ILLEGAL DRUGS
The government of Peru has worked hard to reduce the production of cocaine and other illegal drugs in Peruvian territory. Penalties for drug offenses are severe, and even your embassy won't help you out if you are caught with illegal drugs. At airports, baggage may be searched, and drug dogs routinely check baggage and passengers. Don't ruin your trip by attempting to take illegal drugs into, or out of Peru, or by using illegal drugs while in Peru. It's not worth it!!

CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES)
Most countries, including Peru and the US, have ratified the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. This convention prohibits and/or strictly regulates the transport of endangered and threatened plant and animal species (or items made in whole or in part from such species). For instance, ALL wild cats are protected by CITES, including the jaguar (a skull offered for sale at left) and the ocelot (skin for sale at right). Both are illegal to purchase, to posess, or to transport across international boundaries without permits.

In Iquitos, but also in remote villages, people selling animals or items made from animal parts may approach you. Some, like the spectacled caiman (below left) are used for both food or medicinal properties, others primarily for food (the sign below right advertises wooly monkey soup!) - legitimate uses by local people in Peru, though their sale is nevertheless prohibited by law. Tourist shops and stalls in Iquitos frequently have many items made from animal parts. Many items are made from endangered animals, and consequently, it is illegal to take them across international borders. It is also illegal to buy or sell most wildlife or wildlife parts in Peru (unfortunately Peru lacks the resources to enforce many of its excellent wildlife laws). Some items may be interesting, well crafted, or grotesquely fascinating, but even if made from common unprotected species, buying such items only encourages the needless killing of animals. In particular, do not buy mammal, bird or reptile skulls, items made with cat, monkey, or other mammal fur, snakeskins, mammal reptile and bird teeth/beaks or claws, or feathers. Some items may have parts from 3-4 endangered species! Examine such items, but if you do, tell the vendor (and on-lookers) that you came to the Amazon to see live animals in the wild, not dead ones, and that it is illegal for you to take such objects back to your home country. Vendors may tell you that it is OK to buy the items that they are selling - don't believe it, they are just trying to make a sale!

Many objects in villages will be decorated with parrot and other feathers. While some come from pet birds, others are from birds shot for food and/or for feathers. Feel free to buy these items, but explain that you do not want them with the feathers, and take the feathers off and return them directly to the vendor. By doing this, you are demonstrating that well crafted items do not need to be decorated with animal parts, and you may be saving the life of an animal at some future date. Taking the feathers off at a later date, while it may keep you out of trouble with customs, will not send a conservation message to the artisan.

Items with fish bones, fish scales, or made from dried fish (e.g., piranhas), are generally OK to purchase, and legal to take back to North America or Europe. Such items are generally a by-product of fish consumed for food. Items made in whole or part from the giant Arapaima fish (Arapaima gigas) are, however, prohibited from trade by international law, as this is a CITES I species (highly endangered - but from overfishing for food, not exploitation for souvenirs). If in doubt about a particular item, ask your trip leader!

LIVE ANIMALS (Reptiles, Amphibians, Mammals, Birds)
Many tourists feel sorry for live animals (like the parrot, baby owls, marmoset and tortoise in the Iquitos market-left) offered for sale as pets or food, and rightly so. Do not, however, purchase animals to release them, no matter how much you might want to do so. Most animals for sale were not captured as adults, but were taken from nests and hand raised, or the mother animal shot (in the case of monkeys and probably for the margay kitten at right) in order to obtain the baby. In consequence, most of these animals are not capable of taking care of themselves in the wild and would soon die. Again, tell people offering live animals that you would rather see the animals free in the wild, and that this is why you came to the Amazon. Even if you purchase and release an animal in front of the vendor, a sale has been made, and the vendor has profited and has an incentive to go catch more animals. You will have directly encouraged the future robbing of nests and shooting of mother animals.

Taking birds, mammals, reptiles or amphibians home is not permitted without permits from both Peru and your home country, and without complying with rigorous quarantine regulations. Obtaining permits is a long and expensive process with no assurance that they will be issued, and we cannot help you with them. It's best to leave the animals in their natural habitat, no matter how cute or endearing they may be. Many animals like this orange-winged parrot (left) may carry diseases or parasites that pose a threat to domestic animals, or even to humans (psittacosis - a potentially fatal fungal infection of the lungs, for instance).

The capture of live insects, spiders, lizards, frogs and snakes for examination and/or photography is another matter. When we have groups interested in these organisms, we sometimes ask the local people to bring these to us, so that we can photograph them and then release them. These animals are fully capable of caring for themselves upon release, and are not as "delicate" as birds and mammals - for instance, reptiles and amphibians regularly go for several days or weeks without eating. In all cases, however, we release such animals as soon as possible and in appropriate habitat for each species.

FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER FOOD ITEMS
Without appropriate permits, you are not permitted to bring many food items into the US (or other countries) from abroad. In most countries (including the US), prohibited items include fresh fruits and vegetables, diary products, fish and meats (processed or unprocessed). These regulations are in place to prevent importation of crop pests and animal diseases such as mad cow disease. Help protect agriculture in your home country by not transporting food items. The "Beagle Brigade" at points of entry into the US works to locate food items in arriving passengers baggage. If you don't want a beagle pawing at your luggage, don't bring any food back with you! The exception is canned or other highly processed foods (a box of chocolates, for instance, is not a problem, and can be mailed directly to us upon your return!).

GOOD THINGS TO BRING BACK!
There is a wide selection of souvenirs and utilitarian items in the Amazon that are legal to buy and to take home, as well as being environmentally and socially friendly. These include the items pictured in this section - items made of plant fibers, wood, seeds and artificial materials. Paddles are items of daily use that are characteristic of the Amazon and which make great and unique souvenirs. They are carved from the buttress roots of several fast growing Amazon trees, and the tree isn't even cut down for the purpose, but left standing to grow more buttress roots. "Primitive" carvings of people, animals and fish have considerable appeal to many people (right). These carvings are made of balsa wood, a very fast growing second-growth tree, and have the added advantage of being light to carry. Balsa trees (Ochroma lagopus) typically live for only 10-15 years, and reach heights of 30-40' in 3 or 4 years.

Woven items are typically made of palm fibers. Items like hammocks and handbags (left) are very durable and strong, and usually dyed with natural vegetable dyes. Necklaces are also made of palm fiber, and incorporate a variety of seeds, fish bones (from past meals-above left), clay beads, or other items. All souvenirs made from natural materials should be popped in your freezer for 48 hours as soon as you get home. This will ensure that there aren't any insect larvae or other unexpected guests living in seeds or boring through your wood products. Your souvenirs will be protected from damage, and at the same time, you will avoid introducing potential pests to your house and neighborhood. Little piles of sawdust under your souvenirs are not a good thing!

Many other souvenirs are also available. In Iquitos, a number of shops sell wooden bowls and carvings made from bloodwood, a hard wood with a beautiful dark red glow. Bloodwood (Brosimum rubescens) is a member of the fig family, and is relatively common in the Peruvian Amazon. One tree can supply wood sufficient for thousands of handicraft items, and thus brings in substantial needed revenue to the local economy. There are also a number of accomplished artists in and about Iquitos who work with oils, acrylics, and watercolors. Their paintings can be found in various small galleries in Iquitos, and make very attractive gifts and home/office decorations. Visit our Amazon Artists Gallery to see some of their works. The oil at left is by Cliver Flores, a young upcoming Iquitos artist - for more of his work, visit http://www.pintoramazonico.com/. As you shop or trade for "responsible" souvenirs in the Amazon, remember that you are supporting the local economy, and providing people with an alternative to clear-cutting of forests or other highly destructive activities. There are treasures to be found, and memories to be made, so shop away! Additional pictures of "good" souvenirs can be found in our Amazon Handicrafts gallery.

TRADING ETIQUETTE
We encourage you to trade with local people for handicrafts or items of daily use, and to reward them for services rendered. This is an important contribution to the local economy, and it is fun as well! We do not encourage you, however, to give people items simply because you have them and they do not, even if such items are of little value to yourself. The people of the Amazon are self-reliant, resourceful, and proud. Do not unintentionally demean them by emphasizing differences between what "they" have and what "we" have. We want to foster pride in craftsmanship and culture among the people we visit, not turn them into beggars who expect handouts from tourists or who are ashamed of their rich heritage. We do want you to reward superior craftsmanship by offering more for well-made or original items. Likewise, do reward valued services that are provided by local people. If you are uncertain what is appropriate or fair, ask your tour leaders/guides for advice. Please do not ruin the trading experience of others on future trips by offering items or money far in excess of the value of a handicraft. Suggestions for trading items are found in the Amazon Travel Tips document in the document center.