wildlife enthusiasts who want to help conserve a part of the natural world

Our conservation project in Peru is based in the Taricaya Research Centre, a 476 hectare reserve in the Amazon Rainforest. Volunteers live in rustic lodge accommodation out in the jungle - the nearest town being Puerto Maldonado which is two hours upstream by boat. Volunteers work alongside experts, both local and international, who run our many diverse projects.

Supporting the highest canopy walkway in South America, the first officially recognised animal rescue centre in SE Peru, a freshwater turtle repopulation project, a pilot farm and many other bio-diversity studies,

Taricaya is at the forefront of rainforest conservation. Volunteers work on a variety of projects during their time at the lodge and we have published many of our findings over recent years. Conservation involves a balance between research and hands-on work and at Taricaya we have gained the confidence of local communities and government agencies over many years of hard work. Organisations from France, Japan, USA and England amongst others have recognised our dedication and helped put Taricaya on the map globally.

Taricaya is at the forefront of research not just in Peru but throughout the Amazon with over 400 species of bird registered, 60 species of reptile, over 45 species of amphibian, 50 plus mammal species (excluding our list of 38 bat species), over 100 species of butterfly and much more. These numbers continue to grow as we strive to discover more and more about the secrets of the rainforest.

Whether you are sitting at 45m in the canopy recording wildlife sightings; forming an expedition to release our rescued animals back into their natural habitat; working on the pilot farm or with local families; camping on the river beaches waiting for turtles to haul themselves out or just enjoying the jungle’s beauty, Taricaya can offer you a once in a life time opportunity to work in the world’s most diverse ecosystem. There is a unique sense of unity at the project as volunteers all strive towards the same goal and the many presentations and lectures really give you an understanding for the importance of the work and its necessity as huge areas of rainforest continue to disappear at alarming rates.

Most volunteers also take the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Peru as well as other countries in South America. Peru is a wonderful country of contrasts, with spectacular mountain ranges and desert regions, and its fascinating history and culture including the world famous Machu Picchu. One day you can be flying over the pre-Inca Nasca lines and the next sand-boarding near a desert oasis. Peru has something to offer everyone and is a must see for any keen traveler.

0845 344 7562

Help, Learn, Explore. You can do all of these with Projects Abroad. We organise flexible volunteering programmes in the developing world. We have sent 20,000 volunteers away to 23 different countries since 1992. We offer projects such as Teaching, Care, Conservation, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Journalism, Business, Law and Human Rights amongst others.