Become a field researcher in the Peruvian cloud forest.

Oxapampa lies inside the UNESCO Oxapampa-Asháninka-Yánesha Biosphere Reserve, directly next to Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park. The research program is led by CISA (Centro de Investigación y Saberes Ancestrales), the scientific research centre of Green Dreams, from our field station Arawi Forest Base.

All ground logistics, transfers, and safety protocols are managed by our experienced partner EcoExplore Peru, providing professional field support and responsible transport throughout your residency.

What you do in the forest

You always work in tandem with a young Peruvian researcher, sharing field duties, species logs, and taxonomic identification across pristine cloud forest habitats.

Field expeditions with local guides

Species photos & bird recordings

Field lab & iNaturalist records

Weekly trail treks through montane forest alongside knowledgeable local guides who navigate old-growth canopy ridges.

Macro photography of flora, insects, and amphibians paired with acoustic bioacoustic audio recordings of canopy bird calls.

Taxonomic sorting, stereomicroscope observation, and uploading catalogued biodiversity data directly to open iNaturalist repositories.

Species profiles in Spanish

Night biodiversity surveys

Workshops in local schools

Drafting precise taxonomic profiles and ecological notes in Spanish for the first official Biodiversity Guide of Oxapampa.

Nocturnal field surveys documenting tree frogs, reptiles, moths, and luminescent fungi using specialized headlamps.

Optional environmental education workshops with Oxapampa school groups, sharing scientific discoveries with local students.

A typical research week

Our weekly schedule balances active forest transects with rigorous lab analysis, cultural learning, and weekend rest.

Field expedition

Expedition or night survey

Field laboratory

Full-day expedition into cloud forest sectors with local forest guides to record sightings and collect habitat readings.

Second targeted field trek by day or an evening nocturnal survey tracking cloud forest amphibians and insects.

Laboratory analysis at Arawi Base: specimen cataloguing, photographic verification, and iNaturalist database entry.

Profiles & knowledge exchange

Review & synthesis

Free weekends

Drafting species profiles in Spanish and participating in a dedicated session with a local botanical knowledge holder.

Weekly data validation, peer review of draft profiles, team synthesis, and planning for upcoming field routes.

Rest at the forest base or join optional partner trips to Austro-German Pozuzo and the coffee estates of Villa Rica.

Program details and fees

Cohorts begin every Monday, running continuously throughout the entire year. All fees fund field logistics, fair local wages, and regional youth research scholarships.

Who can join the program

What is included

Open to motivated individuals aged 18 and older. Requirements: basic to intermediate Spanish (A2-B1), good physical condition for mountain trails, and authentic curiosity about nature. Prior studies in biology, forestry, ecology, or education are a plus.

Included: roundtrip transfer Lima-Arawi, lodging, three daily meals (vegetarian and allergies accommodated), field transport, local guides, training, and certificate. Not included: flights, mandatory travel insurance, and optional excursions.

Choose your expedition duration

€1,150

2 Weeks Residency

€1,650

3 Weeks Residency

€2,100

4 Weeks Residency

Introductory field module covering species photography, rapid surveying, and initial profile writing.

Standard residency cycle with deeper nocturnal transects and ancestral botanical sessions.

Full monthly fellowship allowing thorough author contributions to published species guide profiles.

€2,550

5 Weeks Extended Residency

€2,950

6 Weeks Comprehensive Residency

Extended term for intensive taxonomic surveys, school workshops, and comprehensive lab synthesis.

Immersion across multiple microclimates, leading full bio-monitoring tracks and co-authoring guide chapters.

We reject patronizing volunteer narratives. Our work is grounded in horizontal collaboration, community dignity, and genuine scientific rigor.

Youth research scholarships

Fair local compensation

Prior community consent

A direct portion of every volunteer contribution funds field scholarships for young Latin American researchers.

Local guides, families, and knowledge holders are paid fairly for their expertise, lodging, and field leadership.

Indigenous knowledge and botanical records are documented and shared only with informed community consent.

Learn to see the forest. Leave your name in the guide.

Submit your application to join our research team at Arawi Forest Base. We review submissions on a rolling weekly basis.