Volunteer in the Amazon Rainforest in Peru

Live in the Amazon Rainforest and help with vital conservation work

Destination

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

1 week

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Eco-lodge

What’s included

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.
Bus

Transportation

To and from the airport, plus everything in between. Daily transport to your placement and back.

Trip Overview

Caitlin K

All of the activities we participated in took place within the jungle and contributed to the bigger picture of conserving this majestic environment that few people have ever experienced.

Claire E

Geography has always fascinated me and the opportunity provided by Projects Abroad to live in the rainforest for five weeks and carry out my fieldwork has proved only to further fuel both my passion for the subject and my love of travelling.

Thijs K

I went into the jungle and a few things about that were not as expected…first of all I expected there to be loads of snakes, well maybe there are, but you don’t see ‘em!

What you need to know

Overview

This project is ideal for adventurers and thrill-seekers with a passion for nature and the outdoors. This is a once in a lifetime chance to live in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest!

On top of making a difference, you will gain plenty of practical conservation experience. You’ll work closely with some of the top minds of biology and rainforest conservation.

If you have an interest in conservation, biology, or environmental science, you’ll enjoy the hands-on fieldwork, and you’ll contribute to ongoing research projects. You’ll need to be comfortable with getting your hands dirty, and be willing to skip some home comforts!

You don’t need previous experience to join. You’ll be supervised by experts, and our staff are always available to provide guidance and advice. The project runs all year round, so you can join whenever it suits your schedule.

A Day in the Life

During your project, you’ll follow a timetable and normally work between four and six hours each day. You’ll start work at around 8am and then break at 11:30am as the day warms up. You’ll begin work again in the cooler afternoons from about 3:30pm to 5:30pm.

Your project work runs from Monday to Friday with your weekends free.

In the morning, you can do things like feeding the animals at the rescue centre, working in the pilot farm, or collecting data on spider monkeys.

You’ll break for lunch to avoid the midday heat. During this time, you can relax, read a book, or chat to your fellow volunteers.

After your break, you’ll do things like a bird census or working in the butterfly house. Keep in mind that some of the work is seasonal and you will work on various different tasks during your time in Peru.

During your free time, you can make the most of your stunning surroundings. You can go on group hikes or play board games with the other volunteers.

Over the weekend, you’ll have the option to go to Puerto Maldonado by boat.

Aims & Impact

The main aim of this project is to conserve the diverse plants and animals of the Amazon Rainforest.

The Amazon Rainforest is under constant threat from various issues. These include:

  • Agriculture
  • Logging
  • Poaching
  • Smuggling
  • Pollution
  • Mining
  • Urbanisation

Not enough is done to protect and preserve the unique wildlife and vegetation. Our project at Taricaya works to rehabilitate an area previously damaged by human activities, such as gold mining and farming. We conduct surveys throughout the area to track the rehabilitation of local wildlife and vegetation, and reintroduce species previously found in the area. We also help local people avoid causing damage to the environment. They help us with our conservation projects and we help them with their farming.

You’ll become part of these efforts, and help us run a model farm. Through the farm, we pass on ideas and techniques for more sustainable farming to local farmers. We have outlined four main goals in our Conservation Management Plan for Peru. These are:

    • Restore natural ecosystems
    • Protect local wildlife
    • Monitor habitats
    • Raise awareness of the importance of protecting the environment

Join our Rainforest Conservation Project today and help protect the wildlife of Peru.

Activities

There’s always a lot to be done at Taricaya! Here are some of the activities you can get involved in:

Your conservation work will focus on these main areas:

Collect data

By observing and recording details about the species you see during surveys, you’ll help us better understand how to protect them. This type of work can include:

  • Bird censuses conducted from a canopy platform
  • Collecting video footage using camera traps
  • Recording data on species characteristics during trail hikes

With the help of your work, we produce a technical report every year to demonstrate our environmental impact. The data for these reports comes directly from our volunteers’ daily observations. Thanks to this work, Taricaya is increasingly recognised internationally as a research centre. It has contributed a number of important research papers at international conferences, especially in the field of ornithology.

Animal release programme

At Taricaya, we run an animal release programme. This work involves our project partner, Animal Defenders International (ADI). ADI confiscates illegal pets or circus animals, including Amazon rainforest monkeys. We then rehabilitate these rainforest animals at the rescue centre, and release them into the wild if possible. These are usually endangered species like scarlet macaws, whose populations are steadily decreasing in the Amazon.

You’ll help with feeding these animals and doing general maintenance. This includes tasks like cleaning enclosures or repairing fences. Although this may sound like menial work, it’s a chance to get up close to beautiful wildlife, while also helping prepare them for a life of freedom. For animals raised in captivity who can’t be released, you’ll be helping to give them the quality of life they deserve.

Breeding programmes

You’ll also help with our turtle breeding programme and do things like patrolling riverbanks for turtle nests, collecting the eggs, and incubating them at the centre. This protects them from poachers. When the eggs hatch, watching hatchlings scurry across the sand making their way to water is a heart-warming moment! It also makes a huge impact on the populations of these species in the wild.

You’ll also help with catching and breeding endangered butterflies. Our butterfly catching methods are completely safe and leave the butterflies unharmed. We can then house them in optimal conditions for our rainforest animal research, help them breed, and study their behaviour.

Pilot farm

We have a pilot farm where we work on developing and perfecting sustainable farming techniques. We then teach local people about sustainable farming to reduce the negative impact of farming in the area. Your role is to tend the crops and help us raise awareness about sustainable farming. Sustainable farming will make Amazon Rainforest reforestation much easier.

We also run a mahogany programme. We grow mahogany trees close together and study them. This particular Rainforest habitat project shows local loggers that this is a cost-effective alternative to cutting down trees from the rainforest. We are also able to share the timber from these trees to use in production. You will help with maintaining the plantation and taking measurements.

Raise awareness

We work to raise awareness about conservation on both a local and a global level. Through research and publications, Taricaya provides groundbreaking data that draws attention to the work we’re doing in the Amazon rainforest and its ecosystems. You’ll be involved in collecting this data and contributing to large-scale research work.

You can also help with raising awareness about conservation in local communities. For example, you could run a recycling competition in a local school. Or you could conduct a workshop on the small things people can do to combat climate change.

Map & Location
Step into the home of the Inca Empire, where the Andes Mountains meet the Amazon Rainforest. Peru is the third-largest South American nation and about 60% of it is covered by rainforest. It’s also the origin of the mighty Amazon River.

Peru is a popular tourist destination for its rich history and culture, incredible biodiversity, and, of course, Machu Picchu. If you aren’t persuaded yet, this ought to do the trick: it’s home to about three-quarters of the global alpaca population!

Puerto Maldonado

Close to the Bolivian border in Peru, Puerto Maldonado is a large, tropical town and a gateway to the southern Amazon jungle. It is the closest town to our reserve, which is one hour down river.

Given that it is surrounded by national parks, the town is surprisingly well connected, with an airport, paved roads, bridges, and boats. It’s well known for being at the cutting edge of conservation and has a revitalising tropical climate, with temperatures staying warm all year round.

Food & Accommodation

Live within the rainforest and have everything you need for a comfortable conservation experience. Wake up to charming bird songs and the gentle rustling of leaves while enjoying the safety, security, and comfort of your private lodge.

Enjoy stunning river views, winding wildlife trails, and the tallest canopy walkway in South America, all on your doorstep. Share rooms and meals (from our dedicated local chef) with other participants, giving you an opportunity to build lasting friendships and get to know the like-minded people you’re with.

You’ll have basic Wi-Fi, running water, and power from solar panels and a generator at certain times of day, allowing you to charge your devices. You can also enjoy a shared games area and TV room.

Meet your team

Ms Rachel Kilby

Lodge Administrator

Rachel has been working with Projects Abroad for 8 years and as a trained biologist she has specialised in the field of ornithology. A qualified bird bander Rachel is out in the field a lot collecting data whilst helping with the daily running of the project.

Ms Elvira Rosemberg

Volunteer Advisor

Elvira joined the Projects Abroad team in January 2010. She is originally from Lima, but has been living in Puerto Maldonado for many years now. She knows Taricaya and the local town very well and is happy to assist volunteers on their trips into town. Elvira will be in touch with all Peru Conservation Project volunteers before they arrive and she also meets the volunteers at the Puerto Maldonado airport.

Mr Fernando Rosemberg

Project Manager

An ex-gold miner now dedicated to conservation, Fernando administers the day-to-day running of the lodge. He is the longest serving staff member there from the start with Stuart. His English is excellent and his 20 years of experience in the jungle gives him great all round knowledge. His family in Puerto Maldonado runs a small hotel where volunteers usually spend the weekend.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Peru Arrival Procedures page.

Book your adventure

Call +353 (0)1 571 5080 to discuss special discounts or group bookings.

Still got questions? We’re happy to help!

Our trusted accreditations

British Youth Travel Awards Customer Service
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SDG Contribution finalist
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GoOverseas community choice award
Sustainable tour operator finalist
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Volunteer Forever award