Peru Coastal Dolphin Research

Your Typical Itinerary

On your first day you will be picked up from the airport and taken to your hotel. As international arrivals in Lima are usually late at night you will probably only have time to check in and get a good nights sleep. On Day Two you will be picked you up for the initial briefing and project orientation in the office in Lima. In the afternoon, you travel from Lima to the study site with the research team and the equipment you will need for dolphin photo-identification.

During Days Three to Seven, you are out patrolling the coastline of Pucusana or Paracas in search of the local populations of bottlenose dolphins for observation and data collection. You will stay at a local hostel in Pucusana/Paracas, and leave early each morning in the research vessel. In Pucusana we are using a 7.5 metre boat with two 90 hp outboard motors, and in Paracas an inflatable zodiac with 40hp outboard motor. Each afternoon you will return to port for a meal of good local fare and a much-deserved rest.

On Days Eight and Nine you will have some spare time – it is possible to additionally book on a fun programme designed for our volunteers (more detailed information below). During Days 10-14, you are out patrolling the coastline of Pucusana or Paracas in search of the local populations of bottlenose dolphins. Days 15 and 16 are free again (you may take part in another special fun programme). On the evening of Day 16 you are returned to Lima. You will stay in a hotel overnight and on Day 17 we will meet in order to discuss the results of the survey and hold the final briefing. The next day you return home or travel on to your next destination.

If you choose a full month dolphin-watching you will continue a rhythm of five days of field survey and two days of rest.

Please note: itineraries and activities are subject to change.