Source: Living in Peru
Tourism sector in Peru is mourning, since US-born Peter Jensen, founder of Explorama Lodge in the Loreto rainforest, passed away a few days ago.Jensen arrived in Peru almost 40 years ago and fell in love with Iquitos, the capital of the amazonian region of Loreto, where he and his former partner fixed up a boat to take tourists on trips down the Amazon River.
Since some of their tourists wanted to sleep overnight in the rainforest, Jensen built their first lodge in Yanamono, with only six bedrooms.
That small initiative grew up to become the current 72-room Explorama Lodge, which is still acknowledged as the one which set new, higher standards for tourism offers in the Peruvian jungle.
Ceiba Tops and Explorama Lodge are right along the Amazon River 25 and 50 miles respectively downstream from Iquitos: ExplorNapo Lodge is on the Napo River, 100 miles into the Sususari Nature Reserve.
Jensen was diagnosed with cancer last year. He went to the US to receive treatment, but once he learned that the illness was widespread, his only wish was to return home to spend his last days in his beloved rainforest.
His wish was to be cremated, and to have his ashes scattered from the highest platform on the canopy walkway.
Staff of Explorama has expressed that they will honor his wishes and get on with the job of continuing the work that Jensen started 46 years ago.