Expedition to the Amazon rainforest from

A Starting Point And Into A Full Experience

Produced by Jassen Pintado

Written by Mateo Rafael Tablado

Translation by by María Murgui

Creative Direction

Omar Rodríguez

LOCATED BETWEEN JUST A FEW MILES BETWEEN IQUITOS AND THE DENSE JUNGLE OF THE AMAZON RIVER, HOTELS VICTORIA REGIA AND HELICONIA AMAZON RIVER LODGE ARE THE STARTING POINT AND ABODE FOR THIS UNIQUE EXPERIENCE PERU HAS TO OFFER

THE FAMILY TRADITION OF HOSPITALITY IN A UNIQUE PLACE

Peru can captivate its visitors in different environments, either when going all over cities, visiting all the spots its coastal line can offer, or trekking to millenary settlements standing well above sea level.

Another interesting tourist attraction the country provides is the Peruvian Amazon, with all its natural beauty, which includes unique flora and fauna, as well as landscapes full of vegetation and life.

For several years Mr. Carlos Acosta Ros and his wife, Eudocia Gómez Vargas, operated the hotels Acosta I and II, in Iquitos -the capital city of the district bearing the same name and the largest city in the Peruvian Amazon-, very close to where the Amazon River rises, and tourist lodgings well inside the jungle.

The 1990s were hard in Peru, marked by a terrorist wave that thankfully didn’t reach this area, so the government authorized international flights between Iquitos and Miami and between Iquitos and other important domestic destinations. These measures resulted in an increase in tourism in the area, thus fostering the creation of the Zungarocha Amazon Lodge. During the same decade, the youngsters from the Acosta Gómez family joined the business, finished college, and founded the Grupo Terraverde Hotels, which evolved into the current Hotel Victoria Regia and Hotel Acosta, in Iquitos, and the Heliconia Amazon River Lodge, located on the bed of the Amazon River, in a completely pacified Peru.

“Our concept is focused on providing the best service in hospitality and adventure, keeping the values of our jungle’s preservation and protection”, commented Carlos Acosta Gómez, COO for Terraverde Hotels.

THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS’ KNOW-HOW AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO IT IN THE AREA

Acosta Gómez graduated in Business Management from Universidad Ricardo Palma (in Lima, Peru). He has a thorough knowledge of the family business and, besides his position at it, in recent years he has held executive positions within the tourist sector at organizations such as the Loreto Regional Tourism Chamber”, as president of the Peru Travel Agency and Tourism Association in Iquitos, and is currently the President of the Iquitos Conventions.

“My aim is to keep on working to make Loreto a city with better conditions for tourists”, the executive added.

HOTEL VICTORIA REGIA, A STARTING POINT FOR MEMORABLE EXPEDITIONS

Iquitos could be considered the last point in civilized territory before venturing into the wilderness of the

Amazon jungle, thus serving as the home base before any expedition, either led by a tour guide or carried out by experienced travelers. Hotel Victoria Regia stands out as the host before a journey across the Amazon River. The service provided at its clean facilities, which are subject to constant maintenance, and the staff’s warmth are aspects that are taken care of.

The building’s infrastructure is over

40 years old and is being constantly refurbished, so that its rooms and common areas, including the rooftop swimming pool and a recently opened restaurant, are styled in the Amazon rubber boom era.

Property Improvements That Transcended The Pandemic

In the last years, Peru has experienced an increase in the number of visitors, reaching an average of 4 million tourists a year. These optimistic figures led to investment to expand and make improvements to Hotel Victoria Regia. After having appointed architect Augusto Acosta, a partner of the corporation, to oversee such project, these works were interrupted as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the gradual resumption of activities, priority was given to concluding the swimming pool, located on the hotel’s third floor, followed by the completion of a new auditorium on the second floor, and it was only some months ago that the restaurant and the hotel’s new reception area were finished.

“It does not seem so long since the health crisis happened, but we looked ahead and were able to go on, taking us to the prestigious position we deserve”, Acosta commented.

HELICONIA AMAZON LODGE: HOSPITALITY IN AN EXCEPTIONAL ENVIRONMENT

It is true that Iquitos is the largest city in the world where it is not possible to arrive by land, and it is also clear that it is difficult to arrive at any other location on the banks of the Amazon River by other means rather than by boat. Not far away from the city center, one can reach Heliconia Amazon Lodge, which conveniently hosts visitors who wish to experience unmatched attractions, such as the sighting of pink river dolphins -an endemic species-, birds, and other animals exclusive to this habitat, the contact with native cultures in the area, stunning dawns, jungle hikes, and other activities.

Of course, all this is offered with the Terranova Hotels’ distinctive hallmark, which implies a guarantee regarding service and its optimal facilities even in the jungle.

Professionally Trained Personnel Who Meet The Standards

Terraverde Hotels relies on 83 employees to operate its proprieties. They are fully involved with the company, as a response to the commitment displayed not only regarding remuneration but also facilitating their working performance by providing them with the best systems in the industry. The staff is also subject to constant training.

The company hires its personnel carefully, as it does with the watchfulness that assures all the standards fulfillment.

Harmonious Relationship With The Natural And Social Environment

Terraverde Hotels, and specifically Heliconia Amazon River Lodge, are involved in different initiatives with neighboring communities.

Throughout the years they have also worked with NGOs developing projects related to water and the construction of infrastructure in the area, such as schools and concrete pathways leading to them, so that children from the area avoid being bitten by snakes while going to and coming from school.

Along with the Yagua native community, a campaign for training in artisan skills has been developed for the handcrafting of souvenirs sold to visitors. In addition, a sensibilization campaign has been developed to facilitate the repopulation and preservation of freshwater taricaya turtles.

Over the decades of work in the area, the company has achieved a positive impact by improving these communities’ living conditions, who are a large part of the workforce that operates in both hotels, besides contributing to its economy by making them local suppliers of the food offered to hotel guests.

BETTER FACILITIES AND A WIDER ACTIVITIES ARRAY LEAD TO HIGHER VISIBILITY.

Hotel Regia Victoria’s future glimpses growth regarding both the property’s expansion and infrastructure, as well as continuing to improve each guest’s experience and increase its gastronomic offer.

On its behalf, Heliconia Amazon

Lodge will also grow in both aspects, developing infrastructure such as suspension bridges in its vicinity, among other improvements, as well as increasing its activities offer, adding fishing and holistic treatments, so specialized tourism can be attracted. These plans respond to the aim of increasing the national and international projection of the Terraverde Hotels’ properties.

We are one of the leading tourism companies in the Loreto region, our trajectory has allowed us to attend the most important trade fairs in the world offering the best experience in the Amazon Jungle”, concluded Carlos Acosta Gómez, COO for Terraverde Hotels.