The Tambopata National Reserve is strategically located within a natural corridor of protected areas between Peru and Bolivia, becoming part of the largest biodiversity corridor on the planet.

But like the entire Amazon basin, it is exposed to different dangers such as illegal logging, forest fires due to clustering, and illegal mining, among others. Become a volunteer and help us to continue exploring and discovering the biodiversity of the Peruvian Amazon jungle and thus have the tools to continue protecting it.

WHERE 

ARE THE RESEARCH CENTER LOCATED?

Wired Amazon has settled in 4 research centers, Bawaaja Expeditions, Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas, and the Tambopata Research Center (TRC). All focused on research and ecotourism. Powerful allies for the conservation of forests. However, the volunteer program only takes place at TRC.

Through the scientific research projects that you will be part of, you will help us determine the biodiversity and population health of different species in the area and deliver important information to the Tambopata National Reserve and with this help meet its conservation objectives of the various ecosystems.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

AS A VOLUNTEER IN THE AMAZON?

Under the leadership and supervision of the field director, you will participate in three unique projects of great impact on the preservation of forests. Your days will be like no other. Without your help, we cannot do it.

For Discovering New Species:

• Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at dusk, 20 minutes walking from the shelter, you will install light traps for the investigation of tiger and other species of moths.
• After breakfast, you will help with the preparation of the samples collected the night before which are sent to the project leader. You will process the selected samples that go to Barcoding and fill out the database before being sent to the Natural History Museum of San Marcos University.

For AmazonCam Tambopata:

• 3 times a week you will collect a set of trap cameras or stations and place a new one. You will classify the images by discriminating those of the best quality to be sent to the lead scientist of the project or to the citizen scientist who placed the previous station.
• Every 3 months we will collect the memory cards from the big grid stations which we will add to the database that is sent to the project leader for uploading to the Zooniverse platform.
• Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday you will enter Zooniverse.org to respond to the concerns of the citizen scientists of the world who help us in the identification of species.

For 8 Primates - NEW

• You will have the exciting opportunity to train in techniques in primatology, animal behavior and bioacoustics while working on a comprehensive study of the spatial ecology and communication of eight Neotropical primate species in the Tambopata National Reserve, using cutting-edge technologies and methods.
• You will be collecting and analyzing audio recordings, you will help generate an extensive call library for each species to develop classifiers and algorithms to detect species in remote recordings.
• You will assist in collecting crucial data on group composition, spatial patterns, and call rates to better understand primate behavior and communication patterns.
• You will have the chance to use photography to identify individual monkeys and create a library of cataloged training images for AI projects aiming to automatically identify monkeys.
• Your contributions will be essential for the analysis and interpretation of new remote audio recorder surveys and the monitoring of primate populations and biodiversity in human or climate-impacted forests.
• Joining this project will provide you with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in field research, and cutting-edge technologies, and contribute to the advancement of primatology and wildlife conservation. 

For Aerobotany:

• You will accompany the field director during the twice-monthly monitoring of Brazil nut trees using a micro-copter drone, where you will assist in launching and landing the drone from different locations in the rainforest around Refugio Amazonas. One of these is the platform atop a 40m tall canopy tower, where you can gaze down upon the canopy and spot native rainforest birds and arboreal animals while the drone does its work overhead!
• You will help download and organize the canopy images collected by the drone, and then upload them to the project's website on The Zooniverse online citizen science platform. With plenty of practice, you will soon become an expert at classifying the images and contribute your observations as "gold standard" references for the project. You will also help moderate the project's Talk forum on Zooniverse, and help online volunteers across the world in improving the accuracy of their classifications.

• In March each year, you will be part of the team of "castañeros" that records the collection of fallen castaña fruits around 140+ Brazil nut trees in the rainforest around Refugio Amazonas that are being monitored year-round by the drone. These on-the-ground production data are a critical element of the Aerobotany project - by combining these data with the observations of fruits in drone-captured canopy images, we will create a predictive model that will help Brazil nut collectors across the Madre de Dios region in their planning and logistics, and improve their efficiency.

In addition, you will walk the trails of Refugio Amazonas once a week to monitor the nest of Elpis, the harpy eagle.

For the Tambopata Macaw Project - Date to be released soon

You will carry out face-to-face or virtual conversations with our guests and the community about the challenges and opportunities of the development of these projects, raising awareness about the importance of forest preservation.

 

THE HIGHLIGHTS

OF BECOMING A VOLUNTEER IN THE AMAZON 

• You will explore the Amazon with a local team and experienced scientists for the conservation of its forests
• You will experience living far from home in a developing country
• You will learn and be part of the local culture and nature
• Collect, observe, and analyze data in the field and learn about the natural habitats of tiger moths.
• Tour the pristine forests of the buffer zone and within the Tambopata National Reserve
• Learn about the Amazon fauna
• Gain skills in field research techniques, species identification, traps, GPS location, machete use, data entry and analysis, equipment maintenance, standardized and ethical methods of management and study of wildlife and its conservation
• Meet like-minded people from around the world who are committed to preserving the forest through different means.
• Help us protect the Tambopata National Reserve, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.

 

HOW MANY DAYS CAN I 

VOLUNTEER IN THE AMAZON?

Become a volunteer and leave a positive footprint in the Amazon rainforests for 30 days

Foreigners: USD $ 50 per day

Peruvians: USD $ 40 per day

Fixed departures on the 15th and 30th of each month. If you want to arrive any other day, the extra cost is USD$ 210.00

• The costs cover your transfer to and from the research centers, complete meals, and accommodation at Researchers House.
• You can participate in the lodge's scheduled activities when you don't have project activities or previous coordination with the lodge resident manager.
• Transfers to the city are according to the availability of boats going to/from Puerto Maldonado.
• During your volunteer season, your guests visiting the lodges will have a 50% discount on our website rate.

WHO

CAN PARTICIPATE?

 

• People over 18 who can travel alone or minors (from 15-17 years old) who travel with a responsible adult.
• All nature lovers with or without experience in scientific projects.
• People with or without experience in natural sciences. You will gain new skills and experience during this period.
• Teachers traveling with their students who need to complement their learning with fieldwork

WHAT

ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW? 

• We have limited satellite WIFI access in the common areas of the lodge and the researchers' house.
• Food is served in the Rainforest Expeditions team dining room
• Laboratory for researchers and volunteers where they can carry out their daily tasks.
• You will need to write a simple report at the end of your participation.

Security measures

We do not offer medical or travel insurance, so it is super important that you obtain travel insurance before coming to Peru. Follow the directions of the field director. Follow the rules of the research center, the boats, and the shelter. Don't go out into the woods alone. It is not allowed to smoke. Bring a bottle of water, a flashlight, and mosquito repellent when going out to any activity

Energy

We have fixed energy schedules where you can charge your devices. The power is 220, make sure to bring your adapter in case you have 110v devices. Irons or hair dryers are not allowed, this field trip is to show your strength and your natural beauty.

Health

We have a first aid kit and our staff is trained to provide first aid. If you have any medical condition you must bring your own medicines, in case you need to visit the doctor, you will be accompanied by a member of the team to guarantee your safety.

The yellow fever vaccine is recommended. Malaria does not occur in this area so we suggest evaluating the medication with your family doctor.

Clothing

We recommend the use of rubber boots during your walks in the forest, which you will find available at the research center. Inside the lodge, it is necessary to walk with sandals. You can find a list of what you should pack for this trip to the Amazon.

Meals

Meals are served at specific times in the Rainforest Expeditions team dining room. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are prepared fresh under a weekly menu based on Peruvian and international food. Let us know if you have any kind of restrictions.

Garbage Management

We have garbage recycling bins throughout the research center and lodge. 

CHECK OUR 

AVAILABILITY

For 2023 please check our availability:

• June 2023  - Fully booked
• July 2023 - Fully booked
• August 2023 - Fully booked
• September 2023 - 4 spots available
• October 2023 - 6 spots available
• November 2023 - 6 spots available
• December 2023 - 8 spots available
• January 2023 - 7 spots available

JOIN THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

IN THE AMAZON 

Now that you know everything about our volunteer program. Register your interest to join us in Tambopata. You will receive an automatic email with a recap of what you read here and a link to our last LIVE session answering all FAQs.

 

WHAT

THE VOLUNTEERS SAY?

"Every trip I have made to the jungle has been and is a fascinating and extraordinary experience. Especially the last trip I made, from January 15 to 30, 2021, it has been much more so for two reasons: a. I returned to one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, the Tambopata National Reserve and b. I joined a Rainforest Expeditions Wired Amazon volunteer program, seeing and sharing amazing experiences about biodiversity and the efforts being made to protect and conserve our rainforest.

The experience as a Wired Amazon volunteer has been very enriching, it has allowed me to understand and learn about how scientific projects can contribute to the protection and conservation of biodiversity: Trying to discover new species of insects (Discovering New Species Project), Fauna monitoring (AmazonCam Project), Brazil nut tree monitoring to predict harvests using drone technology (Aerobotany); as well as the monitoring of the harpy eagle nest (HarpyCam).

I feel satisfied to have taken an additional step in my passion for nature photography, having achieved a more conscious connection with nature, learning from the experiences and knowledge of specialists in biology." 

Maria Canahua - Jan 2020