Finca Las Piedras
Our research and education center in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon
Finca Las Piedras is the ASA's research and education center in Peru's Madre de Dios region, in the southern Peruvian Amazon. The site provides access to thousands of hectares of diverse Amazonian ecosystems, including 'terra firme' or upland rainforest dominated by Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) and other tropical hardwoods and aquatic habitats ranging from streams to Mauritia palm swamps ('aguajales' locally). These habitats contain the full complement of top predators including 5 cat species and countless species of plants and other animals, thousands of which have been documented by our team.
Comfortable facilities for living and working on site and easy accessibility from the regional capital, Puerto Maldonado, make Finca Las Piedras the ideal base for exploration, research, and education in the Amazon.
Finca Las Piedras at a glance...
Location
Madre de Dios, Peru (lat. -12.226348°, lon. -69.112599°)
Distance to regional capital
Puerto Maldonado; 48 km, ~1 hr by car
Living facilities
Shared dorms, private rooms, laboratory space, dining hall, shared composting toilets & cold showers
Meals
7am, 1pm, 6:30pm in the common dining hall
Electricity
220 V provided by solar panels
Trails
More than 10km, through habitats ranging from terra firme rainforest to flooded "aguajales" or palm swamps
Where are we?
The Madre de Dios region is formally recognized as Peru's 'Biodiversity Capital', and is home to more plant and animal species than nearly anywhere else in the country – and, indeed, the world. Not only that – in addition to unmatched biodiversity, a number of rare and charismatic species that are declining elsewhere throughout the Amazon can be found here in relatively high numbers. For instance, to name just a couple, jaguars are commonly seen resting on river beaches during the dry season and endangered giant otters are easily observed in the region's numerous oxbow lakes. This incredible biodiversity supports a number of traditional, rainforest-based livelihoods throughout the region and attracts many visitors – researchers, students, and tourists – from all over the world.
Finca Las Piedras is located in the center of the so-called 'Brazil Nut Corridor' in Madre de Dios, a roughly 1 million hectare area (about the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut) where Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is among the dominant canopy tree species. The trees' nuts are harvested sustainably each year from this area by 'castañeros', who protect their groves from other forms of resource extraction. The Brazil Nut Corridor, therefore, is an important de facto conservation unit, which the ASA has shown through our research and monitoring projects to be of exceptionally high biodiversity value. Furthermore, the Corridor serves as a critical biological link connecting plant and animal populations in the region's most important protected area complexes, including the Manu-Alto Purus-Amarakaeri complex to the northwest and the Tambopata-Bahuaja Sonene-Madidi complex to the southeast.
Finca Las Piedras is our research and education center in southeastern Peru, where the Andes Mountains meet the sprawling Amazon basin
Visit Us in the Amazon
Finca Las Piedras is open to researchers, students, and anyone else who would like to experience the rainforest and the work done by the ASA to study and conserve Amazonian biodiversity and other natural resources. Whatever the purpose of your visit, our site makes a stay in the rainforest easy, comfortable, and memorable.
Researchers
Finca Las Piedras is an active center for research on Amazonian biodiversity and provides researchers with good food and comfortable accommodations, workspace, and access to extensive and diverse rainforest habitats.
In addition, researchers can leverage the ASA's existing databases, biological collections, extensive local contacts and knowledge, and region-specific expertise spanning biology and social sciences to facilitate their work.
Student Groups
Finca Las Piedras is an ideal site to host a field course, service learning project, or other group in the Peruvian Amazon.
Easy accessibility and good wildlife viewing opportunities, as well as comfortable facilities and excellent food, ensure a productive and unforgettable experience.
The ASA can assist visiting groups in every aspect of logistical planning and academic programming, including participation in our own ongoing research and monitoring projects.
Birders
With more than 400 species registered at the site to date, birders will have plenty to do and see (and photograph) here.
A few highlights include 9 species of manakins, several with known leks and guaranteed sightings of white-bearded manakin, 10 species of owl, 3 potoos, 6 species of macaw and many other parrots, semi-collared puffbird, pavonine quetzal, and lots of birds of prey—ornate hawk-eagle, crested eagle, and 5 species of forest falcon, to name just a few.
Film Crews & Content Producers
Our site is the ideal field location for filming or photographing an endless variety of stories related to Amazonian wildlife and biodiversity.
Finca Las Piedras offers comfortable accommodations, good food with flexible schedules, and easy access to diverse rainforest ecosystems that contain more species of plants and animals than anywhere else on Earth.
However, the main advantage of filming here is our deep local knowledge—if it lives here, we can help you find it and film it.
Independent Visitors
If you are looking for a place to hike rainforest trails, observe Amazonian plants and animals, learn about research and conservation in the Amazon, or just escape the city and commune with nature, Finca Las Piedras is the place you're looking for.
We host visitors from all over the world, ranging from amateur naturalists, nature photographers, and other individuals to families looking for a fun and educational experience.
2026 visitor fees
Welcome to Finca Las Piedras, ASA's research and education center nestled in Peru's Madre de Dios region, right in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. The site offers comfortable dormitories or private rooms, a shared dining hall, electricity and easy access to the diverse rainforest ecosystems through our extensive trail network
Please read our Cancellation Policy, as well as our Terms and Conditions before making a payment.
Contact us for course group rates and student discounts.
We are looking forward to your stay with us.
Group size | 1 Night | < 1 Month | > 1 Month |
|---|---|---|---|
Shared Dormitory
Per Visitor | $55/night | $50/night | $45/night |
Private Dormitory (6 beds)
Per Visitor | $60/night | $55/night | $50/night |
Private room (shared bathroom)
Single | $70/night | $65/night | $60/night |
2+ | $65/night | $60/night | $55/night |
Private room (private bathroom)
Single | $75/night | $70/night | $65/night |
2+ | $70/night | $65/night | $60/night |
Daily fee includes
Finca Las Piedras offers comfortable lodging in dormitories, three daily meals in our shared dining hall, and round-the-clock access to snacks and hot drinks. Visitors also enjoy full access to our extensive forest trail network, electricity and cold showers.
Daily fee does not include
Transportation to and from the station, as well as guide services or dedicated field assistance for researchers, are not covered.
Biodiversity at Finca las Piedras
We've identified thousands of species to date at Finca Las Piedras, from insects and other arthropods to mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as a large number of plants and fungi. Identifying the organisms we share our rainforest home with is the first step in understanding how the Amazon functions as an ecosystem, as well as studying the impacts of human activity on them. The species list below is the result of the combined work of hundreds of people, including our own staff and the many others who have visited the site.
Finca Las Piedras is a bird hotspot in southeastern Peru—check out our species list on eBird:
Other Resources
We're a proud member of the Organization of Biological Field Stations, a global consortium of field stations and organization that manage them for research, education, and outreach.