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GYC2778 - Rainforest expedition in the Amazon 2008 Country: Peru Cost: £2400.00 Please note: BSES Expeditions is a youth development charity and strives to keep expedition costs as low as possible. Please note that advance planning to remote and often difficult to access wilderness areas is subject to many variables and the costs may vary but will be confirmed six months before departure. Cost Includes: The price includes insurance, accommodation, food and pickup from airport but does not include flight, kit or visas      Duration: 1 months Company Rep Nearby: All the time 0845 344 7576 or

 

	This placement would suit... young adventurers with a lust for adventure and a keen interest in conservation. You will need to be resourceful, physically fit and with a good sense of humour to cope with the demands placed on you by the challenging tropical environment. The Expedition: Explore the magnificent Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, the largest protected area of pristine tropical rainforest in Peru. Spanning over 2,000 km², the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is a truly exceptional wilderness area based at the head of the River Amazon. Bounded in the north and east by the Ucayali and Maranon Rivers that flow from the rocky slopes of the Andes, the reserve offers a unique flooded forest ecosystem that is home to some of the greatest diversity of animals and plants found anywhere on Earth. Some of the fantastic wildlife you are likely to discover includes birds such as parrots, hummingbirds, kingfishers, macaws and hawks; mammals such as jaguar, spider monkey, river dolphin and anaconda; fish such as piranha, pintado and electric eel and over 1,800 species of butterfly! The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve is a pristine area of incredible biodiversity that is only accessible to recognised scientific research programmes and BSES is currently the only UK based youth expeditions company lucky enough to be allowed access. This gives you the unique opportunity to work alongside a team of dedicated researchers and conservationists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Amazonian Studies to contribute to the preservation of one of the last true remaining wilderness areas on Earth. What’s involved? The expedition will last four weeks departing at the end of July. On arrival at the jungle outpost of Iquitos you will travel deep into the rainforest by boat entering into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve where you will establish a base camp (land and boat based). From there, you will be allocated into ‘Fires’ groups to work on a variety of research and adventure projects for the rest of the expedition. Research: This expedition offers you the unique opportunity to work alongside experienced researchers and conservationists from the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and the Universidad Nacional de la AmazonÍa Peruana to contribute to the future preservation of the rainforest. Water-based research projects include surveying pink and gray river dolphins in the Samiria River, building artificial hatching sites for turtles at Pitechia, catching and measuring caimen and may also include surveying fish populations. Back on dry land there is the opportunity to conduct census work on many types of primates such as the red howler monkey and the rare spider monkey, survey numbers of mackaws and to search for new species of insect as you explore the thick forest trails. Adventure: During your trip to the Samiria River you will also visit one of the Cocama Indian villages. Here you will meet the people who are helping to save the rainforest, the guardians of this magnificent wilderness. You will gain a privileged insight into the dedication they have to the forest, their deep knowledge of its wonders, and their daily activities. The expedition will attempt to visit previously unexplored territory that has never been surveyed or indeed visited by any research groups before. This adventure phase will involve cutting transects through dense primary rainforest and wild camping in the jungle sleeping out under stars surrounded by the wild animals of the forest. Jungle survival and boat handling training will be provided, in addition to lectures by leading conservationists and researchers in the jungle ecosystems and problems faced by these wilderness areas. Are you up for the challenge? We are looking for young explorers aged 16-20 with a lust for adventure and keen interest in conservation. You will need to be resourceful, physically fit and with a good sense of humour to cope with the demands placed on you by the challenging tropical environment. Leader Team: The leader team consists of experienced adventure leaders, fieldwork specialists and an expedition doctor. Our users say..."The Amazon was amazing - we were in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, a huge protected area of rainforest, and it was absolutely beautiful. There were constantly pink and grey river dolphins leaping around our boats, macaws and parrots flying overhead, piranhas and caiman in the water, and howler monkeys and squirrel monkeys and tamarins in the trees. Beyond cool! We also spent a couple of days in Iquitos, this city built in the rainforest accessible only by boat or plane, and it was the most exciting place I've ever visited. There are hardly any cars and everyone just travels around in tuk tuks, which are so much fun! Everything's so cheap too; you can get a meal and drink for around £3, and buy jewelry for 20p. The Peruvians are all really really friendly, and although it's a third world country I didn't notice it very much, there was no obvious poverty or anything. I had a great time and I'm already planning a return trip to Peru!" - Amber Mezbourian, Amazon 2006 Cost: The cost excluding the flight, taxes and visas will be in the region of £2,400. A deposit of £500 must be paid when accepting the offer of a place. The cost includes all in-country travel, food, fuel specialist equipment, insurance and a contribution to the general funds of the charity. The airfare is paid direct to the travel agent and is expected to be around £1,000 including all taxes though is subject to fluctuations in fuel charges. BSES Expeditions is a youth development charity and strives to keep expedition costs as low as possible. Please note that advance planning to remote and often difficult to access wilderness areas is subject to many variables and the costs may vary but will be confirmed six months before departure. You are required to organise and run your own fundraising activities, lots of advice and encouragement will be given. We can offer mentoring support, for those who feel completely daunted by the prospect of fundraising, to ensure you reach your targets. Application Deadline: Friday 4th April 2008 Compulsory Briefing Weekend: Friday 18th to Sunday 20nd April 2008 Expedition Dates: End-July to end-August 2008 BSES Annual Presentation of Expedition Reports: Saturday 31st January 2009 How to Apply: Fill in the enquiry form below and we'll get back to you with more information and an application form. Places are limited and issued on a first come first served basis after interview. Good luck and we hope we'll be seeing you on one of our expeditions soon! 0845 344 7576 BSES Expeditions is a youth development charity that organises challenging scientific expeditions to remote, wild environments to develop the confidence, teamwork, leadership and spirit of adventure and exploration of its Young Explorers. Opportunities exist on month-long summer expeditions for Young Explorers aged between 16 and 20. Those over 18 and with previous expedition experience can gain leadership experience through our pioneering Leadership Development Programme. Expedition destinations vary annually but all expeditions include exciting adventurous activities and research and conservation projects. Expedition opportunities in 2008 include The Amazon Rainforest, Svalbard, the Himalayas, Norway and Antarctica.