Madre de Dios, Peru 2025

Day 1 - Settling Into the Jungle

Today we arrived at the Hoja Nueva reserve after a long journey from Puerto Maldonado, the nearest city to the site and the largest in the Madre de Dios region! We arrived in 3 different groups to PEM airport, and the earlier 2 groups stopped for a quick lunch at La Semilla restaurant and ventured out for a shopping excursion for rainforest essentials (rain boots, bug spray, etc.) in el Mercado (the market). When the 3rd group arrived, we packed in vans to drive 2 hours north to the nearest village to the reserve. We have plans Sunday to engage with students at the primary school in this village and teach them about the different conservation initiatives that Hoja Nueva leads.

After arriving at the village, we immediately hopped in a motorized canoe with all of our belongings and began the calm journey 30 minutes up the Las Pierre’s river to the reservation site! On the boat, we were able to engage with the Hoja Nueva founders (Dylan & Sam) and a few of the volunteers on-site which include, but are not limited to, students and professional researchers on biological field placements. From our seats, we were able to see many turtles, caimans, bird species, and two waterfalls! Dylan had to carefully navigate the boat through the thick sediment because our arrival aligns with the cusp of the wet and dry seasons, so the water levels are extremely low currently. After a 500m walk to the site, we arrived and were able to set our stuff down in our accommodations and settle in. 

We spent some time chatting with the other interns who are doing research here and playing cards. When it got dark enough, Dylan and Sam set up a projector to give us an introduction to the reserve activities and a safety briefing, in which we learned about Hoja Nueva’s 3 pillars: rewilding, research, and applied conservation. Hoja Nueva started 10 years ago when Sam saved her first ocelot, and it became the first rewilding initiative in Peru dedicated towards carnivores- wildcats, specifically. Hearing the origin story was a great way to set intentions ahead of the week. 

We then had some dinner- rice, vegetables, and chicken stew- and reflected on our initial thoughts of the reserve and our goals for the week before heading to bed early to rejuvenate after the long travel day.

-Kyleigh Calvert

Day 2 - Wild Days, Wilder Nights

We started bright and early at 7 AM with breakfast before heading to Hoja Nueva’s rewilding center. The highlight of the morning was meeting Preciosa, a 20-year-old jaguar who lives in the sanctuary due to health issues. We were fascinated by her low growls and graceful, stalking walk. The rewilding center is split into two parts: the sanctuary, where animals that can’t be released live, and the rehabilitation area, which is off-limits so animals preparing for release have minimal human contact. George was especially intrigued by the caimans, while Tori fell in love with the ocelots. One of the most memorable sights was a massive, old black caiman—an incredibly rare species.

In the afternoon, our guide Julio led us on an ecology hike through the rainforest. Consuela, a local researcher, taught us that if the rainforest is cut down, it can take up to 300 years to regenerate. She also explained how the forest’s vertical layers provide unique habitats for countless species, and introduced us to the scientific debate between competition (species fighting for resources) and cooperation (species sharing resources to thrive together). Along the way, we had to cross a river using only a log, which turned into a fun team-bonding challenge. Later, we squeezed in a volleyball game—Justin may have gotten a little too competitive—and on our way back we spotted a venomous coral snake with bright orange, black, and white stripes.

The adventure didn’t stop there! At 8:30 PM we set out on a night hike with Julio and Consuela. Moving silently through the forest, we spotted spiders, frogs, and even a moth that looked just like moss clinging to a tree. Julio showed us a poisonous bullet ant he picked up, joking that it was his “friend” so it wouldn’t bite. Walking the trails at night felt like entering a completely different world—one that made us notice details we would’ve missed in daylight.

From rare wildlife encounters to crossing rivers and experiencing the rainforest after dark, today reminded us just how special and fragile this ecosystem is.

-Tori Caracciolo & George Elengikal & David Watkins

Day 3 - Lights, Cameras, Caimans

Today we woke up for a 6:30 am morning walk to spot birds and monkeys. We trekked down to the river and we spotted three scarlet macaws flying over us. We were also able to see unique plants that live within the Amazon rainforest, giving insight into how lucky we are to be experiencing this environment. Then, we came back and had breakfast altogether and prepared for our afternoon activities. 

After breakfast, we split into two groups to go on long hikes to assist with deploying cameras that will help Hoja Nueva capture information on biodiversity and the general health/density of the population to assist their conservation efforts. The cameras deployed will be able to capture animal activity patterns and be extrapolated to estimate current populations of different species. 

During this activity one group had conversations with Consuela, a biologist from Cusco, Peru about how our generation will play a large role in mending the climate issues that we inherited, and this reinforced how important our conservation role at Hoja Nueva is. The other group was able to spot groups of spider monkeys swinging through the canopy! 

We then stopped for some lunch and down time, followed up by Caiman feeding. The group got to watch Dylan and Sam feed four of their Caimans some raw chickens. We learned that Caiman’s are fed every two weeks and swallow their food whole. After feeding the Caimans, we played some more volleyball and then headed to eat an early dinner.

Before dinner we had a caiman research talk about the different species: spectacle, black, and the dwarf caiman and Hoja Nueva’s conservation efforts. More specifically, Dylan discussed the surveys that they complete to understand the different species, their population health and density. We learned a lot about the caiman measurements, gps tracking, and how under researched their species are. This talk gave us a great opportunity to express our curiosity before we went out on one of their surveys. 

Once it was dark outside we joined in on the caiman survey. We hopped on a boat on the   Las Piedras river and took it down to the beginning of their survey area. We were all silent with one flashlight leading the way in the pitch black river, and we got to watch the team catch multiple dwarf and spectacle caimans of different sizes. This was an exciting experience not only because of the adrenaline rush of catching the caimans, but also getting to learn how they track and survey each one. Even with the abundance of bugs, it was an amazing experience to see the time and effort Hoja Nueva puts into their conservation efforts.

-Luciana Millan & Reilly Hanson

Day 4 - Four-Legged Friends and Forest Lessons

After learning and observing animals earlier in the week, it was nice to be able to physically interact with some animals, though domesticated dogs and cats. We left our lodgings around midday and took two boats up river to make our way to Hoja Neuva’s original lodge which has now been repurposed to be a domestic animal rescue center alongside a previous sustainable agroforestry project.

After a half hour boat ride, and another half hour hike, we were greeted with the sound of dozens of excited barks and the rush of many four legged friends. The domestic animal rescue center had over a dozen rescue dogs and cats who were all kept off leash and left to roam the property freely. During our time there, they followed us freely around the property! They were very excited to see so many new people! We saw many of the four legged friends nursing some injuries, showing the rough conditions from which they were rescued! We enjoyed a more traditional lunch after engaging with the rescue animals! Our meal was wrapped in cleaned local leaves, and consisted of olive, chicken and a hardboiled egg all wrapped in rice. Following lunch we made our way to see the other site on property.

Originally, their sustainable agroforestry site only had 3 people. Their original goal was to experiment on how to grow cacao more sustainably. Cacao is the biggest driver of the Peruvian economy. When opening a cacao fruit, you can see delicious milky white flesh surrounding the famous Cacao bean. This flesh is not as famous as its counterpart, but just as if not more delicious. The best way to describe its varying taste from type to type is a tangy mango. Cacao is so important that if you own land in Peru, at least 1 hectare of land is required to be used for farming cacao. The problem with cacao is that they require a lot of sunlight and therefore a low amount of shade. Thus, farmers implement clear cutting where they remove all trees on the land for the cacao which leads to massive deforestation. To increase the productivity and profitability of the land, they plant and use Brazilian nut and plantain trees to provide the shade. They target having around 20% shade as they have found this to be the most productive amount of shade. Hoja Nueva experimented with leaving more natural flora and fauna, leaving almost 80% shade. After 5 years of research, they were unable to reproduce the same amount of productivity compared to the neighbouring fields.

They brought us into the farm to help collect plantains and plantain leaves for the sanctuary animals, teaching us what and where to cut to most effectively let future plantains grow! It generally takes a year before being able to harvest plantains!

Following our harvest, we carried our haul through the forest back to the boats. Once we loaded the boats, after a couple tumbles down the riverside cliff, we started our journey back to the main lodge. We took a detour on the way to pick up two of the interns who had completed a 30 km hike setting up camera traps. We found them in the village, where we all enjoyed a little break with cold drinks and playing a little soccer with local children.

To end the day, part of the group went on another night hike. While we yet again were unable to find an elusive snake, we did find a variety of frogs and arachnids. The hike concluded at a beach where we were able to observe the stars of the southern hemisphere Unobstructed. The meteor shower by Aquarius was the perfect way to end a satisfying day.

-Justin Wong & Felix Tang

Day 5 - Carrying for a Cause

The day began bright and early for some, with a 5:45 a.m. departure for a 2.5-hour morning hike. Others opted for a slower start and caught up on some much-needed rest. The early risers returned without much wildlife sightings, but described the morning as alive with sound. There were many birds calling overhead and pigs rustling in the underbrush. Once everyone was up, we gathered for a hearty breakfast of eggs, fried cheese, and plantains, fueling up for the work ahead.

After breakfast, we set off once again into the forest, this time to collect camera traps that had been placed a few days earlier. These devices play a key role in conservation research, providing valuable insights into the area’s ecology by capturing images of elusive and nocturnal wildlife. Each camera had recorded an average of ten sightings in just a couple of days, offering a small but fascinating glimpse into the hidden activity of the forest. 

In the afternoon, we set off into the jungle to gather fruit for the animals being cared for at the rehabilitation center. We cut down bunches of bananas, hauling the heavy loads over our shoulders through the forest and back to the site. It was hard work, but rewarding knowing it would directly help feed the rescued animals. From there, we pitched in with another essential task: unloading supplies brought in from the port. Together we carried in bundles of meat, fish, fruits, and other necessities, all of which will support the daily care and well-being of the sanctuary’s residents. Unfortunately, poor Felix got fish guts all over himself. 

After the work was done, we joined the staff and interns for a game of volleyball, which had become an afternoon routine at this point in the week. Dinner was pasta and soup, which gave us just enough energy for the evening’s activity, camera trap bingo. Each group chose a few animals to “bet” on, then we watched through the footage from the forest cameras to see which species had been captured. With every sighting, points were tallied, and the game grew more competitive. In the end, team Grandma’s Last Dance clinched victory with 656 points, their win secured by the rare appearance of the elusive jaguarundi, which has only been seen 50 times in the last 10 years.

-Lucas Hissong & JP Coll

Day 6 - Sweat, Stars, and a Surprise Boa

This morning we began the day with breakfast at 8am. Right after breakfast we left the site and walked far into the rainforest to collect materials needed for the animals at the Hoja Nueva Rehabilitation Center. We used machetes to cut down some trees, which will be placed in the animal enclosures to provide enrichment. They often change the layout of the enclosures to simulate the natural environment and keep the animals entertained. The walk back from the collection site was very long and tough since we were all carrying heavy trees and vines. We even had to cross small streams by balancing on a log while carrying the trees.  The reason we went so far away was to allow the staff here to collect these trees from more nearby areas in the future. It is important to collect trees from different parts of the rainforest to avoid clearing too much of one area. We also gathered many vines, which we used to create balls for the wildcats. The Hoja Nueva staff fills these balls with meat or fruit to create a challenge for the animals to reach their food as part of their rehabilitation and enrichment process. It was also a challenge for us to make them. 

After our delicious lunch, we traveled by boat along with the entire Hoja Nueva team to the waterfall that's located a few minutes down river. It was an awesome way for everyone to interact and bond in a more relaxed environment. We went swimming and played around in the water at the bottom of the falls (and also tried not to get swept away by the river’s current). Some climbed to the top of the waterfall while others hung out near the bottom. After such a physical morning, being able to wind down in the water was extremely refreshing.

Once we returned to the site, we began our pre-dinner routine that began with our large game of Jungle Volleyball. Nearly 30 of us gathered at the jungle volleyball court. As usual, the games were competitive and fun, and we played until the ball couldn’t be seen anymore. That was our signal that it was time to head back. We soon gathered in the main area for our daily research presentation, this time revolving around Consuelo’s frog research. We learned all about her experiment of how frogs adjust to temperature changes in their environments, since they cannot control their own body temperatures. She found frogs at various altitudes in the Andes and briefly brought them back to her lab for minor experimentation.

After dinner, we embarked on our almost-nightly night hike with our favorite guide, Julio. While it was a bit shorter than usual (due to our physically demanding morning and busy day tomorrow), it definitely did not disappoint. We saw all sorts of spiders, but then suddenly we came across a juvenile Boa Constrictor curled up on a tree branch. It was around 4 feet long and instantly captured everyone’s attention. Julio taught us how they don’t actually have fangs or venom, so instead they use sheer force to constrict (hence their name) its prey. We soon returned to the main site, cleaned off, and our exhausted crew went to bed eager to begin the next day’s adventures. 

-Benji Schmeltz & Maya Mileski

Day 7 - Laughter is the Same in Any Language

This morning started with monkeys howling and birds yelling at each other—classic jungle wake-up call, 8 am on the dot. After wake-up, we headed to breakfast. The plantains? Always solid. They never miss. Post-breakfast we brought out the t-shirts so everyone could snag some Hoja merch.

We took a boat to La Cerna to help announce the opening of a new secondary school for the kids there. Nothing beats the view of the jungle from the river. When we arrived in town, we were brought to the center where we would have the announcement celebration with the community. Honestly, most of us were nervous. None of us speak Spanish well, so at first we mostly just stood around, unsure of what to do.

Then someone asked if the kids wanted to play fútbol. That was the move.

One ball turned into a full afternoon of games—first just kicking it around, then actual teams. Laughter everywhere. It didn’t take long for everyone to jump in.

We ended up playing girls vs. girls and boys vs. boys. Our team—the girls—crushed it. Undefeated. The boys won one game and lost the next. The local kids? Insanely good. Quick, smart, and clearly having the best time.

It was all just…fun. Pure, simple, nonstop fun.

In the other corner, we played classic children’s games like pato pato gorzo (duck duck goose) and serpiente. Some were familiar American games I grew up with, while others were ones the children introduced to us. Serpiente is a game where one person starts as the snake, and the group sings as the snake wanders, searching for its prey. When the song ends, whoever the snake is at gets “eaten” and joins the end by crawling through the legs of the others in the snake.

It was laughs, running around, and a cultural exchange of children’s games between us and the kids of the town.

What stuck with me most, though, was after the games. A few of us went with some of the kids to a nearby store to get ice cream. It was blazing hot, so it hit the spot. We sat in the shade, talking about their kite, just hanging out.

It was such a small moment, but it reminded me that you don’t need perfect words to connect. Just time, a ball, maybe a popsicle—and that’s enough.

-Ayushi Chowdhury & Reese Liebman

Day 8 - Curiosity Sparks, Passion Sustains

One thing that carried us through this week was curiosity. Asking questions, noticing details, stopping to listen is how the rainforest opens up. Every walk, every conversation, every task turned into a chance to learn something new. The more we leaned into curiosity, the more the forest gave back.

What stood out just as much as the place itself were the people. Everyone we met here carries an almost stubborn passion for protecting the environment. It’s not a hobby, and it’s definitely not easy. It means giving up comfort, living deep in the jungle, sweating through the days, being far from family and the routines most of us take for granted. It’s sacrifice, but it’s driven by the belief that the work matters.

That kind of passion is contagious. It reminded us that making a difference doesn’t always look big or glamorous. Sometimes it’s hauling food through the mud, long hours of research that might only answer a single question, or just staying here, committed, day after day.

Leaving now, the biggest lesson we take with us is that curiosity can spark change, and passion can sustain it, even when it asks a lot from you. We’ve seen what that looks like up close, and it makes you want to carry a piece of it forward.

-Anna Ji