Peru

Program Details

DATES

June 21-July 2, 2026

12DAYS

SERVICE HOURS

80

TUITION

$4790 (Plus airfare)

*SEE DETAILS

AVAILABILITY

Available

Alongside our partners, Explorama and CONAPAC, you will learn about ecotourism, rainforest conservation, and community-based development in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This program will take you deep into the Amazon rainforest, where you will experience how ecotourism can create economic value around natural resources while protecting the environment. Your days will be spent staying at remote ecolodges along the Amazon and Napo Rivers, trekking through primary rainforest reserves, and exploring the famous Canopy Walkway. Through each of these activities, you will discover how sustainable tourism models can benefit local communities while preserving one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems.

While based in the Amazon, you will work directly with CONAPAC on their conservation and community development projects. You will visit remote river communities to support their Adopt-A-School program and participate in installing clean water filtration systems in schools and homes. Additionally, you will participate in sustainable agriculture projects that help families enhance their food security while learning from local leaders at ethnobotanical gardens about different types of medicinal plants.

Outside of community project work, you will explore Iquitos, known as “The City in the Rainforest.” You will experience the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon through night hikes, river excursions to spot pink river dolphins, and visits to wildlife rehabilitation centers. Through these experiences, you will see firsthand how Explorama’s ecotourism model and CONAPAC’s community partnerships work together to demonstrate that business and nonprofit organizations can collaborate to protect the Amazon rainforest.

This program is designed to help you understand the connections between ecotourism, conservation, and sustainable community development while learning directly from rainforest communities and conservation leaders. You will leave Peru with hands-on experience in environmental conservation and a new perspective on how protecting natural resources can create opportunities that benefit both people and the planet.

*Please note that programs are subject to change based on the health and safety of participants and our partners.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Boat up the Amazon River to explore the world’s most spectacular rainforest and stay at Explorama’s unique jungle lodges.

Explore Iquitos, “The City in the Rainforest,” famously the largest city in the world that cannot be accessed by road.

Practice speaking Spanish while meeting with residents and nonprofit leaders during visits to CONAPAC’s partner communities.

Walk the Canopy Walkway, one of the longest elevated walkways in the world, extending through the rainforest treetops.

Course Elements

1 is the least rigorous, 5 is the most rigorous

5

LEARNING SERVICE

You will learn about ecotourism conservation, and sustainable community development while working on projects aimed at increasing food security and environmental sustainability.

5

CURRICULUM

Prior to your travels, you will complete an online curriculum to gain background knowledge for your experience. While traveling, you will learn through engaging articles, cultural experiences, and group reflections.

2

TREKKING

Daily transport features boat travel and short walks. Activities may include intermediate night hikes, canopy tours, and short walks to access communities.

3

LIVING CONDITIONS

In Iquitos, the group will stay at a small Explorama Hotel known as "The Jungle House." Once in the Amazon, the group will stay in a few Explorama lodges. While each lodge varies regarding amenities, all Explorama lodges are sheltered, netted, and have running water and electricity.

3

ON THE MOVE

The group will convene at Miami airport and fly overnight to Lima, Peru. We will immediately board another short flight to Iquitos and arrive in the afternoon. After a few days in Iquitos, we will begin our journey into the Amazon, traveling 2-3 hours from one lodge to the next every few days.

3

REMOTENESS

The most remote you will be is roughly 4 hours by boat from Iquitos, a large and established city. The group is always connected with satellite phones using Explorama's communication grid.

Itinerary

1

Arrive in Miami. Depart for Lima 1:45 AM.

2

Arrive at Iquitos at 1:45 p.m. Orientation, walk around the city center, and dinner. Stay at the Explorama Jungle House Hostel.

3

Visit to RAREC, lunch at RAREC. Return to the city, dinner in the city. Stay at the Explorama Jungle House Hostel

4

Explore the city market. Travel to Explorama Lodge, orientation, forest walk. Stay at Explorama Lodge.

5

CONAPAC for orientation. Go to the CONAPAC Field work site. Stay at Explorama Lodge (Explorama, Napo, or ACTS)

6

CONAPAC Field work. Stay at Explorama Lodge (Explorama, Napo, or ACTS).

7

CONAPAC Field work. Stay at Explorama Lodge (Explorama, Napo, or ACTS).

8

CONAPAC Fieldwork. Visit the ReNuPeRu Ethnobotanical Garden at ExplorNapo. ACTS Canopy walk at sunset. Overnight ACTS.

9

Canopy sunrise. Maijuna community AM & PM Program. ACTS (ExplorNapo or ACTS)

10

Kayak from ACTS to ExplorNapo. Go to Village of Indiana/ Explore. Stay at Indiana Hostel

11

AM market in Mazan. Return to Iquitos. Depart Iquitos Airport at 3:50 PM

12

Arrive Miami at 7:20 AM

Peru : In Three Phases

1

PRE-TRAVEL CURRICULUM

Prior to your departure, you will be guided by your course instructors through a series of interactive, online lessons designed to help you engage with other members of your group while gaining important context for your experience.

2

FIELD STUDY

The majority of the days at each site are spent learning from our local partners and serving alongside them shoulder-to-shoulder. You will learn through service and experiences designed to help you understand the local context, culture, and history.

3

LIFELONG NETWORK

Ethical leadership is a lifelong journey. After your experience, you will become a part of the Shoulder-to-Shoulder network. This network of past alumni and partners is designed to inspire and support your journey in ethical leadership.

Travel Journal

During the travel phase of each SStS course, you will spend time reflecting and processing your experience.

Getting Proximate

Continuing on the theme of animal restoration, we paid a visit to RAREC (Rainforest Awareness Rescue Education Center). We walked through the property and learned about different animals rehabilitated in enclosures spread throughout the jungle. Our group favorite anim...

Where We Are and Where We Live

Today was a special day for the community; they were celebrating San Juan and Humisha. To contribute to the decoration of the Humisha tree, we brought over toys and gifts for the children. In the community, we helped the villagers chop wood with an ax to start the process for creating charcoal. Then...

Moral Courage

Moral Courage Today was our first full day in the community that we will work with for the next 3 days. Our service projects today involved fixing and painting the stands next to their soccer field, painting school buildings and painting their wate...

Important Details

TUITION*

Tuition (students from partner schools): $4590
Tuition (students from non-partner schools): $4790

*Students attending a partner school receive a tuition discount. Click HERE to see partner schools. Please note that tuition does not include airfare.

AIRFARE*

Estimated Flight Cost: $1100

*All students travel to their program destination on a group flight booked by Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder. Participants are responsible for any increase in airfares imposed by the airlines. All participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the departure city. SStS will confirm airfare and connecting travel information approximately 60 days before travel.

FINANCIAL AID

SStS is in search of curious, compassionate, globally-minded students from all backgrounds. We will do everything possible to provide financial support to students who require assistance. If you would like to be considered for financial assistance, please indicate this on the application. Resources are limited and tend to be less than 50% of tuition.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

For a full description of our Terms and Conditions, please CLICK HERE.