Tropical Ecology and Conservation in Peru

May 23-24: Arrival and Acclimatization in Cusco

Participants arrive in Cusco and transfer to accommodations. These initial days are dedicated to altitude acclimatization (~3,400 m), program orientation, and introduction to course themes.

Activities include:

  • Guided walking tour of Cusco

  • Visit to Sacsayhuamán, emphasizing Inca engineering and landscape management

  • Safety briefings and academic overview

May 25: Cusco to Manu BioLodge (Andes to Cloud Forest Transition)

Participants depart Cusco by private vehicle, ascending to high Andean elevations (~4,000 m) before descending along the Manu Road into the cloud forest.

Stops along the route include:

  • High-elevation puna grasslands

  • Transitional cloud forest ecosystems

Arrival at Manu BioLodge, a field station situated in the upper Manu region, where students are introduced to:

  • Cloud forest ecology

  • Early biodiversity observation (birds, orchids, insects)

May 26: Manu BioLodge – Cloud Forest Field Studies

Students remain at Manu BioLodge for immersive fieldwork in montane and submontane forest systems.

Activities include:

  • Guided forest transects focusing on elevational biodiversity gradients

  • Birdwatching and introduction to neotropical species identification

  • Lectures on ecosystem transitions and conservation challenges in the Manu Biosphere Reserve

This segment establishes a baseline understanding of biodiversity patterns across elevation.

May 27: Descent to Amazon Basin and Transfer to Pantiacolla Lodge

Participants continue descending by road to Atalaya port, followed by motorized canoe travel along the Alto Madre de Dios River.

Arrival at Pantiacolla Lodge, located at the base of the Andes in lowland rainforest.

En route, students observe:

  • Riverine ecosystems

  • Wildlife along riverbanks (birds, capybara, monkeys)

May 28-29: Pantiacolla Lodge – Amazon Lowland Immersion

This is the core rainforest field component.

Activities include:

  • Exploration of extensive trail systems across multiple forest types

  • Visit to clay licks to observe macaws and parrots

  • Oxbow lake excursion (Cocha Machuhuasi) for aquatic ecology studies

  • Nocturnal wildlife surveys

  • Visit to the Shintuya Indigenous community

Students engage in:

  • Biodiversity sampling methods

  • Tropical forest structure analysis

  • Species interaction and conservation discussions

May 30-31: Return to Cloud Forest (Posada San Pedro)

Participants travel by boat back to Atalaya and continue by road to Posada San Pedro Lodge. This marks a transition back into mid-elevation cloud forest ecosystems.

Activities include:

  • Early morning excursion to observe lek behavior of Peru’s national bird (Cock-of-the-Rock).

  • Bird diversity surveys

  • Study of species turnover across elevation

  • Forest ecology discussions

June 1-3: Wayqecha Biological Station (High Cloud Forest Research)

Participants continue upslope to Wayqecha Cloud Forest Biological Station, operated by the Amazon Conservation Association.

Activities include:

  • Canopy tower research

  • Climate and biodiversity monitoring

  • Interaction with scientists and research staff

  • Student-led data collection exercises

June 4: Return to High Andes and Sacred Valley

Early departure with sunrise stop at Tres Cruces (Andean overlook), followed by travel to the Sacred Valley.

Arrival at Parque de la Papa for community-based lodging.

Activities include:

  • Full-day immersion with Quechua communities.

    • Traditional agriculture and native potato conservation

    • Indigenous land management practices

    • Cultural exchange and participatory learning

June 5-6: Return to Cusco

Participants return to Cusco for rest and academic integration.

Activities:

  • Independent study

  • Reflection and coursework development

June 7- 10: Salkantay Trek and Machu Picchu

Participants embark on a guided multi-day trek along the Salkantay route, supported by a licensed trekking operator.

Highlights:

  • Glacier views at high altitude

  • Transition through multiple ecological zones

  • Camping and lodge-based accommodations

Final destination:

  • Machu Picchu, where students explore archaeological and ecological significance

Return to Cusco via train.

June 11-12: Program Conclusion and Departure

Participants return to Cusco for rest and academic integration.

  • Final reflections and course wrap-up

  • Transfer to airport for international departures