Contribution starting at $3,150
Exported from Streamline App (https://app.streamlineicons.com)
8–11 days - Each day filled with impactful activities Includes accommodations, food, and all related research costs

As a paying volunteer, you directly fund scientific research by covering permits, equipment, and other costs while supporting local vendors.

BOOK WITH A $500 DEPOSIT
Wildlife & Ecosystems
Climate Change

Amazon Riverboat Exploration

Location
Yarapa River, Peru
Lead Scientist
Activity Level
Varies
Accommodations
Hotel/Resort/Lodge
Food
Chef-prepared meals

TYPICAL ITINERARY:

  • DAY 1: Meet in Iquitos, travel to the town of Omaguas, board a project boat to the riverboat, moored in the Amazon
  • DAYS 2–5: Dolphin census, terrestrial transect, wading bird and macaw monitoring
  • DAYS 6–7: Fishing census, caiman spotting, fishing bat surveys, surveys using canoes
  • DAY 8*: Visit the local Cocama community; travel back to Omaguas and return to Iquitos.

*11-day teams complete similar research activities to Days 2–7 on Days 9 and 10.


The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), also known as the pink river dolphin, is a species of toothed whale endemic to South America. 
ÃÀ¼§ÉçÇø participants will boat to spot and identify dolphins and fish.
urveyed to examine the impact of climate change on wild meat species.
Several people in the rainforest tracking the abundance of wildlife and recording their behavior.
ÃÀ¼§ÉçÇø participants in a row boat spotting and counting count herons, kingfishers, horned-screamers and a multitude of shore birds.
Two women in the rainforest collecting data on wildlife abundance and behavior.
The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), also known as the pink river dolphin, is a species of toothed whale endemic to South America. 
ÃÀ¼§ÉçÇø participants will boat to spot and identify dolphins and fish.
urveyed to examine the impact of climate change on wild meat species.
Several people in the rainforest tracking the abundance of wildlife and recording their behavior.
ÃÀ¼§ÉçÇø participants in a row boat spotting and counting count herons, kingfishers, horned-screamers and a multitude of shore birds.
Two women in the rainforest collecting data on wildlife abundance and behavior.

Aboard a riverboat deep in the heart of Peru’s flooded Amazon region, you’ll help conserve river dolphins and monkeys and protect the fragile South American wilderness.


Two people in a rowboat taking photos along the Yarapa RiverThe vast, pristine Amazonian forests of northeastern Peru are home to an incredible array of wildlife. As you travel along the winding Yarapa River, you’ll spot pink river dolphins and caimans swimming through the waters while monkeys and extraordinary birds move through the canopy overhead. In the lakes, you can find a vast array of fish; sometimes, you can even spot rare giant river otters hunting and playing.

But this spectacular diversity is declining due to recent intense climate fluctuations that have caused floods and droughts. By tracking wildlife populations and assessing the impacts of these changes, volunteers will gather key data on the sustainability of traditional hunting and fishing. Working alongside local communities, this research will support conservation strategies that protect both the rainforest and the people who rely on its resources—helping to ensure a sustainable future for this delicate environment.

You’ll sleep aboard a restored, 100-year-old vessel from the Rubber Boom era, moored in the heart of the Yarapa River within the Samiria-Yavari protected areas. Each morning, the sounds of howler monkeys and tropical birds will echo through the misty rainforest as you set out to explore this extraordinary ecosystem. Winding through the flooded forest, you’ll track elusive wildlife, collect critical data, and witness the delicate balance of life in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. You’ll also have the rare opportunity to be part of a community, working alongside the Cocama people, whose deep knowledge of the land is essential to its protection. Together, you’ll help shape conservation plans that safeguard the region’s incredible biodiversity and the livelihoods of those who call it home.

 

Why It Matters:
The Impact of Volunteer Science

 


Pink and gray Amazon River dolphins have been found to communicate with each other, a first in scientific literature!

Illustration of a pink river dolphin


ÃÀ¼§ÉçÇø volunteer efforts provided the first record of interspecies interactions and critical data on drought and heat impacts, informing wildlife management across the Loreto Region.

 

 

The volunteers are truly helpful in monitoring the wildlife populations. New areas of research have initiated with the help of the volunteers, including a wading bird survey and mist netting. But it is the assistance that many volunteers have provided to the local communities that has been truly unexpected.

—Dr. Richard Bodmer,  Lead Scientist

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HOW YOU WILL HELP

Wildlife surveys will run daily once you arrive on the moored riverboat deep within the Amazon. You’ll get to try your hand at all research tasks (and can spend extra time on your favorites). You will:

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ÃÀ¼§ÉçÇø volunteers riding in a motorboat looking for dolphins and fish.
SEARCH FOR DOLPHINS AND FISH

As part of the study, you will go to the Amazon River and search for individual pink river dolphins and grey dolphins. You will also catch various fish species.

A caiman—smaller relatives of the alligator—in the water surrounded by vegetation.
HIKE THE RAINFOREST, SPOT CAIMANS

In the rainforest, track an abundance of wildlife, including primates and game birds, and record their behavior. When the forest is not flooded, you’ll also assess wildlife presence through deployed camera traps. Take to the river at night and spot frogs and caimans, smaller relatives of the alligator. Locate them by shining headlights that reflect when they catch their eyes.

An ÃÀ¼§ÉçÇø volunteer looking through binoculars to spot and count herons, kingfishers, horned-screamers and a multitude of shore birds.
COUNT WADING BIRDS, MACAWS, AND FISHING BATS

Early in the morning, watch the sunrise over the forest and river as you spot and count herons, kingfishers, horned screamers, and a multitude of shore birds. You will also observe and count colorful macaws, parrots, and parakeets. At dusk, you’ll search for bats and count them with a searchlight and acoustic bat box as they swoop to the river and catch fish.

Field conditions and research needs can lead to changes in the itinerary and activities. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

 

Highlights to Explore at this Destination

  • Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm: A conservation site near Iquitos that focuses on butterflies and wildlife education.
  • Catedral de Iquitos: A prominent cathedral in the city center, showcasing colonial architecture and history.
  • Museum of Amazonian Indigenous Cultures of Iquitos: A fascinating museum showcasing the history, traditions, and artifacts of the region's indigenous Amazonian tribes.
  • Monkey Island: A rescue center 30 km from Iquitos, caring for vulnerable monkeys and offering volunteer opportunities.

 

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FEEDBACK & QUESTIONS

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18 Reviews on this Expedition

If you have been on this expedition, others considering attending would love to hear about your experience.
Patricia Shaw |
This was my second time volunteering on this ÃÀ¼§ÉçÇø expedition to the Peruvian Amazon. My first time in 2016 was during the Low Water Season, I was also celebrating my 75th birthday. It was the best birthday I've ever had. Just to give you a hint of what took place, I started the morning watching the grey dolphins playing alongside our boat, (Clavero built in 1876). On our first survey of wading birds (we counted 5,962 birds), we came across a family of 6 giant river otters. These animals had been hunted to near extinction so seeing their return was quite special. During our fishing survey, I caught my first piranha - yes, we weighed, measured, and returned them to the river (they do have very sharp teeth!). After dinner, we went out to find caiman. At night, you can see the Milky Way, which is breathtaking. We caught, weighed, and measured 4 caimans and returned them to their river home. Holding a small caiman in your hands is amazing. These were everyday experiences. In 2019, I returned because I wanted to see what it is like in the High Water Season when the Rain Forest is flooded. The second trip, we were not only in a different season, but also at a very different site and one just newly opened for research. We were just the third group of volunteers that had been to this site and were doing some exploring of various waterways while taking our surveys. It was a new adventure for me even though most of the species we were monitoring were the same as before.
Patrick Schlemmer |
This expedition exceeded even my high expectations. The Amazon is a magical place. This trip allows you to see it through the eyes of trained biologists as well as the native people who have lived here for eons. The boat and crew were wonderful--all the creature comforts. The wildlife was epic. My job at the zoo sends several keepers on ÃÀ¼§ÉçÇø expeditions each year, so I've had the opportunity to hear about a lot of the different trips. To me, Amazon Riverboat Exploration is the best one available. I highly recommend it!
Karen Day |
Professor Richard provided phenomenal knowledge sharing of the project before and during the sampling, really bringing the work we were doing alive. The support and enthusiasm provided by the local biologist and ecologist was second to none and provided wonderful extra learning opportunities daily. The room and bed was very comfortable, even including a flushing toilet, air con, and a simple shower. The food was phenomenal and tasty. The range was great, healthy and plentiful. And **nobody fell ill**! Bottled water as well as treated water were available, as well as a pay-for bar for anyone wanting to supplement in addition to the free bottle of wine with our evening meal! Whilst we had early starts and late finishes most days there were plenty of opportunities to rest/reflect/socialise as desired. Time in the field was wonderful and professionally conducted, and the opportunity to meet the native Cocama people was wonderful too, seeing the families our work was affecting, understanding the green economy and how it affects real people. In short, I loved every moment and cannot praise the staff enough (boatmen, chefs and nurse included). A properly life changing trip. I wholeheartedly recommend this trip.

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Amazon Riverboat Exploration

Aboard a riverboat deep in the heart of Peru’s flooded Amazon region, ÃÀ¼§ÉçÇø volunteers help scientists conserve river dolphins and monkeys and protect the fragile South Ame…

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