Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Q. Is this safe?
A. YES. We have never had a serious injury, but we also emphasize not taking any chances. The village has many men living there who watch over us - even while we sleep. Regardless, no one is ever left alone more than about 50 ft from someone in our group.
Q. Can I communicate with loved ones back home?
A. Yes. Each year we have had some arrangement for wifi over satellite and last year it supported video calls. We highly recommend a cell phone plan that supports Peru. These are usually $10-$12 for each day you use them. You will not be using them except in Lima and Pucallpa, so about 3 days.
Q. What airline will we fly?
A. We hope to be on Delta as it runs the smoothest. Please make sure you have a Delta Skymiles account (FREE)!
Q. Do we travel as a group?
A. Yes. Everyone will be traveling together.
Q. Do I need to speak Spanish?
A. No. The more you know, the easier things get, but there will plenty of translators available. This is not an issue at all.
Q. Do I need to have construction experience?
A. No. If you are not handy, but like helping In a "labor job", you will be shown a template that simply needs to be repeated. And if you see better time-saving methods on how to do something, speak up!
Q. Do I need cash while I'm there?
A. It would be good to convert maybe $100 in "Soles" while at the airport. The better exchange rate will be in Lima.
Q. Do I need a passport?
A. Absolutely. And if it expires before February 2026, you need to renew it NOW. You can renew online in most cases: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq-u9BhCjARIsANLj-s0aIjnnJSSwlfU-SkfcPAxtb6DpA7KUo4Y19iw-EriwClQ71yeziA4aAndhEALw_wcB
Q. Where will we be exactly?
A. Here!
Q. Do the local people in the village speak Spanish?
A. Somewhat. They are pretty fluent in Spanish, but they are more comfortable speaking their native Shapibo language. Here are some Shapibo phrases to try while you're there - have fun with it!
Basic Greetings & Introductions
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"Bati" – Hello
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"Jakon jakon" – Good morning / Good day
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"Jakon mai" – Good afternoon / Good evening
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"Jakon shama" – Good night
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"Cómo te llamas?" – "Jakon jema?" (What is your name?)
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"Noke jema..." – My name is...
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"Jakon kawe?" – How are you?
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"Jakon" – I'm good / fine
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"Maba" – Thank you
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"Maba nete" – Thank you very much
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"Xawá" – Please
Q. I have some dietary restrictions. Is that a problem?
A. Nope. We have taken gluten free and dairy free people in the past and have no issues accomodating that.
Q. Can I drink the water?
A. No. We will provide filtered water for you. Don't drink any other water unless it is bottled.
Q. What will we eat?
A. Chicken, plantains, potatoes, eggs, rice, beef, fish, and for the adventurous, the ladies have prepared turtle, turtle eggs, crocodile, and piranha!
Q. Do I need any vaccinations?
A. Malaria is contracted via mosquitos and while we do use bug spray everyday, we have always taken malaria medication. We have always used Doxycycline which is taken daily starting a few days before the trip and continuing until a few days after you return. The medicine has been around since 1967 and is considered extremely safe with few side effects. There is an increased risk of sunburn while taking this and we are in the sun each day so we wear hats and use plenty of sunscren. While we have never had an issue with malaria or Doxycycline, you should talk to your doctor and take their recommendations as other medicines do exist.
Q. Where do we sleep? I saw I need to bring a tent?
A. You will be sleeping indoors, but in a tent. The purpose of the tent is to keep mosquitoes off of you because no one wants that while sleeping :)
Q. Can I drink the water?
A. We always drink bottled water or filtered water. If you buy water from a street vendor, check the lid to make sure it is sealed. In the jungle, we will have bottled water and will also have water from the village that we run through our own filtration system that we bring. DRINK NO OTHER WATER than these sources until you are back on US soil. We have never had a single issue doing this. However, if you're still nervous about this, I would suggest bringing a water bottle with a personal filter in it so you can filter the water a second time. Josue is very aware of Americans and water and stays on top of this.