CHILDREN OF THE JUNGLE
My name is Antonio Cruz Pérez. I am one of the #ChildrenOfTheJungle. I was born and raised in this region, but when I was 20 years old I had the opportunity to live in California in the United States. At that time, I was faced with the choice of giving up my heritage in exchange for a modern way of life. But my identity with my culture and the close-knit relationship I had with this place—and there’s none other like it in the world—made me return. My ancestors were among the first people to live in this region. They taught me to love this place that is more than just Earth’s “lungs.” It pulsates with life at every breath….
I have been sharing the jungle’s secrets in my authentic style for more than 40 years. I am the founder and owner of the tour company Amazon Jungle Trips and of the Zacambu Rainforest Lodge (Javari River) and Tupana Arü Ü (Amazon River) reserves. My priority has always been to meet the expectations of each of our guests and to help them fulfil their dreams of a genuine Amazon experience. As one of the #ChildrenOfTheJungle, I instruct local populations in environmental conservation and employ them in our ecotourism programs.

Dilce
Antonio's wife and Cofounder
Element: Earth
Animal: Armadillo
Color: Blue
Fruit: Arazá
Quote: “The human being is a friend of everything that lives” Mahatma Gandhi

Nixon
6 years with us
Element: Earth
Animal: Piraña
Color: Orange
Fruit: Copoazú
Quote: “We share the earth, not only with human beings, but with all other creatures” Dalai Lama

Maico
11 years with us
Element: Water
Animal: Jaguar
Color: Green
Fruit: Asaí
Quote: “Everything that happens to the earth, happens to the #ChildrenOfTheEarth ” Jefe indio

Asela
11 years with us
Element: Air
Animal: Toucan
Color: Red
Fruit: Cocona
Quote: “The earth is not an inheritance from our parents, but a loan from our children”

José
8 years with us
Element: Water
Animal: Dolphin
Color: Brown
Fruit: Jobo
Quote: “The activist is not who says the river is dirty. The activist is the one who cleans the river” Ross Perot

Linda
13 years with us
Element: Air
Animal: Butterfly
Color: Red
Fruit: Castaña
Quote: “Conservation is a state of harmony between man and the earth” Aldo Leopold

Vanessa
4 years with us
Element: Fire
Animal: Salamander
Color: Red
Fruit: Aguaje
Quote: “The earth provides enough to meet the needs of each man, but not his greed” Mahatma Gandhi

Iván
6 years with us
Element: Water
Animal: Arahuana
Color: Blue
Fruit: Bacaba
Quote: “It produces immense sadness to think that nature speaks but men do not listen to it” Víctor Hugo

Yersain
2 years with us
Element: Earth
Animal: Panther
Color: Black
Fruit: Camu-Camu
Quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi

Abelardo
12 years with us
Element: Earth
Animal: Mojojoy
Color: Yellow
Fruta: Pompous
Quote: “We will never know the value of water until the well is dry” Thomas Fuller