Location
  • Peru

Program Details

Compensation
Non-Monetary Benefits
Timeframe
Academic Year Fall J-Term Maymester Spring Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Language
Spanish
Weekly Hours
30
Age Min.
18
Qualifications
  • Experience in conservation/ecology/biology/ agroforestry or other related studies or fields
  • Capable of undertaking fieldwork and living in a challenging environment
  • Capable of working well both as part of a team, and independently
  • Responsible, reliable, and will follow strict research and safety protocols at all times

Pricing

Starting Price
730
Price Details
At Hoja Nueva, interns pay a fee to cover the costs of food, accommodations, and supervision, which helps us keep our programs running and our staff employed that in turn provide interns with the best experience possible. Please contact us regarding other lengths of stay besides those listed here.

1 week: $730
2 weeks: $1430
3 weeks: $1830
1 month: $2100
2 months: $3450
3 months: $4250
4 months: $4825
5 months: $5200
6 months: $6525
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Included (Extra)

No visa is necessary to enter Peru for more than 6 months at a time, currently. Upon entering you will automatically be given a tourist visa.

What's Not Included
Airfare SIM cards Travel Insurance Wifi
What's Not Included (Extra)

Wifi is only available during certain hours of the day and night. Airport transfer is included from the airport to our center and back again, when programmed directly. All food, accommodations and transport incurred in the city of Puerto Maldonado is not included.

Dec 22, 2022
Jan 18, 2024
82 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

At Hoja Nueva you will gain invaluable field experience that will challenge & prepare you for a future in environmental and species protection.

We are a remote research center & wildlife sanctuary located three hours outside the closest city of Puerto Maldonado. We confront deforestation and defaunation in the Peruvian Amazon by strategically acquiring rainforest & creating corridors; building capacity within remote & indigenous communities; implementing rigorous scientific research; & reintroducing threatened species to the wild after rescue.

Current internships involve animal rescue & husbandry, wildlife research, conservation programs, & sustainable community development projects. Our ongoing wildlife research focuses primarily on mammals & herpetofauna. Many interns prefer our rotating internship to gain a breadth of experience and knowledge in all of these different fields.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Live and work in a beautiful research center in the remote rainforest of Las Piedras: the last frontier of the Peruvian Amazon
  • Contribute to efforts in raising awareness of and preserving one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet
  • Participate in interdisciplinary, innovative projects that break boundaries between local NGOs, communities, and governments
  • Gain invaluable field experience that will challenge and prepare you for a future in environmental protection
  • Provide care and enrichment for rescued wild animals so they can one day be reintroduced to their rightful home: the jungle

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.60 Rating
based on 10 reviews
  • 5 rating 90%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 10%
  • Growth 4.6
  • Support 4.6
  • Fun 4.6
  • Housing 4.7
  • Safety 4.6
Showing 1 - 8 of 10 reviews
Default avatar
Nayelli
1/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Very disappointing experience - not recommended

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What would you improve about this program?
Improvements are needed in fostering a more inclusive and communicative environment at Hoja Nueva. Enhancing leadership qualities, encouraging open dialogue, and addressing communication gaps would contribute to creating a more positive and welcoming experience for volunteers.
Pros
  • Nice nature
  • Great employees
Cons
  • Poor leadership
  • Poor communication
  • Poor volunteer treatment
60 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Clemens
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

General Internship

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134 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
dale
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Experience at hoja

Working at hoja nueva was a life changing experience. The company was very well run and at no point did i feel like there wasnt something to do. Between the nightwalks, boat tours, or, simply hanging out and interacting with the locals, it was all amazing. Sam is such a helpful person who made sure all requirements of the research projects were met. Learning to use camera traps to study the local wildlife was incredibly insightful as well as tracking wild cats using their scat. Waking up to the sounds of howler monkeys and visiting local cocoa farms make this place feel like paradise

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Please bring lots of socks/underwear. You wont believe how hot and smelly you'll get living in the jungle. Snacks(that wont melt in the heat) are also a life saver. Other than that, hoja provides the basic necessities and then some.
145 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story
Default avatar
Will
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Research and Relaxation

I'll preface my review of Hoja Nueva by saying that I absolutely loved the opportunity that Hoja gave to me by allowing me to live in the thick of the Amazon Rainforest. I stayed at the Eco-Lodge for 3 months and my daily activity often took me out of the comfy housing to the on-site cacao chacras or orchards to complete my school sponsored research. After a day's work, I was frequently invited or accompanied on walks into the Rainforest with knowledgeable employees and friends. Hoja Nueva is a magical place with beautiful people.

162 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Kiara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life-Changing!!!

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What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
With how much incredible wildlife I saw during my month-long stay at Hoja, it's hard to choose. One of the highlights was certainly watching the family of howler monkeys swing through the trees just outside of the lodge. There were 2 females carrying tiny babies on their backs and stomach! I also saw blue and yellow macaws which was incredible. The night walks are to-die-for if you have an interest in snakes, frogs, night monkeys, or cool insects! I saw something new every single day that took my breath away.
165 people found this review helpful.
ME
Tyler
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing Place/Experience

I went during the summer of 2018 as a student and then back in 2019 as a volunteer. It is an amazing place that will truly give you a one of a kind experience. The people there are so amazing as well as the place itself. The amazon rain forest is stunningly beautiful for each of our five senses. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for an adventure, a true experience of being out in nature, and especially for those looking to gain field research experience.

I cannot say enough good things about this place. The amount of work they have done and the amount of dedication they have is truly inspirational.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice is to make sure you are prepared, so pack smartly. Also make sure you either learn or review a little bit of Spanish before travelling to Hoja, as it will help you be able to better communicate and understand things as you make your way there.
168 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ivy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Hoja Nueva is a must visit!

For my undergraduate thesis I looked far and wide for a program to support my research as well as thirst for adventure. When I found Hoja Nueva I immediately was intrigued and couldn't wait to explore the opportunity. Once committing to the program I had no idea how much of an impact it would have not only on my research endeavors but my life in general. The locals and staff are welcoming and incredibly helpful people, the lodge is accommodating and serene, set in the most beautiful environment, and the local sight seeing, wildlife, and culture is right at your fingertips! No regrets whatever, a beautiful trip full of memories and education!

147 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Olivia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

High School Trip to Hoja Nueva!

Going to Hoja Nueva was a life-changing experience! I went to the research center for three weeks after my junior year of high school, and because of my experience there, I am now in college studying environmental science. I can't wait to return to Peru!
There is nothing more beautiful than the sounds of the rainforest! During my time in Peru, I got to see animals I had only ever dreamed of seeing, and it was empowering to learn how to protect them. I met some of the most inspirational people of my life in that forest. Going to local communities was eye-opening and truly helped me develop my understanding of what it means to be an environmental scientist.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
One of the most surprising (and beautiful!) things I saw were macaws on a clay lick. It was by far one of the most amazing things I have ever seen in my life. I felt like I was in a National Geographic magazine. As spectacular as seeing the macaws was, it was even more wonderful to learn about them. By the end of my three weeks at Hoja Nueva, I could distinguish between the calls of Red and Green Macaws and Blue and Yellow Macaws. I had learned about the development of macaw chicks and how, tragically, macaws are killed for their feathers. Seeing animals is amazing, but learning how to protect them is a privilege.
160 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers