Amazon Science Program
5 Days / 4 Nights
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From S/ 2,609
Program Overview:
This five-day program is designed for those interested in the scientific and technical aspects of rainforest preservation, offering hands-on participation in active conservation, research, and reforestation projects.
Day 1: Arrival and Introduction to the Reserve After your arrival in Puerto Maldonado and a boat transfer to the lodge, the afternoon begins with a guided walk to understand the local ecosystem. The evening features a river cruise to observe caimans and learn about nocturnal wildlife behavior.
Day 2: Wildlife Management and Research The day focuses on the Taricaya Wildlife Rescue Center, where you will learn about animal feeding, enclosure enrichment, and rescue management. You will also participate in bird monitoring at the Canopy Walkway and a technical talk on current conservation strategies.
Day 3: Biodiversity Monitoring and Agroforestry Activities include wildlife monitoring using camera traps and a census of local butterfly species. You will also assist in the maintenance of agroforestry systems and seed collection, contributing directly to our reforestation and sustainable land-use projects.
Day 4: Reserve Patrol and Specialized Projects The morning involves trail clearing and reserve patrolling to understand habitat protection. Depending on the season, you may participate in the Taricaya turtle repopulation project or wood-related research within the Mahogany Project, followed by a final night walk.
Day 5: Breakfast and Departure After breakfast, you will be transferred by boat back to Puerto Maldonado. Our staff will assist with your transfer to the airport or bus station to ensure a timely departure, marking the conclusion of our professional services.
Program Includes
- Pick up and drop off, for airport, bus or hotel in PEM.
- River transfers to and from the Lodge (1h to 1.5h motorboat ride).
- 04 Nights of accommodation in Amazon Planet Ecolodge.
- Meals, from lunch on the first day to breakfast on the last day
- Guided tours (max 8-10 pax per guide).
- Entrance fee to the reserve.
- Activities according to ongoing projects.
Activities Included
- Day and night walks through the jungle.
- Conservation talk.
- Bird monitoring on platforms (Canopy Walkway) and with mist-nets (banding)
- Animal Feeding, enclosure enrichment, rescue center management, husbandry at the Taricaya Wildlife Rescue Center.
- Wildlife monitoring with camera traps.
- Fruit tree Collection and seed collection from the forest and neighbors.
- Maintenance of agroforestry systems and reforestation.
- Wood work around the Mahogany Project.
- Trail clearing and reserve patrol.
- Butterfly census
- Taricaya turtle repopulation project (Ends of July thru start of Nov)
Recommended add-ons (additional cost):
- Ese-Eja Tribal Experience
- Fishing testing
- Yoga & Forest Bathing
- Jungle Bike Trek
Detailed Daily Itinerary
Arrival to Puerto Maldonado. Pick up from Padre Aldamiz Airport, the bus station, or your hotel in the city. Transfer to our office to repack only the necessary items for your jungle stay. Please ensure you have all the essentials; you can check our travel guide for a recommended packing list to prepare beforehand.
Travel down the Madre de Dios River through the heart of the jungle, surrounded by the flora, fauna, and breathtaking scenery of the Amazon, before arriving at Amazon Planet Lodge (Approx. 1 hour).
12:00 h – Transfer IN: (For guests arriving before 11:00 h). Arrive at Amazon Planet at 13:00 h for registration at the main house. Enjoy a refreshing fruit water and lunch. After lunch, settle into your private bungalow and rest before your first activity.
14:00 h – Transfer IN: (For guests arriving after 12:00 h). Arrive at Amazon Planet at 15:00 h for a quick registration at the main house and enjoy a refreshing fruit water to start your first activity. Our staff will take your bags to your bungalow, and you will settle in after the activity.
15:45 h – Forest Walk: Begin your first activity with an introductory walk through the surrounding jungle with your guide and group to discover and learn about the amazing ecosystem we are part of (Approx. 1 hour).
18:30 h – Conservation Talk: Join your guide at the main house for an inspiring talk and videos about the conservation work we perform with Taricaya Eco-reserve, which you will experience directly in the following days.
19:30 h – Dinner: Enjoy a delicious dinner and Amazonian cocktails at the bar. Rest and end of day.
Eco-Friendly Guidelines:
Solar Energy: Our power comes from solar panels. Please turn off lights and fans when not in the room and before going to sleep. Do not leave the fan on all night to ensure power availability for everyone the next day.
Water & Waste: Save water and use it wisely. Please separate your waste and always respect nature.
07:00 h – Breakfast: Breakfast is served at the main house.
07:45 h – Taricaya Rescue Center: The day begins with an excursion through the forest parallel to the river until reaching the Taricaya Research Center. You will visit one of the main conservation projects in the reserve: the Taricaya Wildlife Rescue Center. Encounter diverse wildlife, including macaws, toucans, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, jaguarundis, river turtles, and Andean spectacled bears (rescued from a circus). The animals are in enclosures as a necessary first step in their rehabilitation process for future release into the wild. Some are permanent residents provided with a high quality of life for their own well-being.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a rescue center, NOT a zoo. These animals are being rehabilitated; we do not support or tolerate keeping animals in captivity for tourist attraction purposes. Taricaya has successfully repopulated this area with species like the Black Spider Monkey, previously extinct here, through the first Wildlife Reintroduction Program in Peru.
Animal Feeding: Assist professionals (biologists, veterinarians, and interns) and volunteers in preparing diets, distributing food, and caring for the animals. Learn about wildlife management techniques and, if there are babies in the husbandry area, help provide them with food or milk (Approx. 3 hours).
11:30 h – Return Journey: End of activity and forest walk back to the lodge.
13:00 h – Lunch: Lunch is served followed by a well-deserved break.
14:20 h – Environment Enrichment: Return to the Rescue Center to collaborate in animal training and environmental enrichment. You will help decorate or modify structures and objects to contribute to the animals' stimulation and comfort. Share fun anecdotes about life in the jungle and working with wildlife (Approx. 2 hours).
17:00 h – Rest: Return to the lodge to rest and relax.
18:30 h – Night Walk: Explore the forest at night to observe nocturnal animals. We will look for frogs, with the possibility of capturing them temporarily for identification (1 hour).
19:30 h – Dinner: Enjoy a delicious dinner and Amazonian cocktails at the bar. Rest and end of day.
Eco-Friendly Reminder:
Our energy is powered by solar panels. Please take care of our resources: turn off lights and fans when not in use or when leaving your room.
05:00 h – Canopy Walkway: Start your day with an in-depth excursion to the Taricaya Ecological Reserve through protected primary forest, surrounded by trees over 300 years old. Your guide will explain the history and biology of the flora and fauna by sight and sound. Arrive at our first platform, located 15 meters high, to access a 90-meter long suspension bridge that takes you to the Canopy Platform—the highest tree platform in South America. Located 45 meters high in the crown of an ancient Kapok tree, it is a great challenge for adventure seekers. Guided by our staff and equipped with binoculars and bird guides, you will identify and record the species that pass by, with great chances to see macaws, parrots, toucans, and more (Approx. 2 hours).
07:30 h – Breakfast: Breakfast is served at Taricaya.
08:30 h – Camera Traps: Explore the jungle to locate camera traps used to monitor mammals and other species. We will swap memory cards, ensure the cameras are active, or move them to new locations if necessary. Back at the Taricaya Research Center, we will review the collected footage to identify species and the number of individuals captured. In these videos and photos, you might see jaguars, pumas, tapirs, white-lipped peccaries (huanganas), monkeys, coatis, and much more (Approx. 2.5 hours).
11:30 h – Return Journey: End of activity and return to the lodge.
13:00 h – Lunch: Lunch is served followed by a well-deserved break.
14:30 h – Mahogany Project: In the afternoon, learn about our agroforestry project using mahogany as a sustainable alternative for local families to regenerate productive forests. You will use a lathe—a wood-carving tool—to work with mahogany trunks harvested from the plantation. Create your own design to leave as a donation or take home as a unique souvenir of your experience (Approx. 2 hours).
17:30 h – Rest: Return to the lodge to rest and relax.
19:30 h – Dinner: Enjoy a delicious dinner and Amazonian cocktails at the bar. Rest and end of day.
Eco-Note:
Save energy and water—please use them wisely.
07:00 h – Breakfast: Breakfast is served at the main house.
08:00 h – Fruit Collection: Board the motorboat to visit the agroforestry systems of Taricaya. Explore this model of sustainable agriculture and help collect seasonal fruits. We will also visit the farms of our neighbors across the river to harvest available produce with their consent. All collected fruits are transported back to the Rescue Center to supply fresh food for the sheltered animals (Approx. 2.5 hours).
11:00 h – River Floating: Enjoy a refreshing and relaxing adventure by floating down the river from Taricaya back to Amazon Planet. With your life vest on, it is a safe, fun, and unique way to connect with the surrounding nature as the current gently carries you downstream.
13:00 h – Lunch: Lunch is served followed by a well-deserved break.
14:30 h – Butterfly Census: Explore the forest trails to check butterfly traps, relocate them, or set new ones. Any butterflies found will be identified using our field guide before being released. We will also monitor the forest floor for Shihuahuaco seeds—an essential timber tree. These seeds are collected to germinate new seedlings for reforestation projects (Approx. 2 hours).
17:30 h – Rest: Return to the lodge to rest and relax.
18:30 h – Night Cruise: Prepare for a night river cruise to search for caimans along the riverbanks under the moonlight. We will look for White, Black, and Dwarf Caimans resting in their natural habitat. On a clear night, you will enjoy an incredible sky filled with stars (Approx. 1 hour).
19:30 h – Dinner: Enjoy a delicious dinner and Amazonian cocktails at the bar. Rest and end of day.
07:30 h – Check-out: Time to check out from your bungalow. Please leave your bags packed and ready for our housekeeping staff to carry them to the boat. Important: Please double-check your room to ensure you haven't forgotten any personal belongings.
08:00 h – Breakfast: Breakfast is served at the main house. The boat will be ready for departure at 08:30 h.
09:00 h – Departure: We travel upriver back to the city of Puerto Maldonado.
10:30 h – Transfer Out: Arrival at the Amazon Planet office. From here, we will provide your transfer to the airport or bus station, marking the end of our services.
Late Departures: If you have a later flight or bus, you are more than welcome to stay at our office. We can recommend places to visit for a self-guided city tour and will arrange your later transfer according to your schedule.
- Activities in itinerary are subject to change with short notice due to weather or other unforseen circumstances out of our control.
- Order of activities is variable depending on date of arrival and tour availability.
- Established schedules can be modified in coordination with the guide and in agreement with other guests in the tour.
- In the case you do not want, or are not able to participate on anexcursion, you may choose to stay at the lodge.
- River transfers in and out of the lodge are not private and have a specific schedule. Make sure you arrive to Puerto Maldonado before 13h and depart after 12h to avoid extra fees for private river transfers.
