One of the coolest parts of my semester abroad in Peru was getting the chance to spend three days in the Amazon rainforest.
After spending most of the semester in urban environments, arriving in Puerto Maldonado felt like stepping into a completely different world. The weather and the surroundings were so different to those in the Andes!
One of my favorite memories was walking along a trail through the middle of the rainforest. Seeing nothing but trees stretching for miles was incredible, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for just how huge the Amazon really is. We even spotted monkeys swinging through the trees and, on a boat ride, colorful macaws flying overhead. We saw capybaras relaxing by the river, and got up close to caymans that had ventured onto the land.
The wildlife was definitely a highlight of the trip!
One thing I wasn’t expecting was how much there was to learn. Our guides taught us about different plants, animals, and the rainforest ecosystem everywhere we went, as well as how the different native communities live and work on their properties. It made the experience feel like so much more than just sightseeing.
Looking back, I think what made the trip so special was how unique it was from anywhere I’d ever been before and getting to experience it firsthand was something I’ll always be grateful for. 