“Peru, Peru. My heart’s lighthouse.” - Morrissey 

Over the course of one month, our Program Director Luis García, alongside Professor Bruno Takahashi, guided six environmental journalism students from Michigan State University (MSU) on an unforgettable adventure in Peru.

Their travels took them from the sophisticated city of Lima—both historical and edgy, to the lush beauty and rich biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest in Tambopata, to the vibrant cultural center of Cusco in the Andes mountains and the ancient site of Machu Picchu. They also had five free weekend days for their own explorations.

MSU’s learning objectives? Students would:  

• Develop an appreciation of different cultural perspectives in the communication of environmental and scientific issues

• Understand regional dynamics in the reporting of environmental and science news

• Expand their professional and personal networks in the area of environmental and science communication

LIMA: CLASSES, COLLABORATIONS & COOKING IN THE CAPITAL

Lonely Planet describes Lima as “part southern Cali doused with a heavy dose of América Latina” and “shrouded in history (and sometimes fog), gloriously messy and full of aesthetic delights,” noting its millennia-old civilization, stately museums and sublime pottery, crowded nightclubs with tropical beats, and the city’s culinary genius.

Lima was our home base for just over half of the trip.

Some highlights?

Visiting Universities. Students attended a Cultural Communication class at Universidad Científica del Sur, met the resident kissing alpacas and explored the greenhouses. They attended a class and collaborated with peers at the University of Lima (Professor Takahashi’s alma matar), engaging professionally with the leadership at the Center for Sustainability. They also spent time at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia where they met with a toxicologist and students in the paleontology department, and spoke with researcher Stella Hartinger and two PhD students about communicating scientific work to the public.

Pantanos de Villa. Observation towers overlook this series of wetlands, a 263-hectare natural reserve near the ocean. There’s a lot to see hidden in the marshes, reed beds, lagoons, and mudflats which more than 200 bird species (including the Peruvian thick-knee, Andean coot, and great grebe for any curious bird enthusiasts) call home. You can also spot plenty of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. We enjoyed exploring by boat and on foot. This is a protected area for biodiversity, and its role in water purification and flood control, and as a buffer against the sprawl of urban life in Lima.

El Centro de Lima. This is the center of the city—rich with centuries of history—where we talked about colonial Peru, modern Peruvian politics, and visited the catacombs.

Villa El Salvador. This low-income, relatively autonomous urban area began as a shanty town created by people fleeing violence in the 1970s and now sprawls into the hills, facing a number of significant challenges. We visited Luis’s friend Aurora who showed us the exercise and dance studio she runs from her home and met a family with a young girl named Pamela who is quadriplegic. We also went to Olla Común - a “comedor popular,” or soup kitchen, in the same area, where the community gets together to offer very low-cost meals to people in need. It was an emotional day that one student described in her blog as having the themes of “love and community.” She also wrote, “This day is a defining moment in my college career.”

Instituto Geofísico del Peru (IGP). One of Peru’s oldest research institutions, IGP is a center for the study of seismology, volcanology, geomagnetism, atmospheric sciences, and oceanography. In the seismology center, we saw where they monitor and publish information related to earthquakes in Peru. Because of the country’s location in the Pacific Ring of Fire, there’s great effort to understand seismic events and improve preventative efforts. We were presented with IGP’s research on “El Niño” and the impact of this weather phenomenon on both Peru and the wider world. We also learned about IGP’s communication strategies and efforts to make scientific research more accessible and attractive to the general public.

Ojo Público. An independent, alternative media outlet focusing on digital investigative journalism, Ojo Público (“Public Eye”) welcomed us for a visit. “We met Aramis Castro, a journalist specializing in environmental journalism,” Luis shared. “He told us about a few projects he is working on, reporting on the depredation of the Peruvian rainforest, animal trafficking, and other topics. Our students were engaged in this conversation, asking Aramis about his experience in the field, challenges, and opportunities.”

Mercado N° 1 in Surquillo. In the market, we learned how Peruvians approach grocery shopping and about the diversity of ingredients available in the country. Market treasures include fresh fruits like lucuma, chirimoya, and camu camu. We spotted local delicacies like guinea pig (cuy - which we ate later on the trip), staples like ahi peppers, different native potato varieties, and quinoa. There were Peruvian superfoods maca, sacha inchi, and purple corn, and ready-to-eat snacks like ceviche, empanadas, and skewers of grilled meat (anticuchos). We used this time to talk about food security and access to natural resources.

Cooking Class. Our hosts from Urban Kitchen taught us to cook two staple Peruvian foods: Lomo Saltado (sautéed beef diced with tomatoes and red onions, garnished with rice and fried potatoes) and ceviche de pescado—considered the “national dish” of Peru. This is raw fish, diced and marinated in salt and lime juice where the citric acid in the juice “cooks” fish without heat by denaturing the proteins. “No adventure in Peru can end without our students learning how to cook Peruvian food,” Luis said. “The highlight of this activity is our group having lunch together, eating what we collectively help cook!”

TAMBOPATA: WETLANDS, WALKS & WILDLIFE IN THE JUNGLE

“There are very few places in the world that still shelter extraordinary natural riches. Tambopata in the Peruvian Amazon is one of them.”  – Conservation International

From the bustling city, we ventured inland to spend six days in the Tambopata National Reserve (one of the last easily accessible virgin tropical rainforests in the world!).

Setting out on an early morning flight from Lima to the city of Puerto Maldonado in the Peruvian Amazon, we then boarded a bus to the port for our final leg of the journey: a boat that took us through the Madre de Dios River. After an hour of sailing, we arrived at the Inkaterra Amazon Field Station where staff rang a bell to welcome us!

Some highlights in Tambopata?

A Canopy Walk & River Island. Exploring the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway—a 1,129-ft system of two observation towers, eight platforms and seven hanging bridges 100-ft above the ground—was fascinating. We even got to see a sloth! Then we took a boat to the river island where we fed fruit to the monkeys. Along the way, we learned about endangered species and deforestation due to illegal mining and its effects in the amazon's biodiversity.

Learning About Plants. We visited a different lodge on the Inkaterra property which has a garden with different species of Amazonian plants. Inkaterra has been a pioneer in ecotourism for the past 30 years, and as part of their carbon offsetting initiative, they support local Brazil nut farmers. Our guide taught us how Brazil nuts are harvested and taken from their shells. We learned that these can be eaten raw.

Lake Sandoval in Puerto Maldonado. After a one-hour boat ride and a half hour hike, we hopped into a canoe to explore Lake Sandoval—home to river otters and black caimans. It is said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the Amazon. We got to see a few impressive sights: several species of bird, a wonderful sunset, and an adult caiman!

Valencia Lake. About six miles from the border with Bolivia, we went fishing for piranhas and cooked them for lunch. The students then had a refreshing swim near the shore of the lake (away from the piranhas, of course). 

Aguaje Wetlands. Wetlands in the Amazon are very important, serving as a natural filtration system. We visited one that was home to the Aguaje tree. Its fruit is used to make juices and ice cream—a true delicacy in the Amazon.

Night Forest Walk. On a search for spiders, snakes, bats and other nocturnal species, we enjoyed a night time walk in the rainforest.

CUSCO: QUECHA CULTURE & CONSERVATION IN MACHU PICCHU

"Cusco retains an air of enchantment and mystery, a city where the past breathes through every stone." – Hugh Thomson

Before flying home to the US, we spent five days in Cusco.

Cusco City. In the city of Cusco, we explored the temple of the Sun, Qorikancha—one of the most important temples of the Inca Empire (once covered, inside and out, in gold). We visited San Pedro market and the fortress Sacsayhuaman (shaped like a bolt of thunder)—home to the Inty Raimy celebration each June.

Universidad Andina. In Universidad Andina, we met with faculty to discuss their research on biodiversity in Machu Picchu, the connection between infrastructure and ecosystems, and how Andean culture and capitalism influence the farming community.

Sacred Valley of the Incas. We ventured through parts of this 70-mile stretch of land through the valley of the Andes mountains from Cusco to Machu Picchu. There’s a series of towns, settlements, and ruins where the Quechua language thrives in local communities. We visited Chinchero, a village nicknamed “the birthplace of the rainbow” for its colorful textiles made from alpaca wool. We stopped by the Maras Salt Mines, which are still in use today, and the ruins of Moray which show how ecologically sensible the Inca people were. Our last stop here was Ollantaytambo, an ancient military outpost.

Machu Picchu. The Inca Rail took us on a scenic journey to see the iconic Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Crowded as expected, but well worth the trip! We learned that it’s one of the Wonders of the World that has become carbon neutral, meaning they offset the impact from visitors.

LOOKING BACK & LOOKING AHEAD 

On our WeTravel page, Professor Takahashi wrote, “Excellent work by all the EdOdyssey staff, particularly Luis. Planning, logistics, troubleshooting, etc were handled professionally and expertly. I highly recommend them and will work with them again.”

We look forward to it! 

If you’re interested in running a custom program with us, in Peru or one of our other host countries—Canada, Chile, China, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, or even a domestic program in the US—our custom programs page is linked below. Reach out to start a conversation.