Alto Mayo Food Forest

Off-grid small house with spectacular views surrounded by a natural dreamscape. Enjoying your vacation will benefit the environment here in the high jungle of northern Peru. That’s because your stay helps finance our reforestation efforts. We are a husband & wife team reforesting 10 hectares of degraded cattle pasture in an ecosystem crucial to the health of the Amazon River watershed. This is an area next to the Bosque de Proteccion Alto Mayo (a national forest) where the Amazon Rainforest meets the Andes mountains, producing a beautiful blend of biology amidst a dramatic landscape of steep, rolling hills and towering mountain peaks. It is a true biodiversity hotspot with one of the greatest numbers of orchid species found anywhere in the world, and a prime destination for bird enthusiasts. We built a small, off-grid home (40 square meters) using modern materials perched atop a remote hill in this environment in order to tend to our project. The entire back wall of our house features one giant window from which to take in the breathtaking views of the mountains and rainforest. The property encompasses 16.5 hectares (about 40 acres) with primary and secondary forest, as well as the 10 hectare area that we are reforesting. Feel free to explore these areas. We can help orient you. Of the 11,000 original tree plantings more than half are edible fruit-producing species including Ice Cream Beans. Feel free to help yourself to any fruit you find. The elevation here offers more comfortable temperatures than the low jungle. Daily high temperatures usually hover around 85F (29C) with overnight lows about 60F (16C). Due to our microclimate location at the foot of a mountain, rain is a possibility year-round, so please come prepared. That includes waterproof rubber boots for hiking. From the city of Rioja, we are located 45min by car near the outskirts of a small agricultural village called Belen. We can arrange for roundtrip transportation to and from Rioja. Once you arrive at our property, the house is located 600 meters away at the end of a single-track hiking trail. We recommend you have a decent level of physical fitness. Hiking poles are recommended and rubber boots are extremely recommended (such boots are our daily footware on the property). There are lots of tropical birds such as parrots, araçaris (a species of toucan), and small monkeys that can commonly be seen on our property. At night you might hear frogs, owls, and maybe even the lonesome call of the Ayaymama (Nyctibius griseus). As our reforestation efforts continue, the site will continue to attract an ever-increasing diversity of wildlife. To learn more about our efforts, check out our youtube channel, AgroVentures Peru. Food: 1) Bring your own food. We will provide breakfast options (fresh fruit, yogurt, granola, etc.). Other breakfast items can be provided upon request at the time you book the reservation. However, keep in mind that Rioja might not have all the options available. 2) You are responsible for lunch and dinner. You can bring your own ingredients, and we will make a dormitory-size small refrigerator available for you. Try to remember to bring your favorite cooking oil. We will show you how to use the kitchen appliances. 3) If you would like us to go to town to pick up extra groceries for you, this can be arranged during your stay for an extra $40 plus the cost of the items. Amenities: 1) One California King bed & small sofa (not for sleeping) 2) Hotwater heater for the shower 3) Small kitchen with appliances such as electric stove, multi-function instant pot, blender, electric oven, hot water pitcher for boiling water, air fryer, and Berkey filter for drinking water. 4) Home powered by 6.4 kilowatt solar array with 4000 watt continuous inverter and battery backup so that you can use electricity day and night. Electricity is 220v, but we can provide transformers to step the voltage down for appliances/gadgets you may have brought that require 110-120v. 5)…