TIPUTINI BIODIVERSITY STATION

ECUADORIAN RAINFOREST

MARCH 2026

Why Tiputini?

What will we do on the trip?

Day 1

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Travel to Quito

Day 2

Morning

• Arrive in Quito early in the AM
• Check into hotel and rest

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Afternoon

• Trip to Otavalo Market
• Tour around Old Town

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Night

• Dinner and rest before travel to Amazon next day

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Days 3-4

Morning

• Travel to TBS. Lots of fauna can be observed during the boat ride in the Tiputini river. Packed lunch

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Afternoon

• Arrival to TBS (3-4PM). Orientation and settling in

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Night

• Dinner and optional night hike

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Day 5

Morning

• Breakfast
• Early visit to Canopy Tower to see birds and primates (10 species!)

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Afternoon

• Lunch and rest
• Hike on one of the trails, looking for birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals

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Night

• Information session about the Station Projects by a permanent visitor-researcher

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Day 6

Morning

• Breakfast
• Hike and visit to the lake to see unique birds and search for an anaconda

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Afternoon

• Lunch and rest
• River float on the Tiputini river looking for wildlife including giant river otters and pink river dollphins. Yes they are pink! And yes you can swim in the river!

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Night

• Dinner and optional night hike or float to observe caimans (weather dependent)

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Days 6-10

Thematic Hikes

• Focused on specific topics like medicinal plants, insects, rainforest adaptations, fungus, etc.
• Simply looking for interesting species for photography

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Mineral Licks

• Visits to different clay licks, areas within the tropical forest that contain a great amount of of exposed soil
• Frequent animals include deer, tapirs, peccaries, monkeys, and JAGUARS

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Lectures

• Permanent researchers are happy to give a lecture on their subject of research. Great opportunity to learn more and get involved

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Days 6-10

Blackwater Stream Visit

• Unique ecosystem to this part of Amazonia home to species not likely to be seen in other parts of the forest�

Night Observations

• Bats or insects with the help of light traps to observe the astonishing diversity of insects and arthropods at the station

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Camera Trap Project

• Help in the collection of data and setting up of camera-traps as part of an ongoing project at TBS since 2004 that studies different species of fauna present in the ecosystem.

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Days 6-10

Primate Project

• Assist primatologist in their monitoring of the primate community present at Tiputini
• Follow monkeys that are tagged with radio and GPS collars and learn methodologies and techniques to study them�

River Turtle Project

• Depending on time of year, assist in conservation project
• Collaborate on the look for nests, collection of eggs, construction of beds at TBS, and release turtles into wild

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Days 11-13

Morning

• Breakfast
• Trip back to Coca�

Afternoon

• Trip back to Quito

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Night

• Travel back home

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What will the travel look like?

Quito to Coca: 40 minute flight

90 minute motorized boat down the Napo River to the village of Pompeya and the entrance to the Repsol-YPF oil operation in Block 16

2 hour drive to reach the Tiputini River

2 hour motorized boat along the Tiputini River to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station, our final destination!

What are the facilities?

Accommodations

• Cabins with two rooms
• Large screened windows
• Ample ventilation and light
• Full bath with a flush toilet and shower!

Learning Space

• Library
• Classroom space
• Limited wireless internet access

Dining Hall

• Delicious international/Ecuadorian food
• Overlooks the river
• Open-air

Canopy Tower

• 45 meter (148 foot) canopy tower provides access to the uppermost parts of the canopy

Trails

• 40km of trails
• Access to all habitats
• Well-marked

Cost

• Estimated $6000 CAD (variation depending on flights)
• Talk to me about any specific questions about budget

Who Can Apply?

• Incoming Grade 11s and 12s - YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE TAKING BIOLOGY!

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• Application will include:
• Letter stating why you would like to join the trip
• References from two teachers about maturity, positive character, and desire to learn/be curious�
• Applications due by end of school year. Send to sean.hackerteper@brentwood.ca

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Tiputini Biodiversity Station Video