging it to 2,080,000 hectares.

The reserve is classed as IUCN Category VI, a protected area with sustainable use of natural resources, and is a Ramsar wetland site, although the English and Spanish articles give different designation dates, so none is stated here. Spanish Wikipedia describes it as the most extensive protected floodplain, or varzea, area in South America and as the largest national reserve in Peru. Its boundaries are defined by the Maranon River to the north and the Ucayali to the south, the two rivers that join to form the Amazon. There are two main rivers, the Pacaya and the Samiria, and around 80 lakes. Extensive stands of aguaje palm grow in flooded areas, and cedar, mahogany, kapok and cacao are among the protected trees listed.

Native peoples still live in the reserve alongside more recent settlers. The Spanish article says about 40,000 people live inside the area in 234 settlements, including 56 native communities, mainly of Cocama-Cocamilla ancestry as well as mestizo residents, who live from the reserve's natural resources. Local communities have been involved in the managed harvest of paiche, arahuana, river turtles and palm products.

Mammals include the Amazon river dolphin, often called the pink river dolphin, the Amazonian manatee, the giant otter, jaguar, puma, South American tapir, capybara and red-faced spider monkey. Fish include the paiche, one of the largest freshwater fish, the tambaqui and the silver arowana. Birdlife includes the harpy eagle, scarlet and blue-and-yellow macaws, king vulture and horned screamer. Sightings depend on season and luck, and wildlife is wild, so no particular animal can be promised.

Annual mean temperatures of 20 to 33 degrees Celsius and annual precipitation of 2,000 to 3,000 millimetres are given. The Spanish article describes a dry season of low water from about May to October and a rainy season of high water from November to April, and, like English Wikipedia, advises visiting between May and January. Wikipedia lists authorised campsites, wilderness huts and ranger stations within the reserve. Travel is by river, so a private tour with a driver and guide helps with transfers to the departure point from Iquitos.