Peruvian Amazon 2010

The Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is an area of 2000 sq kilometres bordered on the north by the Rio Maranon and on the south by the Rio Ucayali.  During the wet season the two rivers flood and cover virtually the whole reserve in up to six feet of water. This creates a unique environment of Varzea forest (flooded palm land) in which an incredible biodiversity of animals, fish, insects and birds co-exist.  

There is very little habitation in this area of Peruvian Amazon. Access to the region is only granted to scientific expeditions and therefore the main thrust of the science programme is based on conservation work.

The Expedition

This expedition is a river-based journey into remote Peruvian Amazon. As an expedition member you will be trained in advanced jungle camp craft, river canoeing and overland trekking skills. The principal objective of the expedition is to access the upper reaches of the Samiria River then proceed to undertake four phases of field work, trekking further into the tributary streams of the Pacaya-Samiria region. Immersed in a rainforest wilderness you will work alongside indigenous Cocama field assistants to assemble your field camps, understand the rich biodiversity and assist wildlife surveys such as measurement and tracking of caiman species.