Amazon Rainforest Expedition 2009 - Peru

Product Details

The Expedition:

Explore the magnificent Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, the largest protected area of pristine tropical rainforest in Peru.

Spanning over 2,000 km², the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is a truly exceptional wilderness area based at the head of the River Amazon. Bounded in the north and east by the Ucayali and Maranon Rivers that flow from the rocky slopes of the Andes, the reserve offers a unique flooded forest ecosystem that is home to some of the greatest diversity of animals and plants found anywhere on Earth. Some of the fantastic wildlife you are likely to discover includes birds such as parrots, hummingbirds, kingfishers, macaws and hawks; mammals such as jaguar, spider monkey, river dolphin and anaconda; fish such as piranha, pintado and electric eel and over 1,800 species of butterfly!

The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is a pristine area of incredible biodiversity that is only accessible to recognised scientific research programmes and BSES is currently the only UK based youth expeditions company lucky enough to be allowed access. This gives you the unique opportunity to work alongside a team of dedicated researchers and conservationists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Amazonian Studies to contribute to the preservation of one of the last true remaining wilderness areas on Earth.

What’s involved?

The month-long expedition will depart towards the end of July. On arrival at the jungle outpost of Iquitos you will travel deep into the rainforest by boat entering into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve where you will establish a base camp (land and boat based). From there, you will be allocated into ‘Fires’ (groups) to work on a variety of research and adventure projects for the rest of the expedition.

Research:

This expedition offers you the unique opportunity to work alongside experienced researchers and conservationists from the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and the Universidad Nacional de la AmazonÍa Peruana to contribute to the future preservation of the rainforest.

Water-based research projects include surveying pink and grey river dolphins in the Samiria River, building artificial hatching sites for turtles at Pitechia, catching and measuring caimen and may also include surveying fish populations.

Back on dry land there is the opportunity to conduct census work on many types of primates such as the red howler monkey and the rare spider monkey, survey numbers of mackaws and to search for new species of insect as you explore the thick forest trails.

Adventure:

The expedition will attempt to visit previously unexplored territory that has never been surveyed or indeed visited by any research groups before. This adventure phase will involve cutting transects through dense primary rainforest and wild camping in the jungle sleeping out under stars surrounded by the wild animals of the forest.

Jungle survival and boat handling training will be provided, in addition to lectures by leading conservationists and researchers in the jungle ecosystems and problems faced by these wilderness areas.

Cost

Your contribution will be in the region of £2,900 including a deposit of £500.
Travel costs are expected to be around £1,050 including all taxes.

BSES Expeditions is a youth development charity which strives to keep expedition costs as low as possible. Please note that advance planning to remote and often difficult to access wilderness areas is subject to many variables and the costs may vary. These will be confirmed six months before departure. You are required to organise and run your own fundraising activities, lots of advice and encouragement will be given. We can offer mentoring support, for those who feel completely daunted by the prospect of fundraising, to ensure you reach your targets.

Key dates

Application Deadline Monday 6th April, 2009
Compulsory Briefing Weekend Friday 17th - Sunday 19th April, 2009
Expedition Dates Mid July to mid August, 2009
BSES Annual Presentation of Expedition Reports Saturday 30th January, 2010

Once you are onboard you will have access to a password protected area of the website which contains all the information you need for the expedition, from a full kit list and equipment advice to health information, suggested fitness programmes and logistical information.

All details are subject to change and correct at time of writing.

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Our users say...

"The Amazon was amazing - we were in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, a huge protected area of rainforest, and it was absolutely beautiful. There were constantly pink and grey river dolphins leaping around our boats, macaws and parrots flying overhead, piranhas and caiman in the water, and howler monkeys and squirrel monkeys and tamarins in the trees. Beyond cool!

We also spent a couple of days in Iquitos, this city built in the rainforest accessible only by boat or plane, and it was the most exciting place I've ever visited. There are hardly any cars and everyone just travels around in tuk tuks, which are so much fun! Everything's so cheap too; you can get a meal and drink for around £3, and buy jewelry for 20p. The Peruvians are all really really friendly, and although it's a third world country I didn't notice it very much, there was no obvious poverty or anything. I had a great time and I'm already planning a return trip to Peru!" - Amber Mezbourian, Amazon 2006