Alan Rockefeller

Chusquea sp., a bamboo from Tungurahua, Ecuador.

Ready to embark on a biodiversity expedition in the pristine cloud forests of the Peruvian central jungle? Spend 10 days with our crew in a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve, exploring Oxapampa's emerald valleys and mist-wrapped ridge lines.

This region holds some of the last undisturbed primary forests in central Peru, so you'll have plenty of chances to encounter rare or poorly known species. From elusive mammals like spectacled bears and pumas in the surrounding highlands to endemic frogs, moths, and a huge diversity of macrofungi, including many undescribed taxa.

Hike through moss-draped forests in the Oxapampa-Asháninka-Yánesha Biosphere Reserve and the Yanachaga–Chemillén National Park. Each day will center on guided hikes to find and document fungi, as well as orchids, birds, frogs, moths, and a wide variety of other creatures that make this landscape one of the most biologically diverse in the Andes-Amazon transition zone.

Participants will stay in comfortable lodge-style accommodations in Oxapampa, and enjoy shared meals highlighting local Peruvian flavors. There will be plenty of time to connect with fellow naturalists, scientists, and educators since we are teaming up with Revolución Fungi to bring our group to a local mushroom festival. Plan to mingle and learn alongside local fungi enthusiasts.

This trip is designed for curious nature lovers rather than passive tourists. You do not need to be a professional or scientist, but you should be excited about hiking in humid terrain, getting a little muddy, and contributing observations to a group project that could matter for Peru's future. Join us, won't you??

https://www.mycena.llc/peru-foray