Founders of Otorongo Expeditions - Ivonne Braga and Anthony Giardenelli
Ivonne was born and raised in Iquitos, Peru, has been working as a tourism guide for the past twelve years in many different agencies. Ivonne worked many years with universities from the USA surveying transects and performing biological assessments in many ecosystems and microhabitats found in Upper Amazonian. Since her youth, she always loved animals and maintains her fascination to this day. Ivonne has raised many species of animals that had been abandoned or orphaned including several monkeys, pacas, parrots, ocelots and now with Anthony, birds of prey. In her free time her binoculars are stuck to her eyes as she hopes to describe new species of birds in the near future. When not birding, or caring for three children, she may respnd to your kind emails about reservations. Currently, Ivonne is enjoying manufacturing reusable market bags with locals motif such as sloth patches or embroidered Macaws.
Anthony, a native of upstate New York has an Associates Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from SUNY, Cobleskill. He moved to Iquitos 2005 to start a jungle lodge, to raise funds for an animal rescue/rehab center and to promote sustainable development in the Amazon. From the days that he could walk, he was always in the streams and forests of the Adirondack Mountains turning over rocks and logs looking for invertebrates, salamanders or anything that moved. At the age of twelve he began to practice the sport of falconry. His love for all things natural and wild eventually gave way to the Amazon where he was immediately captivated by the biodiversity and the way people co-exist with the jungle and its rivers. A superb woodsman, fisherman and naturalist Anthony is always observing and analyzing the interactions of the river People and their ecosystems formulating ideas and projects to help fight the encroachment of harmful developments.
The two met in 2004 in Lima, Peru and started a long distance relationship that led to their marriage in 2006. They form a great team because nothing is more important to them than to show each guest the marvels of the rainforest, from giant lily pads, to ceiba trees, monkeys, or the specific symbiotic relationships that exists between plants, insects and animals. They both love to cook and try new foods; they bring to the table international and typical Peruvian dishes that will make your taste buds dance. You will need to experience the energy emitted by them as they take you for a walk in their gardens and trails. They will make you feel so welcome as if you were the very first guest in their new house.
If you are fortunate enough to be a guest at the lodge while Anthony, Ivy and their three children are there. Be prepared for the most unique garden tours by three little bilingual naturalists that love to point out insects, frogs and flowers to new coming guests.
