Volunteer Program
Contribute directly to on-the ground biodiversity research and conservation
Why Volunteer?
Maybe you're curious about the Amazon and want to visit while contributing to its protection, or perhaps you just want to try something very new and different. Whatever the case, we have a great opportunity for you in Peru! This isn't ecotourism—you will work hard to contribute to our research and conservation projects in the rainforest.
Your hard work, however, will be rewarded with a unique experience in one of the most biodiverse corners of the planet. You will mingle with an eclectic mix of like-minded people, including biologists, students, and other visitors from Peru and around the world.
Volunteer activities
Our projects in Peru are as diverse as the rainforest that surrounds us. Volunteers may assist in one or more of the following projects during their stay at Finca Las Piedras. Please be aware that potential volunteer projects depend on ongoing work at the site and the skills and experience of volunteers. Please contact us if you have questions.
Butterfly diversity project
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Collect butterfly species using traps and hand nets
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Search for butterfly eggs and caterpillars on their host plants
Biological Inventories
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Set up camera traps to study rainforest mammals
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Collect rainforest fruits and seeds to create color field guides to plants
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Go birding to boost the Finca Las Piedras species list
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Collect insects as part of ongoing surveys
Reforestation
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Help to control weeds in our reforestation plots
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Care for seedings in the Finca Las Piedras shadehouse
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Plant trees in the field
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Many more possible activities depending on ongoing work at the site
Read more about the ASA's ongoing projects in the Peruvian Amazon that volunteers may contribute to
Volunteer fees
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 |
Please read our Terms and Conditions and our Cancellation Policy before making a payment
What´s included?
Accommodations are provided in shared, basic dormitories, and 3 meals are provided in the common dining hall per night stayed (7 days/wk). ASA provides basic amenities such as mosquito net, bedding, towel, and toilet paper. Volunteer activities are facilitated by ASA academic faculty and staff, and guidance in activities is provided daily (mon-fri).
What´s not included?
Not included in the volunteer fees are transportation to and from the field site, Finca Las Piedras; local transportation unrelated to volunteer activities (e.g., to go into town), internet, laundry service, and personal care items such as soap, shampoo, etc., are also not included.
Where you'll live and work
Finca Las Piedras is our research and education center located in Peru's Madre de Dios region. This is where our interns, as well as our full-time staff and other visitors live and work in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.
Facilities include dormitories, a shared dining hall, and multiple spaces for work and play. In addition, the site offers easy access to a variety of Amazonian ecosystems via an extensive trail network, as well as active and abandoned agricultural land in the vicinity of the Interoceanic Highway. Finca Las Piedras, therefore, is strategically located and well set up to maximize opportunities for research and learning.
Visit the Finca Las Piedras page to learn more about the site, its amenities, and its incredible biodiversity.
Learn more about Finca Las Piedras here.
