When One Village Becomes Your World For a Week
Each spring, a team of Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) volunteers travels deep into the Peruvian Amazon to embed in one community for four full days of hands-on project work.
From March 28 to April 5, 2026, we invite you to be part of this incredible tradition by rolling up your sleeves in support of projects chosen by the community to meet a real need.
From building an outdoor classroom to finishing a school kitchen, your work will help students and families access education, food and clean drinking water.
No construction experience? No problem. We need painters, organizers, art leaders, cheerleaders and extra hands. Whether you swing a hammer or do hands-on activities with students, there’s a place for you on this team.
You’ll also spend a day traveling by boat to multiple communities along the Amazon and Napo rivers to deliver school supplies. These visits often include local dances, music, games and the chance to connect directly with students and teachers.
Trip Details
Location: Iquitos + Amazon River communities
Dates: March 28 – April 5, 2026
Cost: $1,950 / per person
Deposit: $500 by [Oct. 31, 2025]
Balance Due: [Dec. 31, 2025]
You’ll stay in Explorama Lodges along the river. Rooms are comfortable, with mosquito nets, filtered water and clean beds. Explore all lodges.
Each day, you’ll spend time in local communities, interact with the people who call these communities home and conserve the rainforest, and take part in community projects chosen and guided by the needs of the community. You’ll also have time to explore the rainforest through included potential excursions.
Included
- Lodging and all meals during the trip
- River and ground transportation
- Local guides and program staff
- School supplies
- Guided excursions
Not Included
- Airfare to Iquitos
- Travel insurance, vaccinations
- Extra nights lodging
- Souvenirs and snacks
- Medical costs
Potential Excursions
Canopy Walkway
500 meters long, 115 feet high. One of the world’s longest rainforest walkways.
Wildlife Sightseeing
Join expert local guides for immersive hikes through the rainforest.
Medicinal Garden + Shaman Visit
Meet a local shaman and learn how rainforest plants are used for healing.
Yagua Village
Visit a neighboring Yagua community to learn about Indigenous life along the river.
Molasses & Rum Distillery
Tour a local sugar cane farm and sample traditional molasses and regional rum flavors.
Piranha Fishing
Try catching piranhas with the help of local guides — with luck, you’ll catch dinner.
Ceiba Tops Lodge
Unwind from the day in a hammock, by the pool or at a riverfront lounge.
Why It Matters
This is what it means to show up with instead of for. Your presence supports real access to education, health and opportunity — and your experience will stay with you long after the project ends.
Space is Limited
These trips are small by design, and spots fill fast.
If you want to go, we encourage you to fill out the interest form early.
Express Interest