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 amazing, strange, 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

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If you want to know what it is like in the jungle, this is the place to come. Amazing scenery, wildlife, and knowledgeable guides. To get the most out of the experience prepare for some early starts and early bedtimes. A fantastic few days which I won't forget in a hurry. Read all

The excursions were the best part of the trip and how the guides were so knowledgeable and welcoming. We were lucky to have seen all different kinds of animals including capybara, giant river otter, spider monkey, red howler monkey, scarlet macaw, hoatzin. Read all

It gives a great insight into the jungle. We had a great visit. I recommend going during the dry season. Our guide Luis M. was excellent! Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, kind and a gentleman. Bear in mind it's going to be hot and humid with some mosquitos. It's a jungle out there! Read all

A spectacular experience—Juan Carlos and Carmen, we’d like to sincerely thank you for our stay at your lodge on the banks of the Tambopata River. This part of our two-month trip through Peru and Bolivia left an indelible impression on us. The transfer itself was a testament to the professionalism of your team: the journey from Puerto Maldonado to the lodge—with a very tight schedule to arrive before dark, a guide waiting for us, and a smooth trip by bus and boat—went off without a hitch despite our tight flight connections. Everything about the lodge won us over: comfortable accommodations in the heart of the jungle, good food, and a comprehensive, well-structured excursion program with morning, afternoon, and evening tours. We were thrilled every time we saw something new. We’d especially like to highlight our guide, Jordi: his knowledge of the flora and fauna, combined with his patience in spotting wildlife, made our stay truly special. Equally impressive was the condition of the jungle: pristine, clean, and home to an intact ecosystem ranging from big cats to macaws. The care and responsibility devoted to maintaining this place are evident. Incredible guides. And the entire staff was very attentive. Highly recommended Read all

A spectacular experience—Juan Carlos and Carmen are incredible guides. And the entire staff is very attentive. Highly recommended Read all

It was a wonderful experience and a pleasant surprise. The staff and guides at the Rainforest Expeditions lodge were fantastic and always went out of their way to ensure we had the best possible experience. Thank you to Juan Carlos and Carmen for their care and dedication to the group. Read all

We had an excellent 5 night stay at TRC with two couples. The remote Lodge and accommodation are unique especially with the open walls to the jungle in the rooms. The guides were first rate with superb knowledge and their ability to spot fauna in the dense jungle was incredible. We saw many species of monkeys; macaws, parrots, tapirs, etc.. even lucky enough to spot a jaguar. Food and service was really good. While not cheap it was I think very good value for money. We really enjoyed all the hikes and citizen science activities as well, he trips on the river and the clay licks. Overall amazing experience! As it’s the jungle not a zoo, you can’t guarantee that you’ll see everything all the time so allow enough days to properly explore. Read all

A once-in-a-lifetime experience in the middle of the rainforest. From airport pickup in Puerto Maldonado to the lodge and back, everything was exceptionally well organised. Communication was clear throughout, with the team always explaining what would happen, where to be and what to take care of. The staff at both HQ and the lodge were incredibly attentive, making the entire stay feel completely carefree. At this price point, this is the level of service you expect, but it is still impressive to experience it in such a remote setting. The food was another highlight: very well curated and balanced, with plenty of options at every buffet and, surprisingly, we never had the same dish twice. Read all

This was an excellent experience!! Highly recommend if you’re interested in visiting the Amazon Rainforest and Tambopata region. Especially happy with our guide Miguel, who was highly professional, informative, and organized. It was an immersive adventure and we got to see so many unique plants and animals. 10/10! Read all

Amazing experience at Refugio Amazonas. Rooms were comfortable and clean. Great buffet spread every day. Staff were friendly and attentive. Our guide Alan was very informative. Overall would definitely recommend a visit! Read all

We stayed 3 nights at Posada Amazonas during our summer trip to Peru, and it was definitely one of the biggest highlights of the whole journey. The staff were incredibly warm and welcoming. Our guide, Joss, was professional, friendly and amazingly knowledgeable. Sometimes it honestly felt like he could communicate with the animals — he could spot black caimans or giant river otters from hundreds of metres away! The excursions were unforgettable. We saw beautiful macaws, giant river otters, capybaras, sloths, tarantulas, an anaconda, different species of monkeys, toucans and so much more. I especially loved the rainforest walks and joined both the daytime and night walks. Every walk felt completely different, and you never knew what you might find. What also made the stay special was the lodge’s involvement in scientific and environmental projects. There was a talk every evening, and we learned a lot about the rainforest and its wildlife. We also joined the “Discover New Species” activity and helped search for possible new species of tiger moths — such a fun and memorable experience. The lodge itself is definitely rustic luxury rather than a city-style 5-star hotel. There is no air conditioning or hair dryer, but the hot shower, fan and hammock in the room were all very comfortable and suited the rainforest setting perfectly. And surprisingly, the internet connection was excellent — even the boats had Starlink! One of the things I appreciated most is that Posada Amazonas is a collaboration between Rainforest Expeditions and the local Indigenous community that owns the land. Many community members are directly involved in running the lodge, and you can really feel how much the staff care about and are connected to this rainforest, which is part of their ancestral home. If you are looking for an authentic, educational and truly memorable Amazon rainforest experience, I highly recommend Posada Amazonas. We absolutely loved our stay. Read all

The Tambopata Research Center (TRC) offers a well-organized immersive rainforest experience within the Tambopata National Reserve. The TRC and its accommodations put a spin on the term creature comforts by keeping guests comfortable while they commune among the creatures within the rainforest. I appreciated, through what I observed and the interactions I had, the attentiveness of the TRC team members. They knew their guests and seamlessly organized a lot for our benefit. The center assigns guests to a small group with a dedicated guide. In my case, Erick Arguedas was a superb ambassador for all things living in the rainforest, in part because it was the environment in which he grew up. His role was to ensure we got the most out of our visit. Being a long-term TRC guide gave him the expertise he needed to easily fulfill this role. Read all