Outreach Trips - Amazon Promise

Volunteering in the Amazon is a unique opportunity*

Join us in the Peruvian Amazon and get ready for a life-changing experience! We welcome medical, dental and non-medical volunteers to work alongside our Peruvian staff and participate in a one-, or two-week Amazon Promise medical outreach trip. In addition, we offer special internship opportunities for medical/dental, physician assistant, public health and nursing students. Amazon Promise may facilitate additional trip dates for groups of 6 or more medical professionals who wish to work and travel together.

Your volunteer experience is not free of charge, but we do all we can to minimize costs. Your contribution of hands-on fieldwork plus the financial donation you make through your trip fees are the backbone of the help Amazon Promise gives to the people of Peru.

Upcoming Trips

Open to all international medical professionals, medical/dental/nursing/physician associate/MPH students and non-medical volunteers.

We are now accepting volunteer applications for our one-week medical outreach teams in 2025.

April 5 – 12, 2025 One Week

July 12 – 19, 2025 One Week

October 11 – 18, 2025 One Week

Amazon Promise will provide primary health and dental care, laboratory testing services and health education in jungle communities of the lower Ucayali river or the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Some trips may include a one-day clinic in an underserved urban neighborhood of Iquitos.

One-week trip cost is $1,450 and includes a combination of jungle lodging and city hotel accommodations, all boat and bus transportation, meals while in the jungle, medical and clinic operational supplies, interpreters, and other logistical costs including post-trip patient care. Meals while in the city of Iquitos are not included except for lunch on day of departure for the jungle.

Open to all medical professionals and student applicants (medical/dental/nursing/nurse practitioner/physician associate). We can accept one non-medical volunteer per trip.

For further information please contact Jacqueline Carroll.

This is a unique opportunity for students to gain important global health experience working alongside seasoned Peruvian and US physician preceptors – spaces fill quickly, so get your Application in now!

Trips are scheduled months in advance to ensure we have enough volunteers to cover costs of boats, fuel, staff, medications/clinic supplies, housing, post-trip patient care, and other logistics. All teams require a minimum of 6 volunteers. We will notify you at least 45 days in advance that a trip will be cancelled if it appears a team will not have enough participants.

Application

Ready to apply? Please fill out this simple digital form, or download the form and mail it to us.

Trip Application - Online Form

Application process

Read more about the application process for joining us on a medical outreach trip. Click here.

Travel Policy

Click here for the Amazon Promise travel & cancellation policy.

What to Expect

What can I expect as a medical volunteer?

MD, PA, NP, RN, Med Students, etc.

Medical volunteers provide the needed medical services, including consultations and performing minor procedures at Amazon Promise clinics.

All members of the team work together to provide the best in patient care.

A Peruvian MD is on-site for consultation as well. The most common health problems can be categorized into acute, chronic, and serious conditions. They include:

Acute: gastritis, diarrhea, parasites, URI (all types), headaches, pneumonia, STDs, UTIs, skin diseases (tinea-all types, impetigo, cellulitis, viral-herpes/varicella, abscesses, scabies, lice), back pain, general body aches, seizures, dehydration, and conjunctivitis

Chronic: asthma, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, anemia, pterygium, cataracts, malnourishment, depression, alcoholism, domestic abuse, dental disease

Serious: lacerations, snake bites, ray stings, catfish barbs, burns, untreated wounds, TB, incarcerated/strangulated hernias, HIV, severe dehydration, obstetric complications

What can I expect as a non-medical volunteer?

Volunteers without medical expertise provide essential support and services on every Promise medical team. Volunteers may assist in pharmacy and/or work in patient registration, signing people in to the clinic and weigh and or measure children and babies.

Volunteers may also work in wound care where they help to wash hair and help treat various skin problems that need attention. All volunteers are given the appropriate training to assist with their tasks.

For volunteers that speak Spanish, many help provide translating, and health education on topics like general hygiene and HIV/AIDS.

What can I expect as a dental volunteer?

The population in which Amazon Promise serves consumes a high amount of sucrose, obtained either through candy, cola, or sugarcane they grow in their community.

You will also see high rates of malnutrition and anemia that add to poor dental health. Dental care is in high demand.

There is no electricity at the clinic sites, but we do work with two portable dental units which allow our dental teams to provide not only extractions, but fillings and cleanings. Please bring a headlamp!

Frequently Asked Questions

Trip Fees

Trip Fees

Remote Jungle, One-Week Trip	usd$1,450
Remote Jungle, Two-Week Trip	usd$2,900

What does my one-week or two-week trip fee cover?

Lodging in the city and jungle, most meals, logistic support, boats, fuel, motors, support staff, interpreters, medical and dental supplies, medicines we distribute to our patients, and follow-up care.

What does my one-week trip fee cover?

Hotel in Iquitos (breakfast included), lunch during three clinic days, all clinic logistics, airport transfers in Iquitos to hotel, city tour, group excursion on free day.

*Note:

Hotel rooms are double occupancy. If you request a single room, there is an additional $33 cost per night. One-week trips: 2 to 3 nights, Two-week trips: 3 to 4 nights.

Trip Payments

How do I make a trip payment?

Trip payments can be made by check or credit card using:

A deposit of usd$300.00 is due at the time of application. The balance is due 45 days before the trip.

Send your deposit check to:

Amazon Promise,
PO Box 1304,
Newburyport, MA 01950, USA

Many volunteers choose to raise funds to help cover trip expenses. Contact Us for fundraising tips or more information.

Logistics

Will someone pick me up at the airport in Iquitos?

Yes, a representative from the hotel will meet you at the Iquitos airport and take you to your hotel. There is no extra charge.

I bought my flight to Lima, but I need to purchase a ticket to Iquitos. What do you recommend?

There are two airlines that fly to Iquitos from Lima, LATAM and Star Peru. LATAM (https://www.latam.com/en_us/) is the most on-time, and the most expensive. Star (starperu.com) is often late in departing, and sometimes has a stopover. Please go to their websites to see updated fares.

I may need to stay overnight in Lima. Do you have any recommendations for a hotel and transportation?

Depending on the length of your stay in Lima and your budget, here are a couple of options:

HOTELS IN LIMA

If you are arriving into Lima late, and are flying out early the next day, there are a few hotels near the airport that are safe and provide an opportunity to catch a few hours of sleep before your next flight.

Please go to http://www.tripadvisor.com/HotelsNear-g294316-qLIM-Lima_Lima_Region.html for a list of hotels (with reviews) located near the airport.

Many Amazon Promise volunteers stay at the either:

Manhattan Inn Airport Hotel, www.hmanhattan.com.pe just a 5 – 10 minute ride from the airport or.
The Holiday Inn Lima Airport (Link to Holiday Inn Lima’s website) located across the street from the airport that has a free shuttle service running every 30 minutes.

If you have an entire day (or more) in Lima:

3B Hostal is a modern boutique style hostel located in the neighborhood of Barranco, known as the Soho of Lima for its nightlife, art scene, and bohemian community. Rates are $66 (and up) per night plus airport pickup (www.3bhostal.com)

Second Home Peru (www.secondhomeperu.com) is a beautiful B&B located in Barranco. Once home to the Peruvian sculptor Victor Delfin, this guesthouse has 5 rooms, some with ocean views. Rates start at $135.

JW Marriott Hotel (www.marriott.com) offers luxurious accommodations in the district of Miraflores. Most rooms have ocean views, and the hotel overlooks a shopping and restaurant area known as Larcomar. Rates start at $150 per night. Check hotels.com for best rates.

TRANSPORTATION

Taking street taxis from the airport or anywhere in Lima is not advised. Amazon Promise strongly encourages volunteers to arrange transportation to their hotel prior to arrival, or if not, to only use official taxi services found inside the Lima airport. Most hotels will arrange for pickup at the airport. Once at your hotel, ask the concierge to arrange a taxi for you for outings.

If I have a problem with my flight, how do I contact the Amazon Promise team in Iquitos?

If you are in the city of Iquitos (Loreto Province) dial direct 065-231683. If you are dialing from outside the Loreto province (i.e. Lima or another city in Peru), dial 065-231683. If calling from the U.S. dial 011-51-65-231683. You can also send an email to patty@amazonpromise.org please cc your email to adri_lujan_10@hotmail.com

Medical Supplies

Can I help bring medical supplies and medications?

Yes! In fact, we encourage all volunteers to help bring medical supplies and medications. Each volunteer is asked to bring the following items:

PERSONAL USE

Hand towel

Disposable wipes

Oral Rehydration Solution/Powdered Gatorade

Head lamp

Snacks

Exam Gloves

Duct Tape

CLINIC NEEDS

Vitamins: infant drops, children’s chewables, adult (no gummie vitamins, they melt!)

Reading and sun glasses, sterile saline eye drops, fungal ointment

Naproxen – adult

Acetaminophen – adult

If you are able, please bring a minimum of 1 bottle each of Naproxen and Acetaminophen to donate

In addition to the above list, volunteers can solicit donations for medical supplies and/or medications in their local community. A list of Amazon Promise’s most needed supplies can be found at Donate Medical Supplies.

If you do not have access to these supplies, large amounts of vitamins (infant drops, children’s chewables, and adult) would be greatly appreciated. Vitamins are in high demand and we cannot purchase them in Peru as they are too costly. When we have vitamins we distribute anywhere from 15,000 – 20,000 per trip.

Please do not bring gummy vitamins because they melt!

Language

Is it required for volunteers to speak Spanish?

No. Many Amazon Promise volunteers do not speak Spanish. At all clinic sites, interpreters are available to facilitate conversations. If you have another question that is not listed here, please contact Jackie Carroll, Volunteer Coordinator, at jackie@amazonpromise.org.

Academic Credits

Can I get academic credit?

Many students who participate do receive credit at their universities. Check with your program coordinator to see if your time working with Amazon Promise qualifies.

Travel & Cancellation Policy

Promise Medical Expedition Trip Dates are final. However, Amazon Promise may facilitate additional dates for groups of 7 or more people who wish to work and travel together.
All deposits for trip fees are due at the time of application. Deposits are non-refundable. However, deposit may be applied to another Promise Expedition within 12 months.
Trip fees are due in full 45 days prior to the expedition start date. Due to the impact of volunteer cancellations on the entire Promise Expedition, trip fees are non-refundable.
Trip cancellations by Amazon Promise are very uncommon.* Amazon Promise will notify volunteers of cancellation no later than 45 days prior to expedition start date. If Amazon Promise must cancel an expedition, it will fully refund trip fees, or apply fees to another Promise Medical Expedition within the next year, at the volunteer’s discretion.
All volunteers who are accepted to accompany a Promise Medical Expedition must register with the U.S. Embassy or other relevant embassy in Lima, Peru. All volunteers are required to purchase medical evacuation insurance. We use United Healthcare Global www.uhcsafetrip.com/.
It is strongly recommended that volunteers purchase trip cancellation insurance at the time they purchase their airline tickets.

Packing and Preparing for Travel

Preparing for Travel

Preparing for your time in Iquitos and for the jungle experience is part of the adventure.

DEPARTURE
We ask that you arrange your air travel to arrive in Iquitos, Peru, on Saturday of the first weekend listed on your trip schedule. For your return flight home, you will be returning to Iquitos from the jungle by noon on Friday of your last week. We do have a final dinner scheduled Friday evening, and most everyone leaves the following day. However, if your travel plans require you to leave Iquitos Friday, it’s best to plan an evening flight should any problems arise. For Pastaza and Aguarunas ‘remote’ teams, we travel on an oil company or Peruvian military plane, and the flights are not always dependable. They may return to Iquitos late on Friday, or be postponed until the following day, or later due to inclement weather. In the event of postponement, you may have the option to fly directly to Lima from the oil base in Andoas or Saramiriza.

You can purchase your domestic flights, Lima/Iquitos/Lima, directly from LATAM Airlines Perú (formerly LAN Perú S.A.) or starperu.com. LAN, although higher priced, is the most reliable for on-time flights and has more non-stop options. In Lima, several trip members have enjoyed staying at 3B in Barranco, which is fun if you have more than just one night in Lima before heading to Iquitos. Arrangements can also be made by 3B to pick you up at the airport after you arrive in Peru. For more Lima options, please see Logistics under the FAQ section.

PASSPORT
A valid passport is required, but a visa is not for most travelers to Peru. If you do not have a passport, allow three months from time of application and tell the passport office the date it is needed. If necessary, the passport offices will FedEx your passport to you but you will need to provide them with a credit card number for this service. Your passport should not be within six months of expiration while traveling and must have at least one full empty page for stamps. Please renew early if necessary. Bring a minimum of two photocopies of your passport photo page. Your photo must be visible on the copy.

US Passport information: http://travel.state.gov

Visa information: www.embassyworld.com/Visa_Search/Visa_Search.html.

VACCINATIONS
Vaccination certificates are only required for trips labeled as ‘remote’. If you are traveling with our team to either the Pastaza or Upper Maranon rivers (remote trip), then you will need to show your Yellow Fever, Hepatitis B and COVID certificates. We strongly recommend you see your physician a minimum of six weeks before the departure date to help you decide what immunizations you need to have. If you will be doing additional travel within South America, a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate will be necessary to cross borders. Further vaccination information is available at: www.cdc.gov/travel/. Most volunteers take anti-malarial medications.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
You must provide Amazon Promise with proof of medical evacuation insurance prior to your departure for Peru. We suggest www.uhcsafetrip.com. We ask that you purchase trip cancellation/interruption coverage through your local travel agent.

MEALS
While in Iquitos continental breakfast is included at your hotel. Lunch is included on clinic days, but not during non-clinic days. Dinner in Iquitos is not included in the trip fee. All meals during the jungle portion of the trip are included. Plenty of potable water is available at all times. Meals on jungle trips are very good, with lots of fresh fish, local fruits, beans, rice, and vegetables. We bring a cook with us on all trips. Bring your own snack items, such as trail mix, candy, breakfast bars, fruit leather, jerky, nuts, Gatorade. There are a couple of grocery stores in Iquitos where you can purchase large bottles of water and more local snacks. *The Peruvian staff always appreciates any extra bars of dark chocolate!

MEDICAL SUPPLIES If you have room in your luggage after packing and would like to bring some medical supplies to donate, GREAT! We need most everything, but topical antifungals, steroid, and antibiotic ointments, sterile saline eye drops, light-weight adjustable canes, alcohol wipes, and vitamins, particularly for children, are most in demand and too costly to purchase in Peru. Finally, we always need reading and sunglasses. If you contact your local Lions Club, they will often provide them. Given enough lead time, they can supply you with reading glasses which are cleaned and labeled in an individualized plastic sleeve.

Packing

Do you have a recommended packing and preparation list?

Yes! Please see the printable Trip Preparation List full details.

Additionally, medical volunteers should bring their own equipment, such as stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, otoscope, etc. and at least one box of non-sterile gloves for your own use. We attempt to have gloves available, but we may not have what you specifically need or desire.

What to Bring for ALL Trips

PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT
Please advise us of any special dietary needs, health concerns, or physical limitations in advance. Talk with your doctor about prescriptions and precautions, and carry a well-stocked personal first aid comfort kit. (For remote camping tent-based trips we will provide a special list.) Among items to consider:

Extractor kit– not so much for possible snakebites, but for serious ant or bee stings
After-bite preparations to reduce stinging and itching
Anti-diarrhea preparations such as bismuth and a 3-day course of Ciprofloxacin
Oral Rehydration Solution – ORS (Gatorade, Crystal Light, etc. are good for mixing with the ORS to give flavor but will not rehydrate you when used alone)
Sanitary supplies – Come prepared for the unexpected. Carry a few extra plastic bags for used sanitary supplies
Bottled drinking water is provided. Individuals with very sensitive digestion or traveling far from camp may want further security with a personal filter and/or water purifying tablets
Moleskin for blisters
Noxema, Tea Tree Oil facial pads – They’re cool and refreshing during long clinic hours
Wet Ones for those days in remote areas when we won’t be able to bathe.

ITEMS FOR YOUR HEALTH AND COMFORT

CLOTHING
Overall dry-fit fabrics have a big advantage over cotton as things just don’t dry well in the jungle. But they’re thin and mosquitoes can bite through them. Army Navy and second-hand stores are great sources for clothing as well.

Casual clothing for city use. Hospital scrubs are cool and fast drying
T-shirts, camp shirts; tank tops offer less sun protection
Long and short sleeved cotton shirts. (Long for sun and bug protection)
Long and short cotton pants. Go for loose fitting, breathable pants. Lots of pockets and Velcro or ties at the ankles to keep the bugs out. Many people invest in convertible pants… and never unzip them. (Typical wear is short-sleeved shirt with long pants instead of shorts)
Lightweight rain poncho
Swimsuit/towel
Hat to protect you from the sun. VERY IMPORTANT!
Sneakers
Cotton socks long enough to tuck your pants into to keep bugs out
Waterproof or water-resistant hiking boots
Shower shoes/sandals/Tevas or another sandal that won’t come off in the water
Fleece or lightweight jacket – it can get chilly at night
Sunglasses – Always good to bring an extra pair in case yours are lost or broken
Many volunteers purchase inexpensive rubber boots in Iquitos to take to the jungle. However, if you have size 13 (or greater) you should probably bring your own. We often have several which have been donated by previous volunteers that you can borrow if available.

FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

Camera with a large memory card, charger, extra battery (as applicable)
Silica gel to dry out your airtight camera case (or a zip loc bag to keep it in)
Playing cards
Paperback books or E-book reader
You can recharge anything using our generator
For remote trips a small volume Solar Shower to be placed in the sun to give you a warm shower at the end of the day.

CAMPING GEAR
The luxury of being based out of an actual lodge or camp that has toilets and showers is only possible on the Yarapa, lower Ucayali River trips. (Please check to see which area you’re going to be working in.) Remote Pastaza or Aguarunas trips are based solely on camping, and we will be sleeping in tents in the villages where we work. For camping, bring an inflatable sleeping pad for your comfort and a backpacking tent. A sleeping bag is not necessary, but a lightweight flat sheet or cotton sleep sack/light sleeping bag liner is needed. If you bring a tent, bring one that is self-supporting (does not need to be tied to anything) with good ventilation and a plastic tarp for a ground cover. Also, make sure your tent has a good rain cover that goes from the top at least half way down to the ground.

MONEY
All expenses are included in your expedition fee except the following:

ITEMS TO DONATE OR TRADE

Clothing – Adult and children’s summer wear in good condition. (no stains or holes)
Boots, sneakers, sandals – generally smaller sizes
School supplies – pencils, sharpeners, notebooks, etc.
Fishing line and hooks
Sewing supplies
Tools
Cooking utensils
PLEASE DO NOT BRING CANDY TO PASS OUT TO CHILDREN

Just about everything you can think of and then some. Also, camping gear and clothing are a much-appreciated gift to our Peruvian staff.

HOW TO PACK
Duffel bags, suitcases of ballistic nylon, or wheeled backpacks are all fine. Always keep your bags zipped or closed to prevent surprises of insects and other creepy crawlers. If you bring medical supplies, just mix it in with the rest of your supplies. Another trick is to pack some of your clothing in large Ziploc bags – it’s quite a treat to have a nice dry shirt to wear after a wet, sweaty day in the jungle!

What else to Bring for Remote Trips Into Indigenous Areas - Pastaza River & Aguarunas

All Pastaza River and Aguarunas remote trip volunteers must be in good shape, have traveled and camped in rough, remote regions previously and be accepting and willing to participate in local cultural life. Remote trips are thrilling, adventurous and full of discovery as you work in true indigenous villages, but they can also be very challenging and difficult. You should be able to hike through swampy jungle, be prepared for unexpected schedule changes, be willing to travel by helicopter or small plane, be prepared for long cramped boat rides and intense heat and humidity. In general you should be a low-maintenance traveler! Due to the small numbers allowed on these trips, it’s best to know basic Spanish (but not necessary). It’s our goal to accommodate all who wish to participate in an Amazon Promise medical trip, but please note that the remote trips are not for everyone.

All meals while on the jungle portion of the trip are included in the trip fee. However as stated above, meals while in the city, other than the team dinner at the end of the trip, are not included in the trip fee. You will need to bring your own tent and camping supplies for all remote medical trips.

Volunteer Medical Outreach Trips