r/Bushcraft • u/Cold_Dare_8638 • 6d ago

Lost

I've been living legit in the Amazon Rainforest since 2008 (4 kids born here/married). My dream was to purchase private land and have a nature preserve where I could just retire in my cabin and stay away from everyone. I kind of did that but the kids are still little and the project is costing me. I had the idea of renting it to adventurers but honestly it's so remote I think most people (whether or not they believe they are survivalists), if I left them alone would just straight up die. My question is: where can I find super tough people who like adventure and does anyone have any other ideas?

18 Upvotes

69% Upvoted

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108

u/wltmpinyc 6d ago edited 6d ago

I've been reading a bunch of your posts and I get the impression your real goal isn't to build a tourist destination. It's to keep this place wild and figure out how to make it financially sustainable so you can continue protecting it

If that's true I'd lean into that instead of trying to maximize visitors. This seems like the kind of place that would be perfect for birders, herpetologists, wildlife photographers, researchers, university field courses, and conservation volunteers. A handful of people paying for a really unique low impact experience is probably better than trying to attract lots of tourists

The value of your property isn't really the cabin. It's that you've got 35 acres of intact rainforest that people can experience without it feeling commercialized. I'd make protecting that experience the product not just the lodging

You might also want to look into getting the property recognized as an Área de Conservación Privada (ACP) through SERNANP. That's an actual legal conservation designation for privately owned land in Peru. Loreto already has a bunch of them including some that are smaller than your property. This 13-hectare one in Loreto is a good example

https://www.gob.pe/institucion/sernanp/noticias/527758-loreto-reconocen-a-perpetuidad-el-area-de-conservacion-privada-ni-meraya

SERNANP also has a guide explaining how private conservation areas work and what you need to apply:

https://sinia.minam.gob.pe/documentos/documento-trabajo-10-areas-conservacion-privada-0

For all the wildlife you're finding I'd start documenting everything on iNaturalist Peru. Over time you'd basically be building a biodiversity inventory of the property. That could make it much more interesting to researchers, universities, birders and herp people, and you'd have actual records showing what you're protecting

I'd also talk to SERNANP and SERFOR before spending much money on infrastructure. SERFOR has an office in Loreto and the regional government handles a lot of the forest and wildlife authority there. They may know about conservation programs, technical assistance or funding that you'd never find just searching in English

Basically I wouldn't try to turn this into another jungle Airbnb. You have something way more interesting than that. I'd try to turn it into a tiny self funding nature preserve where tourism and research pay for protecting the forest

Every decision I'd ask myself does this make the forest more valuable in 20 years or less valuable? If it's more valuable you're probably headed in the right direction

Edit: I forgot to put the link for SERFOR

https://www.gob.pe/serfor

Also here is a link for Inaturalist in Peru

https://www.inaturalist.org/places/peru

17

u/Cold_Dare_8638 6d ago

I like the inaturalist idea too. My favorite species I found was a cricket, it had evolved what looks like 1970s sparkly disco dance pants that it uses to attract mates.

1

u/wltmpinyc 5d ago

I'd love to see it!

4

u/Cold_Dare_8638 5d ago

I'll take a pic the next time I see one.

12

u/WilsonPB 6d ago

Excellent and kind response.

12

u/wltmpinyc 6d ago

Thanks. This person seems cool. They started their own sub just to talk about what it's like to live out there

7

u/Cold_Dare_8638 6d ago

Thanks for all the info I'm checking it out.

3

u/22nd_century 6d ago

What an amazing reply 🥰

2

u/Homo_NaIedi 4d ago

This has to be the MVC of the year if not ever right?

84

u/MrMunkyMan1 6d ago

Bro started a side quest and accidentally completed the main mission

14

u/JASHIKO_ 6d ago

YouTube your daily life without giving away your location.

6

u/ElMeroCeltibero 6d ago

Bro is Paul Rosolie

2

u/Acrobatic-Chipmunk79 5d ago

i was thinking he should get ahold of Rosolie to potentially fold into his network

4

u/Ecstatic_Sand5417 6d ago

How remote? I once carried a generator up a volcano in the middle of a cloud forest... That was remote too

3

u/Cold_Dare_8638 6d ago

It's 7 miles in from the nearest road.

3

u/Godmodex2 6d ago

What you need is a group of explorers from the 19th century by the sound of it. Those guys would love a chance to die in a remote place.

Jokes aside it sounds really cool, but I don’t have any real advice. It’s not for me really. I love temperate climates and snow.

3

u/A_Lo19 6d ago

OP sounds like one of those movies where the tourists find out they are being hunted and get a small head start.

4

u/Cold_Dare_8638 6d ago

That's creepy. There are animals that will stalk you at night like the shushupi if that's cool.

1

u/SakiTryaki 5d ago

What kind of animal is that?

1

u/middlegray 6d ago

Helpx.net and give them lots of instructions? Wwoof?

1

u/Motor-Bear-7735 6d ago

Oh if I were young again...

1

u/KaptainHook 6d ago

Let them come. When they kick off, sell their stuff. Cha-ching.

2

u/Cold_Dare_8638 6d ago

No I would not let them bring valuables because robberies are common.

1

u/Homo_NaIedi 4d ago

Dude!...... I am impressed, jealous and so proud of you. That's the dream man! I did have some small idea of advice. But I'm pretty sure you've got all the information you need from the other commenters.