Location:

Iquitos, Peru

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Fall Semester, Spring Semester

Program Overview

Program Description:

Spend a semester among the extraordinarily biodiverse ecosystems of the northern Peruvian Amazon. Study climate change, resource extraction, and other threats to the region firsthand, and get at the heart of Peru’s conservation and development issues. Explore otherworldly flooded forests on a multi-day riverboat expedition and travel to the Andean highlands to visit cloud forests and the historic Incan capital of Cusco – the starting point for visitors to Machu Picchu.

Program highlights:

• Take a multi-day excursion to the village of Sucusari to learn about the livelihoods of the Maijuna people and explore the rainforest from one of the world’s longest canopy walkways.
• Take a five-day riverboat expedition in Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Regional Conservation Area, home to species such as pink river dolphins, sloths, piranhas, primates, macaws, and giant river otters.
• Visit a manatee rescue center, tropical fish exporter, and potato and butterfly farms to study a range of local agriculture and conservation organizations.

SFS students live and study at the Center for Amazon Studies, which lies halfway between the remote city of Iquitos and the port city of Nauta, nestled in the Amazon. The sounds of the forest permeate our campus, from student cabins to the pool and open-air student lounge. The rainforest is accessible via an on-campus trail system which traverses our 183-acre property. Small communities and local shops are within walking distance.

Cost:

21950 USD. Includes room and board, activities, in-country transportation, and courses. Does not include airfare.

Additional Program Information

Requirements:

18 years of age, one college-level biology/ecology course or equivalent, 2.8 GPA

Scholarships:

Yes

Scholarships Description:

SFS awards more than $650,000 in need-based financial aid each year. Aid packages are usually a combination of scholarships, grants, and loans. All students are eligible to apply for SFS need-based financial aid.