HOW TO BECOME A Citizen Scientist in the Peruvian Amazon

Stories

Observe, Explore, Discover: How to Become A Citizen Scientist In The Amazon

The Amazon rainforest is full of mysteries. Given the fact that it’s the most biologically diverse region on the planet, this should come as no surprise. Naturalists and scientists have journeyed into the depths of this never-ending sea of green for hundreds of years, and yet researchers still uncover new species all the time.

Traditionally, researchers in the Peruvian Amazon venture out by themselves, or with small teams for brief expeditions to collect and catalog as many specimens as possible. Then, they transport them back to universities or museums in their countries to perform additional analyses. This may involve detailed studies of the specimen’s physical characteristics, chemicals, or DNA to better understand its identity and evolutionary history. Scientists can then write up their results and publish them in a scientific journal.

 

The problem with this model is that it can take a very long time to conduct these studies on biodiversity, and while we live in technologically advanced times, we’re currently losing species and habitats faster than ever – especially in the Amazon Rainforest! Another issue is that this process limits scientific research to academics, failing to involve or engage the public much.

 

Leafcutter ants

Amazon leaf cutter ants

Fortunately, you can help! Become a Volunteer in the Peruvian Amazon

While some aspects of scientific research can require years of training, anyone can actively contribute to science – and make discoveries of their own! I was able to experience this myself when I ventured out to the Tambopata Research Center for the first time a few years ago. Since then, I’ve watched and helped to uncover creatures that are amazingstrange, and likely new to science.

In Spring 2018, I joined forces with ecologist Dr. Varun Swamy, The Wired Amazon team, science communicator Cara Santa Maria, and Science Season guests. While we had a diverse range of interests, from plants to primates to pseudoscorpions (which are tiny relatives of scorpions and spiders), we were united in our desire to become real-life naturalists conducting research in the rainforest.

In particular, I was thrilled to spend time with Andy, a Science Season guest, young up-and-coming entomologist, and incredible photographer. We wandered for hours documenting all the insects and arachnids we could find, including an amazingly bizarre millipede that I had never seen before. Andy even spotted several pseudoscorpions that may well be undiscovered species!

 

millipede with a spider

A very strange millipede in the family Siphonophoridae. Photo by Paul Bertner.

 

 

As part of my work with the National Geographic Society, I brought my «lab in a backpack,» a collection of newly developed portable scientific tools, so I could perform DNA sequencing right there at the Refugio Amazonas lodge. As Science Season guests collected specimens, we were able to perform real-time DNA analyses to identify species in the rainforest. Results from this initiative were recently published, and we’re now writing a new scientific paper based on our collaboration with guests at Science Season!

 

On our last day at the Refugio Amazonas lodge, Varun took us up to the canopy tower at sunset to show us his ‘Aerobotany’ project with guests. This incredible project involves flying a drone to take high-resolution images of the rainforest for ecology research. Varun believes that citizen scientists can make valuable contributions to science — to improving our understanding of the biological rhythms and life cycles of rainforest trees, and to monitoring and protecting these invaluable rainforest ecosystems in the long term.

Take a look at some Aerobotany Images Here!

So, what does it take to become a citizen scientist?

All you really need is curiosity. What drives all of us is a desire to better understand the natural world around us, and when you’re in the Peruvian Amazon, there are discoveries around every corner.

If you think science in the jungle is hyper-cool too, consider planning a trip to Tambopata and taking advantage of these incredible activities in the most biodiverse rainforest in the world. You too can explore, observe, and make discoveries in the Amazon!

by Aaron Pomerantz 

You can become part of Science Season all year round,

Become a Volunteer in the Peruvian Amazon

  • What our guest say

    • Valuation Excellent
    • 5/5

Sue_szb April 2026

Beam May 2026

David Staro May 2026

Serg Averkin April 2026

Carlotta May 2026

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Laurence W April 2026

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Batya K. February 2026

Wow what an experience! If you want to be fully immersed in Amazon life in a wonderful , comfortable eco lodge, and not have expectations of a 5 star city hotel (I'm not sure why you would, but some reviewers seemed disappointed it wasn't!) you will love this. You will be in a group, 6 in ours, but you don't all have to do the same activities, you just join another group. Plenty of spaces to chill and downtime if you need it...its hot and humid! There's a fan in the room and I heard the superior rooms have a fan under the mozzie net. Take a torch! We were never bitten, used deet repellent only. They provide rubber boots if you want them, some of the trails were very muddy, but we managed in our walking boots. We loved the open wall to the jungle, despite some bugs, but not too many surprisingly. Sooooo much wildlife, all sorts of monkeys, otters, turtles, caiman, different birds, capybara etc. Luis M was our guide, a local, and he could spot a spider from 5 metres I'm sure... great sense of humour and a wealth of knowledge, loved him. We spent 3 nights 20th-24th April, it rained on a couple of occasions but not much. Perfect holiday for an immersive wildlife experience! Read all

Beautiful lodge in the rainforest, very well maintained and clean. We had a lot of fun and excellent guides. The rooms and facilities were top-notch! Read all

We stayed at Posada Amazonas Lodge in May 2026, and it was a truly unique experience. It’s important to note that the concept is unlike a traditional hotel: the rooms (the lodge has around 30 in total) are built entirely of wood and open completely to the rainforest, with no windows. The walls are about two meters high, and everything is open-air, meaning you can hear your neighbors as well as the sounds of the forest throughout the night. There is a hot-water shower with drainage flowing through wooden beams beneath the floor, and the beds are protected with mosquito nets. The food is delicious and nutritious, and one pleasant surprise was the excellent Wi-Fi connection (Starlink) available both at the lodge and on the boats. The logistics are flawless from the moment you land in Puerto Maldonado, including a short car ride (accompanied by a security company) followed by a forty-minute cruise along the Tambopata River. The staff is incredibly friendly. Our guide, Luis M. (a member of the local community that manages the lodge), was simply outstanding, with eagle-eyed vision for spotting wildlife and always wearing a smile. Tour highlights: Canopy Tower: a 42-meter tower rising above the treetops with panoramic views. We loved seeing the river, the rainforest, and even the distant Andes Mountains on the horizon. We returned at night during a nocturnal wildlife tour, where we spotted tarantulas, white sloths, and tree frogs. Lake Tres Chimbadas: a peaceful catamaran ride (without a motor) where Luis showed us a group of red-bellied monkeys, giant otters, and caimans. The scenery and tranquility are incredible. Trek to the “Great Tree”: a forest hike where we saw deer, jaguar tracks, a three-toed sloth, and more wildlife. At the end of the trail, we reached the gigantic ceiba tree: around 500 years old, approximately 60 meters tall, and with an impressive 11-meter base diameter. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to experience the true Amazon! Read all

An exceptional experience that truly exceeded all expectations. What impressed me the most is that here they genuinely want to make your stay as comfortable as possible — and that, to me, is what real high-level service is all about. The guide really tries to fill every excursion with emotions and memorable moments, turning simple activities into meaningful experiences. The kitchen team puts great effort into variety and introduces you to Peruvian cuisine — it feels like a small гастрономic journey. Housekeeping works like invisible bees — you don’t notice them, but everything is always perfectly taken care of. Another big highlight is the comfort level: stable electricity and surprisingly good internet both on the way and at the lodge, powered by Starlink. Having this level of connectivity in the middle of the jungle is something truly special. From reception and the bar to the boat driver — everyone is genuinely warm and happy to have you. You can really feel that each person is a small but important part of one big system delivering outstanding eco-tourism service. Bravo — achieving this level of service in the wild is not easy, and it shows. This experience was very valuable for me and my family. I won’t get tired of thanking you for the emotions you gave us. Highly recommended. Dear travelers — don’t hesitate. Go, enjoy the incredible nature and the level of service. This is something you will remember for a lifetime. Read all

We had the most amazing time at Refugio Amazonas for 3 nights, with a huge thanks to our guide Juan Carlos! On the first afternoon we sat down and planned our activities, which we loved! We came face to face with hundreds of birds, tarantulas, leaf carrying ants spanning 10 meter motorways to work and deliver the leaves to the ant house for food, parasites, and even leaves that cause natural dyes on oxidation - we learned so much. Carlos was genuinly interested in showing us everything the jungle had to offer, humorous and caring too. Carlos knew anything and everything about what was around us, pointing out things and creatures that the untrained eye would miss, carrying a telescope at all times for us to see the birds, ensuring we got magical videos on our phones using the telescope! Read all

Many thanks to Refugio Amazonas for an unforgettable experience! Brenda and team were so wonderful and accommodating, and Alan was a great guide. Thank you for a memorable experience! :) Read all

We had an excellent time at Tambopata research center. We are tourists like most who now visit the center, but it’s great to know that you can support research and the local community by visiting a place like this. Our guide for our trip, Esau, was extremely knowledgeable and showed great passion for his job. He described it as a hobby and he would get very excited if you spotted a specific bird or a tree. His specific knowledge about each and every creature in the forest was very impressive and I would recommend asking for Esau to be your guide in the future if you plan to visit. The hotel itself is unique. You are in the middle of the Amazon rainforest - the accessibility to nature is second to none. There are no windows in the hotel rooms. We had bugs in our room, of course, but the mosquito nets keep everything out and, actually, we both slept very well. The bar staff, Harrison, is very knowledgeable with drinks and works very hard. The food isn’t the best you’re ever going to have, but you have to remind yourself you are in the middle of the rainforest and that it takes a 6 hour round trip to get to the nearest town, and so the job that the hotel does in respect of the food is actually intuitive and very good. I would recommend this hotel to my peers and I would love to visit again in a few years time. Read all

We just finished a 4-night stay at Tambopata Research Center and it was the highlight of our entire Peru trip. From the first email with Mariella to being picked up at the airport to the actual stay itself, every step was smooth and every employee was attentive. Having never stayed in a lodge like this (this remote or exclusive), we were a little nervous about what to expect. Our guide, Timo was INCREDIBLE at tailoring all the activities to us. When he found out we liked more adventurous hikes, he took us on walks through swamps, bamboo forests, and little-used trails while always keeping an eye out for monkeys, birds, and insects. His knowledge of the wildlife, plants, and history of the area was beyond what we hoped for and he truly made the experience worth it. Read all

Spent 4 nights in mid April. I had high expectations and was not disappointed. Our guide Carmen picked us up at the airport and we saw monkeys already on our way to the lodge. We had a wonderful stay with exceptional food and activities everyday. Our guide Carmen was great and our itinerary was based on her suggestions however we could decide on what we would like to see. Wildlife is abundant, however, sometimes difficult to spot and photograph due to the low light. It rained a lot despite April being considered a transitioning time to dry season. But come on ... it's the rainforest. The clear highlight are the macaws which you can hear all time and also see from the tower and at the leks. Read all

This trip was the highlight of our travels through peru. The lodge was absolutely 5 stars for everything. The room, food, people. We had a private guide, Allen, who grew up locally and really had deep knowledge of the land, the history, and the variety of plant and animal species in the jungle. His knowledge and passion were invaluable to our experience. There are a variety of tour companies and lodges you can book to visit the Amazon, however, I would only recommend Rainforest Expeditions as they are truly connected to the community and offer high quality first class amazon experience! Read all

We had a truly wonderful stay with Rainforest Expeditions. Everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming, and our guide was fantastic — very knowledgeable and passionate about the rainforest. We saw many animals, even from the boat, which made the experience unforgettable. Read all

I just spent 3 days here with my family. The research center surpassed all our expectations. I want to give a special shout out to Carlos who took such good care of us. He went above and beyond to make sure we werr comfortable. And he was always smiling. He made us feel so welcome. We had Erik as our guide who is so knowledgeable and experienced. We learned so much, saw so much wildlife. It really was a dream vacation. Thank you!! Read all

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