JBL Expedition to see discus in Peru

In September 2025 the JBL Expedition #20 will set off for the Andes and the jungle of Peru. Apply on the JBL homepage (www.jbl.de/expedition) to go with the JBL research team.

The JBL expedition will visit a wide variety of habitats, from the Iquitos at the Amazon (the ornamental fish centre of South America) to the remote regions of indigenous peoples in the lowland rainforests of Peru. Lake Titicaca with its toothcarps, located in the Andes at an altitude of 3800 m, is also on the agenda. An optional excursion to the world-famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu can be added for anyone who wants it.

The participants will always be divided into small teams on site, so that there will never be too many people at one biotope at the same time. In the blackwater of the Rio Nanay near Iquitos, we’ll have underwater observations of discus fish on the agenda. We’ll have four days to examine the biotopes in the jungle. Then journey will continue by plane to Tarapoto, where we’ll search for animals, snorkel and take water measurements for three and a half days. Terrarium enthusiasts will have the chance to search for creepy-crawlies on land and in the water at each site. So little is known about the freshwater fauna of these areas!

From Tarapoto we’ll fly to Puno at Lake Titicaca, via Lima (one overnight stay). At Puna we plan to search for the the endemic butterfly splitfins and enjoy local culture. If you don't mind a water temperature of 13 °C, you’ll also be able to observe the fish under water.

From Puno we’ll be returning to Germany via Lima, or else to the participants' home countries. If you want you can continue travelling for an extra charge. Then it's a bus trip to Cusco and a train journey along the snow-covered Andes peaks to Machu Picchu, 75 km away and definitely the most famous Inca site in the world. An eight-kilometre walk takes you uphill to the ruins.

The expedition will last about 12 days (flight schedules are not yet available) and can be extended by 3 days with the optional trip to Machu Picchu in the Andes. The price of the trip will be about €3.500. The extension option will cost about €300.

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