Available Placements Ecotourism Conservation Humanitarian Teaching ResearchOrganic Farms

Peru National Reserve Ecolodge

Placement number: 0058
Location:  Peru
Preferred Languages: Spanish
Date: All year
Minimum Period: Volunteers 2 weeks 
                           Interns 3 months

This placement is based at an ecolodge and research station located in the Tambopata National Reserve in the upper Amazon rainforests of Southeastern Peru.  It has recently celebrated it's 30th year of oppe ration and is the oldest lodge in the area.  The Resident Naturalist Program has been in operation for almost 20 years and offers the opportunity of a lifetime to professionals - young and old alike - with a keen interest in natural sciences, teaching, and who have a good command of the Spanish language to spend an extended period of quality time in the richest greenest corner of the Amazon rainforest; to learn first-hand about the Tambopata area its biota and its local inhabitants from the very mouths of visiting research scientists and local people; to collaborate on long-term field research projects; and to generally experience what it means to live amongst so many trees and to share one’s space with a myriad other forms of life 

Interns
Resident Naturalists (RNs) are expected to:

- share their varied knowledge, in a formal and informal manner, particularly
that associated with natural sciences and European languages, with our young
and eager local tour guide staff, as part of our continuous guide-training
program;

-to be a nexus between our tourists and our visiting research scientists, as
part of our on-site scientific knowledge-sharing program;

- to collect and analyse standard data pertaining to trail-use and wildlife
observations;


Volunteers
The Volunteer  program is for persons who have a short term research project or any other special interest in staying at our jungle  lodge or just want  to be of help in any type of work or field.

Their only commitments are that the volunteer  should maintain decent and adequate standards of attire whilst in and around the lodge, particularly in the dining room. Personal spaces should be well kept. Washed clothing should not be left out in plain view of tourists; the volunteer  leaves his room to be accommodated in a dormitory or eventually even in a tent in those few days when the lodge is wholly occupied by full paying guests in the High Season.

Role of Volunteer

We operate two programmes:-

Interns
The Resident Naturalist Program which is aimed at recent graduates or those with an appropriate background/experience.
Applicants should be able to commit to 3-6 months stay

Volunteers
Volunteer program which is availabe to all.  The duration of the stay is from 2 weeks upwards and the participant will assist the Resident Naturalists with their duties. 

Cost

Interns
Food and accommodation free

Volunteers
US$25 per night (food and accommodation)

Travel

We recommend you reach Puerto Maldonado by air using the 2-3 daily flights that connect Maldonado with Lima and Cusco. Tickets should be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. Flights from Lima to Puerto Maldonado (and vice versa) cost US$ 80, and  usually lakes 2 hours, including a 30 minute stop-over in Cusco. Flights from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado (and vice versa) cost US$ 50 and take 35 minutes. Overland travel from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado is possible in a bus or on the back of a truck, cost approximately US$ 20 one-way, although travel time can be up to 3 days if the weather is bad.

Contact Us: Travelling abroad can be a daunting experience. We know because we've done it. If you have a question then we can help.