Pilpintuwasi is a Quechua word meaning “butterfly house.”
Pilpintuwasi is a non-profit sanctuary on 16 hectares of land near the community of Padre Cocha on the Nanay River in the Peruvian Amazon, a 20-minute boat ride from the Bellavista Nanay port in Iquitos.
We protect animals affected by the illegal wildlife trade, one of the largest illegal markets in the world. Pilpintuwasi is a certified rescue center, an authorized conservation center for red-faced monkeys, and has official permission for butterfly breeding.
We currently care for more than 20 species, including jaguars, anteaters, ocelots, tapirs, parrots, toucans, several monkey species, and butterflies, three of which are threatened with extinction.
To learn more about Pilpintuwasi, you can join a guided tour or apply to volunteer.
official certifications: recognized wildlife rescue center, authorized conservation center for red-faced monkeys, and licensed butterfly breeding program
animals rescued each year
animal species in our care
animals released back into the wild annually
hectares of protected sanctuary
volunteer community: 6 in 2024, 9 in 2025, and more joining in 2026
"I love what I do, even though a place like Pilpintuwasi wouldn’t be necessary if all animals could live freely in their natural habitats."
In 1995, Gudrun Sperrer arrived in the Peruvian Amazon to study host plants for butterflies and began what would become Pilpintuwasi. In 2001, she established a butterfly farm focused on conserving some of the thousands of species native to the region.
As residents from nearby communities brought confiscated, injured, and abandoned animals, Pilpintuwasi evolved into an official rescue center. Over the past two decades, it has become a recognized rescue and conservation facility where hundreds of animals affected by the wildlife trade have been given secure, long-term care.
Pilpintuwasi employs local residents from the village of Padre Cocha and contributes to the local economy. It also provides opportunities for locals and visitors to learn about Amazonian wildlife in an ethical setting.
Pilpintuwasi receives no government funding and relies on visitors, volunteers, and private support.
We can answer all your burning questions now
Pilpintuwasi is open daily from 9:00 to 16:00, Monday to Sunday, all year round.
Peruvian visitors:
20 soles for adults, 10 soles for students, 5 soles for children
Foreign visitors:
30 soles for adults, 15 soles for students, 5 soles for children
To visit Pilpintuwasi, first fly from Lima to Iquitos (about 1.5 hours). From Iquitos city, take a mototaxi to Bellavista Port. At Bellavista, choose either a shared boat (around 3 soles) or a fast boat (around 20 soles) to Padre Cocha. When you arrive in Padre Cocha, walk or take a mototaxi to our center on Mexico Avenue. Pilpintuwasi is not accessible by car, but the town is small and everyone knows the sanctuary, so locals can easily show you the way.
No. Pilpintuwasi is a rescue and conservation center, not a zoo. For the safety and well-being of the animals, direct interaction is not allowed.
No. Pets are not allowed at Pilpintuwasi to protect both visitors and animals. Service animals are permitted but must be kept on a leash and under control at all times.
No. Due to the natural forest terrain, the sanctuary is not wheelchair accessible.
