The Oropendola Project is a non-profit association. The name 'Oropendola' is taken from a bird known locally as 'Puste ò Custe.' This bird is very common in populated areas and in the Amazon forests. In Peru, there are 7 sub-species of the Oropéndola, all of which make sounds that resemble dripping water. This bird was the inspiration for both Oropéndola Tours and the Oropendola Project because by observing the behaviour of the Oropendola, we understand that it is possible for man and nature to coexist and interact. The Oropendola represents the idea that we need to achieve a state of balance between man and nature, where humans understand and respect the environment.

The goal of the Oropendola Project is to help protect and manage some of Peru's diverse ecological resoures, while respecting the native communities. The project is funded almost entirely through responsible ecotourism, Oropendola Project and oropendola Tours for help indigenous peoples with economical benefit. We assist and manage with the help of our Manager Walter Mancilla to build the first ECOLOGICAL LODGE in Boca Manu Village Capital of Fitzcarrald District of Manu area. This project is one of the first Lodge in the Manu Biosphere Reserve that directly benefit this community with the complete control of the eco-lodge 2,002.

Our Projects Include:

• Protection and management of 500 hectare reserve in the Maquisapayoc sector of the Madre de Dios River in Manu.
• Construction and operation of the Oropendola Lodge.
• Construction and operation of the Manu Camping Lodge.
• Design of a system of trails in the Oropendola Project's Maquisapayoc reserve
  Management and protection of the 03 mammal clay licks.
• Local guide Training programs.
• Organizing volunteer English teaching program for Boca Manu children and adults.
• Financing for a research project in the reserve with the biologist Percy Núñez and Gladys Huayparimachi Quispe with Biology students from the University of San Antonio Abad in Cusco.
• Project management of a children's theater in Boca Manu with participation from
  teachers and parents.
• Book making project with the children at the Boca Manu School
• Promoting to revalorate their Culture and Traditions visiting their festivals and learning about them.

The Oropendola Project is self-financed and its projects include:

All of the above mentioned projects are financed thanks to the eco-tourism business we manage through Oropendola Tours. Many thanks to our clients and volunteers that use our services, which both directly and indirectly contributes to the protection and management of the natural resources in our private reserve.

Anyone interested in contributing to the protection of the Amazon region, please do not hesitate in providing aid to our organization. As we expand, our plans and our eco-projects continue to grow.

We believe that the sustainable management of wildlife within their natural habitat is a far better option in terms of protecting the area for future generations and to build tourism in this part of the Valley.However, to make this project a reality, The Oropendola Fundation has been set up to handle donation to the Oropendola project from every organization and individual with a good heart.

Oropendola Project protects the biological diversity of the wilderness areas of the Amazon. Our strategy is to increase conservation capacity through eco-tourism, sustainable management in collaborations with local and international support.

Eco-tourism is probably one of the best options for the indigenous in
the area today.

Involvement in eco-tourism also means conservation of their culture, as theirtraditions and lifestyle will be an important part of what they will offer to the tourists.

It will maintain their pride and identity of their own culture.

The indegenous people have developed long-term ecological relations
with flora and fauna.

They have distinct knowledge of medicinal plants and food in the forest
over the centuries.

We also see its importance of their traditional practice in the Amazon
rainforest.

The Oropendola Project has been the bridge between the locals in the
area and you.

Please feel free to contact us for more information and find out how to
contribute to them through us.

e-mail:  info@oropendolaperu.org

VOLUNTEER IN OUR PROJECT

Working in Manu and Cusco

Volunteer in Peru

Cusco: Cusco
Manu: Oropéndola Project
Length of Position: Minimum of 1 Month
Durations of Program: 4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 4 weeks
Dates: Year-round
Your contributions start at US $: 40 per day per person

Conservation: Manu National park, Oropéndola project, Conservation volunteer work projects with: Giant otter, monkeys, macaws and wildlife of the Amazon.
Length of Position: Minimum of 15 Days or more
Your contributions start from US $: 1350 or $1700

Description: Peru is our base program country. Our participants are already signing up for Spanish study, teaching and volunteer work with orphanage in Cusco and Manu.

Qualifications: Basic Spanish is helpful but not essential.

Type of Programs:

Languages:

Language Used as a Medium of Teaching:

Cost in US$: Starts at $ 40 per day per person.

Cost Includes: Pre trip Orientation Materials. - Airport Pickup/Drop-off. - Orientation & Meals & Accommodation with Host Family. - Placement & Supervision in Program. - Most Ground Transportation. - Assistance with Extra Sightseeing. - Support with Communicating Back Home, etc. 24-hour Emergency Support from Peru.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer Projects:

Typical Volunteer: Students, career-breakers, and retirees
Age Range: 18+
This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to
Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typically The Application Process Time Is 1 Week
Oropéndola Project Volunteer’s Mission Statement: Oropéndola project Volunteers is simply the best value for programs abroad. We offer volunteering, internships, and language study in Peru (Cusco and Manu).

Oropéndola project promotes sustainable conservation of wildlife by involving you and local people.

Dr. Percy Nuñez Vargas and Gladys Huayparimachi Quispe and Biologist of the National University of San Antonio Abad in Cusco.They are one of the most recognized Botanic in Peru and South America, with their 20,000 botanic collections registered. They became our member in this wildlife research and conservation project. Our goal is to make through our work, an active contribution towards a sustainable biosphere of the highest priority for conservation action.

Their team permanently visits oropéndola reserve in Maquisapayoc area with the University students from Cusco for tropical Biodiversity Research.

Conservation program for 15 days

Group size: 1 to 9 members 1 local Biologist + 1 Guide
Up to 10 members + 2 Local Biologists + 2 guides

Contribution:
Approximate cost $1350 to $ 1700
This Project will take you to the Peru Amazon rainforest which has concentration of Tapirs, macaws, monkeys and other mammals. You will be working from hides observing Mammals clay lick sites, and studying monkeys, tapirs, peccaries, deer and perhaps predatory cats from a hide inside the rainforest. You will also be walking along jungle paths. The climate is tropical.
and humid. Our camping area is comfortable riverside lodge with private showers and toilets.
We will provide a room during the low season, from Nov. to May.

You will be camping in comfortable tents during the high season with all the facilities, from April to October.

Included:

Not included:

OROPENDOLA TOURS E.I.R.L.

APLICATION FOR VOLUNTEER

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ADRESS :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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COUNTRY :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHONE :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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OCCUPATION:----------------------------------------------------------------AGE :-------------------------------
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Do you have any medical problem of which we should be aware? (Please note allergies or sensitivity to insect stings)

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RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK:
DIRECT CLIENTS OF OROPENDOLA TOUR E.I.R.L.

I am aware that travelling in cities or in remote areas, whether on food or by plane, train, car, boat or other means of transport, contains some risk of illness, injury or death, which may be caused by natural disasters or other forces.
I realize that these risks may be present at any time before, during and after the Volunteer trip that I am participating, under the arrangements of OROPENDOLA TOURS E.I.R.L. and its associates.
I also realize that medical services and/or facilities will not be readily available during some or all the trip in which I am participating.
In consideration of, and as a part payment for, the right to participate in the trip and the activities, services and food arranged for me by OROPENDOLA TOUR E.I.R.L. and its agents and associates in connection with the trip.  I fully assume all risk of illness, injury or death, and hereby release and discharge OROPENDOLA TOUR E.I.R.L. and its agents and associates from all actions, claims or demands for damages resulting from my participation in the trip. This assumption of risks includes that I have carefully read and understand this agreement.

Signature:------------------------------------------------Date:--------------------------------------------------

Mammal Clay Lick

Mammal and Macaw Clay Lick are one of the best place to visit for see wildlife, for this porpose we have platforms close to the clay licks that help to see and take a pictures.

Manu area is still one of the pristine rainforest where the wildlife and the forest are not perturbed in oropendola reserve (Maquisapayoc). A short distance from the Amazon Manu Lodge and Manu Camping Lodge, with one of the most important Mammal Clay Licks of Peru, with a natural attraction visited by several mammals.

Mammal Clay Lick with minerals concentration like Iron, potation, calcium, magnesium and sodium became an important place for the mammals, birds and monkeys to visit permanently and also the predator like in the picture of the Jaguar attacking a group of peccary, date of end of December of 2006.

Species that visit the Mammal clay lick:

* Tapir (Visit during the night time and rare to see a day time)
* Deer (Visit Day and Night time)
* Agouti (Day and Night)
* Agouti Paca. (Day and Night)
* Bicolor-spined porcupine (Day and Night)
* White lipped peccary (Day time)
* Collared peccary (Day time)
* Black spider monkey
* Red Howler Monkey
* Blue throated Guan
* Spectacled Guan
* Pale vented pigeon
* Rudy pigeon

Macaw Clay Lick

There are several Macaw Clay licks along the rivers and streams but the most famous and accessible areas are in Manu and Tambopata Regions.

Blanquillo Macaw Clay Lick is one of the most photogenic places to visit and take a picture with more than 200 macaws every morning, noise area with many parrots; parakeets make the place a fantastic experience for the visitors.

Tambopata as well is one of the biggest Macaw Clay Lick in Madre de Dios Amazon area with large number of Macaws and Parrots visit the Clay Lick along the Tambopata River.

Cooking Class

Peru is considered as a place with enormous types of dishes which makes Peru an interesting country to visit and enjoy meals.

Our interest is also to show you the way to prepare food and teach you how to cook with a local professional cook in the local family house, you start cooking activity from buying ingredients in the local market.

You have an opportunity to learn traditions and enjoy interaction with the local people from the Sierra, cost and the Amazon region.

Cost and Sierra Local Food:

• Cebiche Fish, onion, lemon and ingredients.
• Lomo Saltado Raise, meat, onion, fright potatoes and ingredients.
• Aji de Gallina, Chicken, dry bred, egg and spices.
• Chicarron, crakling, fried piece of meat. etc. etc...

Amazon Local Food:

• Pataraska, fish, eliconia leave.
• Pataraska, fish, eliconia leave.
• Pacamoto, fish cook in bamboo
• Fish soup
• Smoked meat and fish
• Suri :  palm tree worm
• Paychipango cook banana and fish
• Chapo cook ripe bananas and boiled in a pot.
• Masato (alcoholic beverage) etc.....

Andean Community’s Visits

The Communities in Peru are so diverse considering this country with due the factors as a location just of the Equatorial line, the Andean Mountains distribution and the cold marine current along its coastline, has the most varied landscapes and weathers in the world.

Peru is divided in three large geographical regions:
Coast , desert adjacent to the ocean
Mountain, the Andean range
Jungle, is the rain forest rainy region, wooded and flat.

Considering the location is the place for several Communities one to the other are very different culture where you can enjoyed during your visit, for sure respecting their costume and culture.

Q’eros is one community inside of Manu National Park in the highs puna area that still keep their traditional custom they are considered the last Inca People in Peru, quechua speaker people.

Sanquiroshi 40 families, This community is located in Cusco and Ayacucho Department, in the jungle area at 700 meters elevation they are Machiguenka indigenous people, friendly and smart actually they life from the farming and hunting this community are still living in harmony with the nature and they are proud been a machiguenka indigenous.

Diamante 80 families, This is one the largest communities in Madre de Dios department at 300 metes elevation. They are Piro Culture they are originally from Sepagua close to Pucallpa department from many years ago.

Culturally they are strong people and the women is the heat in the family, and the husband that has a fat wife is considered a good husband and good hunter and became a respect in the community.

Fishing Tours

The best place to go fishing in Peru is the low land Rain Forest; In Manu area you can go fishing in the Alto Madre de Dios River and Madre de Dios River. The access is by land and also by Fly in and Fly out.

Our tour is mainly lead by local indigenous people they use fishing lines and bow and arrow that you will have the opportunity to try and learn.
You will learn how to make the tools with the forest materials the traditional method.
The bait we use usually for fishing fish, pieces of beef and larvae that we farm in our campsite feeding with bananas, the larvae is called Suri, This larvae is one of the favourite bait for the fish.

We also fish pirana, in the lake for piranas called pirana Lake. We have an especial hock and metallic line tie to the fishing line.

Bown and arrows training:

Indigenous people are nice and helpful, they are good teacher. Learn how to use the bow and arrow take short time to start practicing.

Machiguenga Lodge

Is the only Eological and multicommunal Lodge inside the Manu National Park, this lodge is manages and benefit two machiguenga communitys the Yomibato and Tayakome. They are becoming increasingly involved in the market economy, using a sustainable development, through the tourism development project.

This Lodge is located close to most famous salvador lake inside the National park, where two familys of Giant otter live.

Using this lodge we contribute the indigenous people.

Cost per night person: 50 US. Dollars

Boca Manu Lodge

This Lodge belong to Boca Manu village people is located in the mouth of Manu and Madre de Dios river entrance of the Manu national Park, the people in this village are mix with colonos(emigrant from the higland), Piro and Machiguenga Indigenous people that benefit directly from the Eco-tourism.

Cost per night person: 30 US. Dollars

Chipiteari Camping place

Other indigenous communities sharing the park include the Shipetiari along the Alto Madre de Dios river. With a basic camp site inside the chipiteary machiguenga Indian community they are starting to be part of the ecotourism.  The community is located beside of Manu national Park, 3 hours from the entrance of Manu National Park.

Cost per night person: 25 US. Dollars

Yine Lodge

Is Located close to Manu Boca manu village beside the Manu airport and belong to the diamante piro Indian community and Pantiacolla tours.

They are invlove in Eco-Tourism this project is train to help indigenous peoples which benefit economically.

Cost per night person: 60 US. Dollars

Amazon Manu Lodge

Amazon Manu Lodge is located in the heart of the jungle in the remote Manu area of Peru, close to Manu National Park. At the lodge itself, there are ample opportunities to see animals such as emperor and saddle back tamarins, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, and saki monkeys and any of the 550 bird species registered there including the long crested pygmy tyrant, Festive Coquette. It is also a convenient base for excursions to the Macaw Clay Lick where parrots and macaws flock by the dozen, and oxbow lakes where endangered giant otters may be observed from floating platforms. Perhaps the greatest feature of the Amazon Manu Lodge, however, is its proximity to the Tapir Clay Lick. Many mammals, including monkeys, deer, and the otherwise elusive Amazonian tapir are attracted to the lick’s rich natural mineral deposits and are often observed there. In addition, many rarely sighted birds frequent the clay lick.

Cost per night person: 70 US. Dollars

Manu Camping Lodge

The Manu Camping Lodge is close to oropendola Lodge in the reserve of Oropendola Project (Maquisapayoc Local name), At the Camping Lodge itself, there are ample opportunities to see animals such as emperor and saddle back tamarins, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, and saki monkeys and any of the 550 bird species registered there including the long crested pygmy tyrant. It is also a convenient base for excursions to the Macaw Clay Lick where parrots and macaws flock by the dozen, and oxbow lakes where endangered giant otters may be observed from floating platforms. Perhaps the greatest feature of the Oropéndola Lodge, however, is its proximity to the Tapir Clay Lick. Many mammals, including monkeys, deer, and the otherwise elusive Amazonian tapir are attracted to the lick’s rich natural mineral deposits and are often observed there. In addition, many rarely sighted birds frequent the clay lick.

Cost per night person: 25 US. Dollars

Islas de Los Valles

Isla de los Valles is a machiguenga Indian Community that is located in the middle of Boca Manu village and Manu National Park they have a nice lake with one group of 6 Giant Otters, 15 minutes away from Boca Manu village where they run and rent the Catamaran to visit the lake for 10 American dollars per person..

Cost per person: 10 US. Dollars