FACTS ABOUT Wandering spider

Brazilian wandering spider

Phoneutria genus

Height 18 cm Weight Lodge Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas, Tambopata Research Center
Life span Best season

Did you know? Our Rainforest Expeditions guests find the relatives of these shy, eight-legged creatures on night hikes!


The Brazilian Wandering Spider is the name of many spider species in the Phoneutria genus. They are large, intimidating, and infamous for being the most toxic spider venom in the world. These spiders actually occur in many areas outside of Brazil, from Costa Rica to Argentina. Nevertheless, the Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria nigriventer) is the best-known member of this group of eight species. This is because it lives near humans and occasionally bites people. It is a familiar spider in many parts of Brazil. It actively searches for prey instead of waiting at a spider web. That is where it gets its name: Brazilian Wandering Spider.

The Brazilian Wandering Spider doesn’t actually occur in the Tambopata rainforest. However,  there are at least two other closely related species that live in the Peruvian jungle around the Rainforest Expeditions lodges. Despite the hype that the Brazilian Wandering Spider receives from the press, this creature rarely bites people. The species in the Tambopata rainforest do their best to stay hidden at all times. The wandering spiders of Tambopata are food for large birds and peccaries. Thus, they would much rather hide in the leaf litter than rush out and bite someone.

Guests of Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas, and the Tambopata Research Center usually encounter wandering spiders on night hikes in the rainforest. Getting bit by one is extremely unlikely unless you try to pick the spider up or stick your hands into leaf litter, bromeliads, or under fallen logs.

Brazilian Wandering Spider Fun Facts



  • Most toxic spider venom is known: The venom of at least one species of Phoneutria is much more toxic than the Black Widow Spider and can easily kill mice with one bite. Human fatalities in Brazil are an extremely rare occurrence.

  • No web: Unlike many other spiders, the wandering spiders don’t build webs but actively search for their prey.

  • The banana spider: Wandering spiders occasionally turn up in shipments of bananas! One such stowaway actually bit a man in England in 2005. He survived but spent a week in the hospital!

  • Understory predator: These spiders are active, aggressive predators that feed on large insects, small lizards, mice, and frogs.


How to plan your Amazon jungle travel to see Brazilian Wandering Spiders and other jungle wildlife



  • Go on a night hike: These large spiders are most active at night. We have nightly hikes in the rainforest with trained guides so you can see wandering spiders and other nocturnal jungle animals.

  • Make science happen with AmazonCam: even if Amazon Travel is not in your short-term plans, you can connect with Amazon wildlife!

  • And of course, if you´re thinking (or even dreaming) of Amazon jungle Travel, drop by to chat with the Amazon Travel experts. We will help you get there.


 

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  • What our guest say

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The lodge is located in the middle of the forest accessible only by boat. The experience was very unique and exciting. Service is great, and the fun part are the nature activities and tours the hotel offers for free. We had an amazing tour guide that had a lot of knowledge and was fun to spend time with. The rooms are totally open to the forest which is really cool the struggle is the there is no privacy at all in between the rooms, also food was pretty basic. All together a very unique experience. Read all

This hotel is the perfect blend of comfort and hospitality, with the natural experience. The hotel is reached by a hours boat ride from Puerto Maldonado, expertly organized and accomplished. Most staff are members of the local Esa Ejja community. The food is good and plentiful. Hot water is always available and lovely bedding features mosquito nets. There is of course no air conditioning (one side wall is open in rach room) and the electricity is off for a few hours at night affecting overhead fans, so I was glad to have brought a small battery powered fan for sleeping. But the best of the experience is the wildlife. Our expert guide Oscar Mishaja introduced us to nearly 100 bird species, along with caimans, river otters, poison dart frogs and capybara. A trip of a lifetime. Read all

Excellent experience overall— really kind and welcoming staff at every point of the journey. All transfers were well organized and smooth. Excellent and educational excursions all around the rainforest. Delicious food for every meal. We had wonderful guides- Freet and Alvaro. Enjoyed our time here! Read all

Unbelievable.... Magical Everything I have dreamed of since I was 8 years old but MORE Read all

We had a surreal experience at Refugio Amazonas. From the well organized transportation to the warm welcome, hospitality and the experience of living in nature - we loved it all. Huge shout out to our guide Boris who went out of his way to ensure we had a good experience and got to watch all kinds of wild life. The meals and cocktails were delicious. And even though this place is smack in the middle of the jungle there was super fast WiFi available. We made unforgettable memories. Read all

We had an amazing time in TRC. From the guide, tours, lounge staff, food and room, everything has exceeded our expectation and like an amazing dream came true. We highly recommend to directly book with the lounge website, so that you got a private guide for your group. Special thanks to our guide Saul, who made this experience extra special! We were so impressed by his knowledge about all the animals and the rainforest. Read all

We had an amazing time in TRC. From the guide, tours, lounge staff, food and room, everything has exceeded our expectation and like an amazing dream came true. This is the only lounge available in Tambopata national park, and this eco lounge takes environment seriously. We highly recommend to directly book with the lounge website, so that you got a private guide for your group. Special thanks to our guide Saul, who made this experience extra special! We were so impressed by his knowledge about all the animals and the rainforest. If you are a natural lover, you can’t miss this place Read all

Excellent and luxurious place, wonderful experience and our guide Boris was first class, he had a unique patience with my 8 year old son. An experience in the tropical rainforest that marks the life of its visitors. In addition to the scientific research that takes place in the place: a whole research center. Rooms: Very comfortable and luxuriou Read all

El mejor hotel para visitar la Amazonia peruana. Hotel eco turístico metido en medio de la selva, equipado para visitar y vivir la selva, su flora y fauna, en todas sus facetas. Todo incluido, con guías preparados y amables, resultó una experiencia increíble para mi familia. Dentro de las opciones no se debe perder el Canopy de 45 metros de altura para observar y escuchar la selva, así como el lago de las tres Chimbadas, lugar único para ver caimanes, nutrias gigantes, monos y aves exóticas. Recomiendo mínimo dos noches!!! Read all

Wunderbare lodge mit freundlichen Menschen. sehr persönliche guides, tolle Tourangebote und super kulinarische Verpflegung ! Wir wurden herzlichst von Caesar empfangen und unser guide JuanJo hat uns phantastische Dinge gezeigt. Wir können die lodge nur wärmstens empfehlen! Read all

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