Tourists Share Harrowing Experience in Peru’s Amazon

Spanish tourists have recounted a terrifying encounter with an armed group, known as the “River Pirates,” during a boat trip in Peru’s Amazon River.

In a series of Tiktok videos, Elizabeth de la Almudena described May 14 as “the worst day of her life.” She, along with her parents and young daughter, found themselves at the mercy of four armed individuals who wielded pistols and a machine gun while on a boat. The assailants demanded that they open a bank app and drain their accounts.

“We had booked family sightseeing tours,” she shared, recalling how distressing it was when the armed gang boarded the vessel. They instructed her family to use a mobile app to transfer their money into the perpetrators’ accounts.

De la Almudena mentioned that there were around 14 Spanish tourists onboard, including children and elderly travelers. Fortunately, local families noticed they were in distress and helped them make their way back to Iquitos.

She criticized the tour company, Canopy Tours Iquitos, for lacking emergency protocols and GPS devices on the boat.

Responding to the incident in a statement on Tuesday, Canopy Tours Iquitos claimed it was an incident beyond their control and that they reported it immediately to the authorities. “Since the beginning, we have actively participated in the investigation, offering support to those affected and collaborating closely with law enforcement,” their statement noted.

Additionally, the company announced enhancements in security measures, including GPS tracking, and pledged to work more closely with the River Police in light of such incidents.

While the Guardian reached out, neither the Peruvian company nor the Spanish Embassy provided immediate comment.

The risk of armed robbery in Peru is generally considered low, although the US Department of State advises travelers to remain cautious due to the potential for crime and civil unrest in certain areas.