Peru Coastal Dolphin Research

You'll be based in the fisherman’s port of Pucusana, 70kms south of Lima.

Peru

This fascinating country borders Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and the Pacific Ocean. Comprised of three distinct regions, the wide Andean mountains in the north, a narrow coastal belt running down the centre, along the Pacific Ocean, and the deep Amazon rainforest in the south. Although the coastal belt is a desert, that is where most of the population lives.

Peru is renowned as the land of the Incas, but many other great pre-Columbian civilizations flourished here.

Visitors can see the ancient ruins of the Inca capital of Cusco and explore the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu as well as visit ruins from a variety of other cultures including the Nazca and the Moche. The fascinating culture existing there today reflects this diversity.

Time
Five hours behind GMT (January to April, four hours behind GMT due to daylight saving).

Getting There

You will need to arrange your flights to Lima. Upon arrival you will pass through customs and be met by a project representative. As you enter the arrivals lounge look out for a board with your name on it.

Your arrival will probably be quite late in the evening. You will be taken to a hotel in Lima for your first night. On day two a project member of staff will pick you up for the initial briefing and orientation in the office in Lima. In the afternoon, you travel from Lima to the study site with our research team and the equipment you will need for dolphin photo-identification.

Climate

The climate varies greatly in Peru depending on the geographical region. On the coast, winter lasts from June to September. During this period, the mountainous areas are often sunny during the day but cold at night. Heavy rains in the mountains and jungle last from December to April. It hardly ever rains in Lima or most of the coast, except for Tumbes and Piura, which have tropical climates.

Cusco: Due to its high elevation of 11,000ft, it's cool during the day (20’s C) and cold at night (around 10 C). It is important to bring warm clothes. The rainy season is from October to April, however Cusco is generally a dry place.