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AMAZON RIVERBOAT EXPEDITION
The Amazon Riverboat Expedition is a hands-on conservation journey deep in the Peruvian rainforest, where students and scientists collaborate to study endangered species and protect fragile ecosystems. Through wildlife surveys, jungle treks, and cultural exchanges with Indigenous communities, we bridge scientific research with immersive adventure – preserving both the biodiversity and human stories of the Amazon for future generations.
DAY 1.
We are writing to you from the lobby of the beautiful Lima Airport Holiday Inn, where we are enjoying their one hour of phone time after a full day offline exploring the capital city.
After sleeping in and changing our dollars to soles, we took two vans to the Parque de las Leyendas Zoological and Botanical Gardens, where we saw Peruvian penguins and non-Peruvian giraffes, experienced a "5-Dimensional" version of Peter Pan in Spanish, and took two boats across a lagoon to visit a miniature version of Machu Picchu (much easier than hiking the Inca Trail). And that was all before lunch.
We ended our day in Lima with dinner at the museum's lovely garden café, where there was fresh seafood for some and delicious dessert for all. We know that dining on our boat in the Amazon won't be quite so chic, but we are looking forward to making our way there tomorrow.
Our wake-up call is at 1:45 AM for our 4:00 AM flight to Iquitos. We will send another update from base camp, WiFi permitting. For now, all we can say is that spirits are high and everyone is getting along great.
On to the rainforest!
We all sampled some traditional Peruvian dishes, including some brave souls who tried the classic cuy (guinea pig), a delicacy served deep-fried with french fries and a pyramid of rice. We also enjoyed Inca Kola, a popular Peruvian soda that tastes like bubblegum, and chicha morada, a dark purple clove-flavored beverage derived from corn.
We then walked about a mile through central Lima to visit the Museo Larco, a museum famous for its collection of ancient art created by the indigenous civilizations of Peru. Even those who have taken Ms. Popova's ceramics class were startled by the intricate designs that skilled craftspeople were able to create thousands of years ago.
DAY 2.
We are writing to you live from the spotty WiFi on our boat deep in the Amazon after one very long day. At 1:15 AM, most of our alarms went off. We woke up bright and early to catch our flight to Iquitos from Lima Airport. Around 2:00 AM, in the airport, we found a Starbucks! Some of us grabbed something to eat before our flight to Iquitos.
Upon arrival, we were met with humidity, heat, and a bus to take us to a hotel where we ate a nice breakfast and rendezvoused with the Earthwatch crew. They took us around Iquitos to a boat museum, a native history museum, and a marketplace where some of us bought trinkets from local vendors.
The two boats took us through the river where we could see much of the rainforest. As we were halfway through the boat ride, it started to rain heavily and the wind was rocking the boats. We were drenched! It rained for about an hour straight. Soon after the rain passed, we continued through a smaller part of the river where we made it to the main ship. Carl was quoted saying, "This small part is like the bypass on the 10 freeway where we pass the traffic (main river) and speed to our destination."
After we arrived at the main ship, we unpacked our things and went to our rooms...to dry off and get cleaned up. We then regrouped later for a quick summary of our mission for the trip and had dinner.
We write this as we end our night and prepare to sleep, looking forward to tomorrow: our first day of research!
After our small tour, we got on yet another bus to the boats (that took us to our main boat)... To get to these small boats, however, we had to cross a single-planked bridge that was being built on the spot to cross a section of the Amazon to our boats.
These bridge builders stood in the Amazon knee-deep as we walked quickly across the bridge attempting to stay dry - by the way, we all made it! The majority of us crossed first, adding some pressure to Allie, Sienna, and Mr. Bellaimey's crossing.
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DAY 3.
We are writing to you from the jungle deep in the Amazon River. Today we were able to sleep in and wake up at 7:30! I think we all got the best sleep of our lives after the long travel the night before. The sounds from the animals at night were so much better than any noise machine. We had breakfast and afterward went to the top deck of the boat to observe the wildlife around us. We saw a variety of birds and fish and even some squirrel monkeys. After this, we had a talk with the head scientist about how to do the surveys on the animals out in the field.
Group 1, with the guidance of Mr. Bellaimey, was in charge of quantifying shorebird population. Our process was simple; we set out upriver with a GPS and identification cards for each of the types of birds that we were looking for. Then we slowly drifted down the river for 5 kilometers. Along the way we observed and counted all of the birds that we saw. In total we counted almost 300 birds of 12 different species.
Group 2, with Ms. Patinelli, set out a little bit further in order to observe macaws and parakeets. For this, they turned off the motor and silently observed the birds as they flew overhead. According to some of the group members, their favorite part of this excursion was being able to hear the birds chirping and being able to feel surrounded by the jungle. Right now the second group is currently off on a nighttime excursion where they will be looking for caimans or the crocodile of the Amazon rainforest.
We are looking forward to whatever tomorrow will bring.
The scientist talked to us about what our research will be like and the different animals that we will be observing. Some include water animals like fish, dolphins, and river birds where we take a boat down the river to different locations to observe those animals. Others would include terrestrial animals like lizards and monkeys where we travel in the jungle on foot to collect data. This information was very interesting and it was exciting when we finally got to put it all to use with our first survey today.
For our surveys we were divided into two groups. The two groups each were paired with a naturalist and given a task: either to observe and document shorebirds, or the other was tasked with counting the macaw population.
DAY 4.
We are writing to you from our Amazon adventures of day four! The past 24 hours have been filled with a variety of adventures and fun, all contributing to our novel experiences. Last night, part of our group set off on a late-night excursion to observe caimans. The going was slow at first, and the abundant bugs only added to our frustrations, but after about one kilometer upstream we found our first caiman, a small juvenile with large reflective eyes. Over the course of the night, we observed five caimans, all of which were white caimans.
In the afternoon, Group 2 set out for dolphin watching, where they sighted two pink dolphins and had a lot of time for inter-group bonding. They later went on a fishing trip further up the river. They used nets and rods to catch a variety of fish, including piranhas, which we got to hold (with protective gloves, of course). Minda Lai seemed to be the star of the show, reeling in four out of the group’s fifteen! One particularly large fish was brought back, where it was cooked and sampled by all for dinner!
Aside from a few mosquito bites, we are all doing well and soaking up the fun of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We are looking forward to a full day tomorrow, including dolphin watching, bat tracking, and so much more!
After a solid night of sleep, we woke up bright and early at 6:00 AM and split into two groups. Group 2, including Alynah, Carl, Minda, Lily, Olivia, and Allie, went on a boat trip looking for parrots, parakeets, and macaws. Unfortunately, no macaws were observed, but their absence was made up for by a wide variety of the other species. Later in the afternoon, after a filling lunch, Group 1, including Will, Hana, Luwi, Caydence, Leighton, Sienna, and Angelina, went on another bird-watching expedition in search of wading birds. We saw some spectacular vultures and many other species!
Group 1 set out on an early expedition to trek through the jungle. Though the trail was narrow and muddy, the experience was incredible, boasting a plethora of flora and fauna, most notably a three-toed sloth and capuchin monkeys. We hiked about five kilometers in all, and though exhausting, it surely made for an experience to remember.
DAY 5.
We are again writing to you from our riverboat docked on the Amazon River. Last night, Group 2 went out to look for caimans and were able to spot six while trying to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. All six of the caimans were white caimans, the most common species. Bright and early this morning at 6:30 AM, Group 1 went out to look for macaws and spotted no macaws but saw a variety of parakeets and parrots. Shortly after, they set sail down the Yarapa River to the Amazon River to look for some river dolphins. They ended up seeing three pink river dolphins and watched them come to the surface about twelve times. They were able to see the dolphins' dorsal fins and heads.
While Group 1 was out fishing, Group 2 went out to look for shorebirds on the river. They ended up counting a total of one hundred seventy-eight birds, with twelve unique species being spotted. In the end, Group 2 had some extra time and went downriver to try to see some more dolphins. Unfortunately, no dolphins were spotted, but hopefully they will see some next time!
Tonight Group 1 is going to head out in the dark to search for some bats. We will update you tomorrow on how their adventure goes!
At the same time, Group 2 set off on a transect into the Amazon rainforest. Along the way, they saw many species of birds including three macaws and one toucan, many window rats, and one red squirrel. They also saw many leaf-cutter ants marching through the forest floor carrying leaves back to their home. The biggest two highlights of the trek were the twelve squirrel monkeys we saw jumping through the trees, and the giant sloth lounging in the branches.
After lunch, Group 1 set back out to go fishing. They came back with seven successful catches, with Ms. Pattinelli catching four fish, Caydence catching two, and the scientist Sophia catching one. They weighed and measured all the fish, and then released them back into the river.
DAY 6.
We are documenting day 6, June 19th, in the Amazon jungle. Last night, June 18th, Group 1 went out on the Yarapa River, a branch of the Amazon, looking for bats. We saw thirty-three bats and heard seventy bats via our bat frequency detector. This was all while Luwi and Caydence were being attacked by a flying fish. The next morning the entire crew woke up at 7:00 AM for our daily Amazonian eggs your way... huevos fritos, huevos revueltos, or omelet con queso y jamón, with toast and fruit.
At 8:00 AM, two new groups were formed who later split up for their trek through the rainforest to spot lizards. Group 1, with Mr. Bellaimey, spotted seven lizards of the same species. At the end of Group One's surveying, Mr. Bellaimey and Leighton sampled worms from a pod. Both simultaneously described a coconutty flavor, while acknowledging the crunch of the worm. (Worms being held out in Rommer's hand)
We later came together to visit Villa Belen Village, founded by the boat's very own Antonio's grandfather in 2008 where seven families reside in five houses. Upon arrival, we hiked up wooden planks to the footing of the main house of the compound. Many pigs, ducks, chickens, and puppies were spread among the grounds of the village. We toured the village learning about the agriculture and their ways of living. One tree we saw produced fruit with a spiky shell, protecting the seeds inside. These seeds, made by our very own Mother Nature, can be used in cooking or for adornment. Sophia, our biologist, became the team's personal makeup stylist, drawing streaks on each explorer and showed Mrs. Pattinelli how to apply the pigment for adornment. This truly showed us a new perspective of indigenous ways to produce crops in the Amazon.
Tarde (later), the crew came back for our divine, American-style dinner: cheeseburgers with a side of french fries. Everyone was treated to a top-tier grapefruit juice, where Will tackled a pitcher of juice by himself, truly showing the tastiness of tonight's mixture. Finally, we all indulged in a tasty tapioca dessert.
Group Two set out as well, with Mrs. Pattinelli. They spotted twenty-six lizards on their journey. Allie bravely detoured off the main path to measure the distance to each lizard. Not only did they see lizards, but they also saw capybara footprints on the trail, as well as both groups awing at the swinging and jumping squirrel monkeys.
After the team's four-hour expeditions through the jungle and many, many bug bites later, everyone enjoyed a creamy mashed potato, juicy chicken, and healthy lentil lunch. Unfortunately, no juice was served for this meal.
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DAY 7.
We are again writing to you from the Amazon today. Last night, Group 1 went searching for fishing bats. In total, they saw around sixty fishing bats, using the bat box and their own eyes.
Waking up to a rainy morning, Group 1 went out for canoe shorebird watching. They traveled in aluminum canoes that fit three people and spotted many jacanas, striated herons, and even some vultures! After finishing their journey, Group 1 got a chance to fish from the boat. Collectively they caught between twenty-five and thirty fish, including some pacos and red piranhas!
While the other group was birdwatching and fishing, Group 2 went to survey the dolphins at a different location on the Amazon. They saw around fifteen dolphins and even found the nursery area. There were many cute baby dolphins, as well as pink and grey dolphins playing together.
After lunch, we watched footage from the camera traps that the biologist had placed ten kilometers into the forest. We saw a variety of animals, including anteaters, a capybara, pumas, and jaguars!
In the afternoon, the groups switched activities. Group 1 went out to survey the dolphins while braving another tropical storm. They saw three pink and three grey dolphins. After the rain, the weather cleared beautifully. They witnessed a double rainbow and a spectacular sunset! Meanwhile, Group 2 researched shorebirds from canoes.
Tonight, Group 1 will survey frogs, and we look forward to more pictures and another fun experience tomorrow!
DAY 8.
This is us again writing to you from the Amazon on day 8! Last night, we got to go frogging in the dark, which was extremely exciting and thrilling. As a group, we saw a total of five frogs, many of which were tiny and lime green (blending perfectly with the vegetation). Most frogs hid in the flooded plants - ideal camouflage (along with some spiders!). Fortunately, the mosquitoes weren't too hungry, so we avoided many bites. We stopped at two observation points before the pouring rain forced us to head back.
That's when adventure struck! At Point 1, we rocked the boat back and forth to inch through the vegetation - which worked fairly well. But at Point 2, we got stuck for fifteen minutes. Everyone rocked in perfect sync until we finally escaped the flooded maze!
The children, initially shy, soon warmed up. They gifted us beautiful handmade drawings (which we got to keep!). We sang in Spanish and English ("If You're Happy and You Know It"), then played an intense soccer match with the kids as team captains. Laughter and smiles filled the field before our group photo.We had twenty to thirty minutes to shop for handmade treasures - woven bowls, jewelry, and wooden animal figurines - perfect gifts for family. The return trip featured stunning sunset reflections, though one boat broke down, leading to an unplanned karaoke bonding session (we returned safely!).This unforgettable Amazon adventure created irreplaceable memories. We're deeply grateful to parents, staff, faculty, and Earthwatch for this incredible opportunity. While the trip ends, the memories will last forever.
Today began with a fishing expedition upstream. Group 1 caught two fish (released) and some "vegetables" (actually just vegetation). In one memorable moment, Allie nearly had "the catch of the day" until we realized it wasn't a fish at all - just vegetation! Sienna caught what we dubbed a "mini asparagus." No worries though - we'd caught plenty of fish yesterday. Group 2 outperformed us with fourteen catches!
After lunch, we visited Castilla community. Despite another rainy boat ride (we're becoming Amazon rain experts!), the walk to town was serene with beautiful clouds and a rainbow. Castilla welcomed us warmly with fifteen houses, a large soccer field, and many animals (chicks, ducks, puppies). We heard Amazonian birds like the ringed kingfisher while learning about their schools, water filters, homes, and religious centers - a truly eye-opening experience.
PHOTO GALLERY
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