Dr. Peter Lerche
Director & Co-Founder
“I came to Peru for the first time in 1971, I had just finished high school. At that time to get from Chachapoyas, capital of Amazonas, to the Awajún, you had to travel to Bagua and then walk for several days to the north to a place where you could take a canoe downriver the Marañón. I spent three months in Amazonas. Returning to Germany I did my military service, then entered the University of Berlin, where I chose to specialize in anthropology, ethnohistory and archaeology. When I was about to finish, I had to present a thesis and I remembered the trip I made to Peru.
I returned to Chachapoyas in 1980, to do my field research on the Chachapoyas culture. This area is a place where you can work a lot, it is healthy, there is no industry and the vegetation is almost intact. Here... life is more intense.”
In 1985, Peter received his doctorate from the Free University of Berlin.
His past government positions include: Tourism Development Consultant of the Reginal Government and Director of the Department of Conservation Archaeological Monuments of the National Cultural Institute/Amazonas. During this time Peter was intimately involved with the discoveries of natural cave mausoleums containing mummies and artifacts dated from 900 a.c. in an area called Laguna de los Cóndores (Lagoon of the Condors).
Between 2007 and 2010 he was mayor of the city of Chachapoyas. Later Peter served as the Director of the Regional Branch Office of the Peruvian Ministry of Culture for Amazonas.
Anthropologist, historian, author, explorer, and authority on the religious world of pre-Inca Chachapoya, Peter has given hundreds of lectures over the years on Chachapoyan history.
Notable magazine credits include his cover story “Quest for the Lost Tombs”, National Geographic September 2000 by Peter Lerche, photography by Gordon Wiltsie.
In recent years Peter’s work with 11 indigenous Awajún communities and the regional government of Amazonas, resulted in the establishment of the Pamau Nain Conservation Concession, protecting nearly 115,000 acres of pristine Amazon rain forest.
Peter’s conservation efforts continue today with Amazonas Conservation Initiative’s work with the Awajún Communities of the Kampankis Mountains.
Davarian Hall
Director & Co-Founder
Following davarian’s first visit to Peru in 1982 davarian provided stock photography of the Peruvian Andes and rain forest to international publications.
With the advent of the WWW his computer and photography skills lead to website architecture for an international conservation organization. This included working with the Machiguenga Communities of South Eastern Peru to establish five research/tourist lodges.
In 2008, in collaboration with a Kukama Community and with partners, davarian built the Amazon Refuge Wildlife Conservation Center on the Yanayacu tributary of the Amazon River near Iquitos.
During this time davarian took on roles as Location Manager of Discovery Channel’s Naked & Afraid series – several survival episodes then taking place in the Amazon Refuge area.
In 2018 davarian's conservation work continued in the far remote area of the Amazonas Department of Peru working with the Awajún people and the founding of the Amazonas Conservation Initiative.
For thermal imaging video of wildlife, Davarian holds an FAA sUAV Commercial Drone Pilot license.
“Peruvian legends and myths are my life’s blood of adventure – my favorite trips being ‘In Search of the Black Lagoon’, ‘Pongo de Mainique’, and Expedition to Shubet Mountain.
With our current work with the Awajún people our documentary ‘Where the Devil Sings’ opens a door to a mystical Lost World of the Amazonas jungle:"
Through the Lens, with the Pen, within the Spirit;
the chance, fortune, danger, luck, and power of Adventure beckons.
The passage is Vision, Imagination, and Perseverance.
The map is drawn within the sunset,
etched amongst the stars.
Your guides are those like yourself...on a Journey
