Manu Conservation Internship
Our conservation internship is a structured long-standing Manu experiential learning programme in Manu Rainforest where you are going to spend everyday exploring the rainforest, getting to know it intimately and meeting its wild creatures.
You will gain practical, hands-on knowledge of biodiversity conservation, research, tropical ecology survey techniques and group leadership, while supporting sustainable development initiatives.
These field work skills and experience will enhance your career prospects and help your professional and personal growth.
You will be mentored by highly trained professionals; the team will set you challenging goals and objectives to ensure that you reach your full potential, while creating a supportive working environment.
During your conservation internship you will understand the complex social, economic and political challenges facing Manu, as we work together to conserve the rainforest and empower communities through improved livelihoods and living standards because it would not be possible without your support.
Let’s kick start your conservation career. We have two conservation internships available with a duration of 3 or 6 months in Manu Amazon Rainforest.
DURATION
LODGING
TYPE
A day as a Conservation Intern
Amazon Sunrise at 5.30 am
You wake up to the familiar squawks and chatter of charismatic macaws and mischievous Capuchin monkeys. After a typical Peruvian breakfast with the team, you organise your survey equipment for the day and give your leading group a tropical forest safety briefing.
There are three months in your internship already and you have passed your training phase and have been signed off on all the surveys by your mentor. You’re now qualified to lead volunteer groups.
Survey Leadership – 8.00 am
You lead your team into the rainforest; the thought of this would have terrified you just a few months ago, but now you know the maze of trails intimately and feel completely comfortable in the remote rainforest.
Today you will be teaching the volunteers how to survey the immense diversity of Amazonian butterflies, how to handle, identify and record the butterflies’ data.
This is the survey that you chose to specialise in and you can do it in your sleep now. But you never get bored of teaching new volunteers about bioindicators of species and how butterflies can help us better understand the health of an ecosystem. You are amazed by how much you have learnt and all you can teach now.
Jungle Lunch – 12.30 pm
After a busy morning leading your group through the surveys and teaching them all you have learnt about tropical fauna and flora, it is time to relax by the stream and tuck into your packed lunch. You bask in the sunshine and enjoy the sounds of the rainforest.
It is the time you tell your team stories about jungle life and what has been the best wildlife sighting so far. You make sure everyone in the group is happy, you make a mental check that no-one is showing signs of dehydration and you ensure that team dynamics are good and are ready to get back to work.
Wildlife Encounters – 1.30pm
While completing the afternoon’s surveys and data collection, you keep an eye out for your next wildlife encounter – there could be a troop of cute-faced squirrel monkeys in the canopy, or a herd of stampeding peccaries around the corner. You teach your guest group about the rainforests’ diversity of plants and wildlife. With tired legs, you lead your team back to camp.
Scientific Process – 5.00pm
After a busy day trekking through the rainforest, it is time to enter the data and identify any unknown species you have come across. It’s great to know that the data sets will be used in scientific papers and help conservation policies.
You teach your guest group about the importance of collecting and entering data, you help them identify new species that they have never seen before, and make sure everything is set up for tomorrow’s field work. It is time for a much-needed hot shower.
Camp Gossip – 6.30pm
You enjoy a hearty Peruvian dinner with the team swapping stories about the day’s best wildlife sightings. You get to know the new group of guests and tell tales about jungle life. After a good natter, you help the kitchen staff with the washing up and practice the colourful Peruvian Spanish phrases they’ve been teaching you.
Presentation Assessment – 8.00pm
Tonight you are giving a presentation to the team about your chosen subject, that can be the fascinating world of symbiosis. You have been researching the topic for the past few weeks and have been practising it in English and Spanish because you are much more confident speaking Spanglish after your week at a home-stay and Spanish school in Cusco that you completed as part of the Manu internship programme. You are nervous, but you know that your work colleagues and friends are all there to support you.
Celebration Time – 9.00pm
You are really pleased by what you have achieved today and have a cold beer with the team to celebrate. Tired and fulfilled after the day’s achievements, you are on the way to bed but take a moment to stand in awe of the amazing starscape and the milky way like you have never seen it before. Finally, you hit your pillow for an early night, in preparation for the new adventures and experiences that tomorrow will bring.
At the end of this Manu internship you will achieve:
- Skills and experience in biodiversity conservation
- Research, tropical ecology survey techniques
- Volunteer leadership
- Actively support our conservation and community projects in the Amazon.
- One-to-one mentorship with a highly trained team member
- Receive support needed to reach your aims and objectives as you progress through our structured education programme.
Booking a Manu internship with crees will not only allow you to access one of the world’s most amazing places, it also makes a sustained contribution to help protect the Amazon and its people.
Start your journey
FAQ
None. Prior field experience is great but in general we are just looking for people who are passionate about conservation and the environment with lots of enthusiasm to help us with our project work in the Manu rainforest.
All your travel to and from Cusco down to Manu, board, lodging and meals for your entire stay and a week language course. We do not include international flights to Cusco, extra drinks or snacks.
The main focus is our conservation research but you will visit and be involved in our community projects every month on an ad hoc basis. Our sustainable development projects are driven by the community members rather than our visitors’ help.
No, We provide drinking water for all our guests.
February is a time of heavy rains and roads can be inaccessible during this period. Then, in May there is often a layer of low cloud over the rainforest. The Manu National Park is closed in February so crees tours to Romero Rainforest Lodge do not operate but the Manu Learning Centre is open all year round.
Easy! Once you decide to apply, you send us your CV and covering letter stating why you would like to apply for our internship.
Then we set up an interview for you and subject to the interview being successful, then we offer you the place. After your acceptance, a deposit is required and you complete our online booking form so we have all your details and then you are all set.
There is no set time you need to apply in advance, however once you know the date when you want to go then it is a good idea to start on with the application process as we only have a set number of interns per start date.
There may be options within your educational organisation for funding – this will need to be explored directly with them by yourself and alternatively people do use crowdfunding platforms to help raise funds.
Many of our interns continue with Crees to become full time members of our field staff team in Manu, helping run our education programme or specific research project coordination. Others have gone on to study further and do an MA or PHD. One thing that everyone takes with them is a strong passion for conservation and the environment and the work that we do to help create a more sustainable Manu for future generations.
On your start date you and you arrive in Cusco a Crees representative will be there to pick you up from the airport. They will be holding up a sign that says Crees and your name and be there to greet you and orientate you around Cusco where you will be before heading down to the MLC.
Rainforest excursions lead people into the heart of the rainforest on an adventure that will consequently expose them to its raw nature. In order to be prepared please talk to your doctor about their recommendations.
See section below for specific inoculations that are recommended. Due to mosquito related diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis and even pesky bites, we recommend purchasing an effective repellent and also wear long sleeve shirts and trousers at all times.
General safety and sanitary standards in Peru are often not as high as other countries. Public health facilities are available, but It is essential that you take out fully comprehensive insurance before travelling.
In isolated places such as the Peruvian Amazon there are few facilities available so it is advisable to take a well-equipped first aid kit.
Pharmacies in Peru are well stocked and most products, even antibiotics, can be bought over the counter. Check validity dates on packaging, and there is an important distinction between a recommendation (advice) and a requirement (you may be refused entry to the country without proof of vaccination).
Manu as such is not a malarial area but if you are travelling onwards from any of our tours, please make sure you have the requirements needed. Please consult your GP or health centre for accurate details of malarial areas within the region.
If you have doubts about Covid-19, please click here to be redirected to our Covid-19 latest information tab.
February is a time of heavy rains and roads can be inaccessible during this period. Then, in May there is often a layer of low cloud over the rainforest. The Manu National Park is closed in February so crees tours to Romero Rainforest Lodge do not operate but the Manu Learning Centre is open all year round.
The best time to visit Manu is during the dry season from April – October, but we offer internships to Manu all year round during the rainy season as there are always fascinating things to see and experiences to be had any day of the year in the Amazon!
You will gain practical field work skills and experience to enhance your career prospects and help your professional and personal growth as you work on biodiversity conservation projects and local community development.
You need to arrive in Cusco the day of your start date, someone will be there to pick you up and show you around Cusco before you travel down to Manu to start your programme.
Yes. We provide a secure link for your payment.
Dry season is from April to the end of October and Wet season is from November to end of March.
You need to arrive in Cusco the day of your start date, someone will be there to pick you up and show you around Cusco before you travel down to Manu to start your programme.
A Crees’ representative will meet you the night before to advise on timings for pick up so make sure you tell us where you are staying in Cusco prior to departure if you haven’t booked directly with us. Normally it is an early start to head down to Manu, departing Cusco from around 6 am.
You have to be 18 years or above to apply for our intern programme.
