SFS Study Abroad: Amazon Studies in Peru

The School for Field Studies gave me the opportunity to spend 4 months living and learning in the Peruvian Amazon, an experience I would never have gotten to have otherwise, and left me feeling connected both to local community members and to the 15 students I shared my semester with. What sets SFS apart is their immersive environmental/earth sciences approach, so you aren't just sitting in a classroom in a city but are spending your days hiking through the Amazon, identifying trees and analyzing soil samples, and spending weeks at a time at wildlife refuges or on boats identifying river dolphins on the Amazon river. Not only was this a unique and completely immersive way to study abroad, but it gave me more confidence to travel on my own afterwards! Most importantly, SFS really cares about fostering a positive environment with the surrounding communities and the impact that their program has on locals and students alike. They make sure that students are taking language and culture classes and interacting with life outside the classroom as much as possible. Can't recommend this experience enough!

My time in Peru was an absolutely transformative experience. I met so many amazing people, both fellow students, professors, and locals from nearby communities. Living in the amazon was truly special, being surrounded by the natural beauty and peacefulness every day was a huge boon. Though potential applicants should be aware that the remoteness plays a significant factor. The people you will interact with on a daily basis will be the ones you live with on-site. Electricity and internet connection can be pretty sporadic. The meals you eat on a daily basis all come from the on-site chef, they accommodate diets and allergies but you don't get to decide what to eat. Don't worry! Jorge was an amazing cook and I devoured every single one of his meals. You will get the opportunity to visit many different sites around Peru both in the amazon and up in the mountains. The cultural and environmental exposure was second to none, and I have been craving to go back ever since I left. Classes took up a good portion of the week, but the workload isn't anything crazy, I actually had my best semester of grades here. Study abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I chose this program because I may never get another opportunity to do something like this again, and I am absolutely thrilled with my decision.

Living in the Amazon basin and doing hands on research is something truly unique. I had a marvelous time. This is a good program for adventurers, or wanna-be adventurers who could use some scaffolding. The academics were not too difficult, but I did learn a lot. There were many rules for safety purposes, which did not bother me too much: wear long pants for the snakes and spiders and bugs; travel with a buddy; don't eat street food for parasites (I did flout this one, it was worth it!); keep your cash in zipped pockets. The food was the best I have ever had.
Mold, mildew, parasites, and loss of power are all part of life in the Amazon. It is not resort living. Wifi access was very limited.
The campus was exceptionally remote - there are a few households and one tiny town within walking distance, but that is about it. During non-class times, expect to interact mostly with other American students. Socializing with locals happens during free weekends in the local cities or on your break in Cuzco.

Before this program, I had only left the country once before, and that was to go to Montreal in Canada. I was a little nervous joining the program the to that, but my fears were groundless. This program was stunning in scenery, meticulous in safety preparations, and fascinating in class information.

The field trips were all worthwhile, and allow you to learn more about the culture and ecology of Peru (Andes, Amazon, and highlands) than most tourists could ever dream of. Additionally, it allows you to avoid the more touristy locations and find peace in some harder to reach locales. The program's itinerary is changeable though, as we found when half the program fell sick and could not make it to Manu Wildlife Center (arguably the highlight of the program). Even with this, though, the amount of information we learned and the amount that we traveled seemed unparalleled by any other programs I had researched.

I would hands down recommend SFS Peru for a study abroad program. I would recommend staying after to sightsee and let your hair down a bit, for rules are strictly enforced during the semester and spring break for safety purposes. And if possible, I would also come down early to get a deeper understanding of the language and the present culture too (for SFS lodging is in what may appear normal in the States but are palaces in terms of Peruvian standards of living).

I learned more during my semester with SFS than I had learned in the previous year in University, in addition to meeting and befriending many like-minded nature nuts and hiking pals. I hope that you have the same or better experiences!

SFS Peru is the place to make lifelong friends who become your family, be surrounded by amazing amounts of wildlife, and study and work in the Amazon rain forest. Unique opportunities to pursue interests in ecology, conservation biology, and political ecology make this program extremely special. Expect to be amazed every day and live in a place you may have never considered a potential home. Travel opportunities and field excursions throughout the rain forest, as well as the highlands, make this program fantastic.