Internships in Puerto Maldonado, Peru

As a second-year distance-learning Horticultural Engineering student, I joined the ASA for their 8-week academic internship at Finca Las Piedras in the rainy season. Coming from Europe, a whole new world opened up to me. From day one, I was constantly learning about tropical plants, animals, and how the ecosystem works. The quiet early days and living close to nature gave me time for self-discovery, while also letting me experience the local culture and community. On weekends, I explored the region, visited nearby towns, and even went to Machu Picchu. I never expected that as a student I would do my own field research. Focusing on the tropical fruit Cupuaçu was a great springboard for my future career. I saw firsthand that ASA doesn't try to save the rainforest from an office—their work in habitat restoration and conservation is real, hands-on action. I am very grateful to Joana Reyes for her mentorship. I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to gain real experience and build their future!

Congratulations on 10 years! It's incredible to see the impact you and everyone at Finca Las Piedras has made over the years. Congratulations on this amazing milestone! I had the incredible opportunity to visit Finca Las Piedras back in 2019 to photograph and document fungi for what would become the station's first fungi field guide. The memories I made there are ones I still cherish to this day. At the time, there were only a handful of fungi field guides available for the region, so being able to spend my days exploring the Amazon and documenting species that had yet to be recorded for the guide was an unforgettable experience. I also loved spending time with the small team at the station. One memory that always makes me smile is watching Bohemian Rhapsody together in the evening. We had to make sure enough solar power had been saved before we could watch a movie, which somehow made the experience even more special. I remember you downloading the movie for us, which was incredibly thoughtful. Seeing a film that would go on to win multiple academy awards while sitting in the middle of the Amazon, surrounded by new friends after a day of exploring the rainforest, is a memory I'll never forget. The setting made the movie even more unforgettable. Another unforgettable moment was watching an army of ants march through the kitchen and dining area in perfect synchronization. It was fascinating to watch them move as one, clearing out insects before continuing on their journey. During a night walk, we were fortunate enough to encounter a bushmaster snake calmly coiled in the middle of the trail. On another occasion, while searching for mushrooms, I spotted what I believe were either two giant river otters or two jaguarundis walking down the trail toward me before quietly disappearing into the forest. Moments like those are something I'll never forget. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm incredibly grateful for the experience and for the kindness everyone showed me during my time there.

Incredible place! I stayed two months at Finca Las Piedras and witnessed their outstanding Amazon conservation work firsthand. During my stay, they even had the first observation of a snake species in Peru (previously observed in Brazil)! The team's dedication to rainforest protection, phenology studies, science-based reforestation, and Lepidoptera research has massive impact on Peruvian biodiversity efforts. Professional research station with real conservation results. Worth every cent of my donation!