Sharon Shi:
My time in Peru was truly one of the greatest things I have ever done. Living on a boat in the Amazon Rainforest really pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it was well worth it. I learned so much about the environment, from recording data in morning surveys for dolphins, shorebirds, and lizards, to spotting caimans, frogs, and bats at night, and even catching piranhas. One of my best experiences was arriving at the local communities and seeing how they live. It was amazing and totally different from anything I've ever experienced before. The hardest part was definitely the living conditions; the heat and insects made it challenging, but somehow, I loved every second of it. Even with 100 bug bites and a heat rash, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it all again.
Claire Hang:
Being on the Peru trip was a once in a lifetime experience for me, on so many levels! From experiencing daily life on the Amazon River and seeing remarkable animals, to being part of a larger scientific research initiative, I took home knowledge of ecology in the Amazon, as well as the ways indigenous communities use resources to better our environment. It was great to partake in the ecological surveys, three times a day; being in the field from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day allowed us to see various species, including shorebirds, pink and grey river dolphins, and caimans. Additionally, it was so fun to explore this new setting with my friends, who laughed with me through the mosquitoes, heat, and beautiful sunsets. I will always remember this trip, and all the novel experiences I had along the way.
Maddie Petit:
During my time in Peru, I got to experience so many amazing things! We started off our trip by going to a manatee sanctuary where we got to see lots of different animals that were rescued and rehabilitated before being released back into the rainforest. During our time on the research boat we also did so many cool activities. Our surveys for collecting data included fish, dolphins, shorebirds, parrots, parakeets, macaws, bats, frogs, caimans, and terrestrial mammals (ex. monkeys). I was able to learn many new things about the animals and how the research station collects their data to produce scientific studies about the flooded forest that surrounded us. My favourite part of the trip however was during one of the land transects where we walked and documented terrestrial mammals. During this transect, we got to see a jaguar hunting a giant anteater out in the wild, right in front of us! There were other amazing moments as well, we were able to see a sloth, observe the pink river dolphins, and see a caiman up close in the vegetation. Overall, this trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I am so happy I decided to participate!
Naomi Baird:
The Peru trip was an incredible learning experience for me because we learned how to identify various species and collect data guided by professional biologists! I loved counting fishing bats. We were on a motor boat at night and I was able to stand at the front of the boat, holding the flashlight. The wind in my face felt incredible and it was amazing to watch hundreds of bats swooping down across the river. I think that working together to identify different bird species really impacted me. The discussions that arose from observing the behaviour of these birds were really insightful, and I remember thinking “this is something I would be happy doing for the rest of my life”. Overall, it was an incredible learning experience and I feel so lucky to have been a part of the amazing research being conducted by the biologists on the Rio Amazonas.
Carla Milan:
Having never been to South America before, this trip was an unforgettable introduction and offered a much deeper experience than typical tourism-centred trips. Being close to so many tightly-knit local communities helped me immerse myself in Peruvian culture, and having a role in the research made me feel like I was contributing in a meaningful way. I also enjoyed being able to practice my Spanish with the local guides!
Eva Fata:
I learned so much about the animals, culture, and ecology in Peru. We started off the trip with a 12-hour layover in Lima, staying in the airport the whole time. However, this was worth it, because when we made it to Iquitos, we visited a local manatee sanctuary, an Indigenous museum, and a boat museum to learn about the history and culture of Peru. On the research boat, we surveyed the wildlife in the area. We saw shorebirds, macaws, dolphins, bats, caimans, frogs, monkeys, lizards, and fish. The rooms on the boat did not have AC so it was very hot, and we often had bugs in our rooms! Our room also had a bat in the wall. All of this only made the experience more of an adventure. Fishing was super fun, as our group caught 10 total and we even caught a baby piranha. The community and researchers on the boat made this trip one I will never forget!
Vivian Ma:
The Peru trip was absolutely amazing! The food on the boat was delicious, and the surveys we did on different animal species were very beneficial. My favourite survey would definitely be the dolphins: seeing the pink and grey river dolphins fishing and surfacing. Even though I wouldn’t recommend it, accidentally swimming in the Amazon River was such a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I loved the staff members; they were very caring and supportive, and gave me comfort when I needed it. I am really glad I signed up for this trip
Kay Sharkey:
Deepest darkest Peru... Not so deep and dark after all! Our journey to the rainforest took us to the depths of the Amazon - along the Yarapa Channel - where we got the wonderful opportunity to partake in biological and cultural preservation studies. From canoeing atop floating meadows so we could get a closer look at brightly-coloured shorebirds, learning about the local agricultural techniques, and wading through almost knee-deep water in the flooded forest, we made the most of our time on the research boat, Rio Amazonas. Despite the world’s entire population of mosquitoes seemingly being out to get us, this trip truly turned out to be one that I will hold close to my heart for the rest of my life.
To see the full gallery from the Peru trip, click here.