Madre Selva is our first field site, established in 1994. From Iquitos, it is a 4 to 6 hour boat ride during the rainy seas, and depending on river levels. Access can be limited or very difficult during the low-water (dry) season (September to November), so we don’t recommend trying to visit during that time period unless you are a truly intrepid explorer.

Facilities are rustic but very comfortable, and hiking trails are immediately accessible, There are also a number of floodplain lakes very close by which are excellent for birding and for herping. As Madre Selva is located south of the Amazon river, there are distinct differences in flora and fauna from the Santa Cruz Forest Reserve which is located north of the Amazon and west of the Napo River.

There will be some black-out dates when the field station is being used by academic courses, so inquire about availability before booking your flights :-). Costs for staying at Madre Selva are a bit higher than at Santa Cruz (those fuel and boat operator costs again), but everything that the blurb on Santa Cruz mentions essentially applies to Madre Selva as well. Send us an inquiry with potential or desired dates.