Become an expedition member with Mundo Azul

What is a Mundo Azul Expedition?

Well, first let’s define what it is not:

1. Mundo Azul is not a tourism operator but a non-profit organization. By letting you take part in a Mundo Azul nature exploration expedition we are not providing a service to you, we are not selling you a product, or trip, or a tourist package.  Therefore we are not to be held responsible for anything going wrong during an expedition, neither are we responsible  for anything that is different  from that which you expected. We will ask you to sign a no-liability form before any expedition. Please be aware of the fact and check with your travel insurers – they may not agree to cover any potential risks associated with these kind of expeditions.
2. When taking part in an expedition into unchartered territory or while exploring wild nature, new dive sites or other places you are necessarily exposed to risks of damage to equipment, physical injury or even death. We will calculate and prepare for dangers involved to the best of our  knowledge and based on the experience we have. However we most likely don’t know the places ourselves, as this is an expedition. As an expedition member you therefore may have to make decisions about your level of involvement and what you are willing to do or take part in at any point in time depending on the situation and the progress of the expedition. We just don’t know what might happen and trust that expedition members are people capable to make reasonable and responsible decisions about what risk to take and which one not.

So, what is a Mundo Azul Expedition?

It’s simply us being curious to learn about places we don’t know. A Mundo Azul Expedition might provide baseline information for a future research program because we discovered something worth studying in detail. It might end in total disappointment because the place is simply boring and nothing special or because something went wrong. Or it may just be great fun and an experience to be remembered. That’s what expeditions are all about: You might find something extraordinary – or not.  At least you tried.

So – if you are willing to try out something without knowing what will come out of it, if you are willing to take reasonable risks, if you are interested in the places detailed below or the expeditions,…

Just write to us and we will decide together if we do this and how.

If you have your own idea, write to us too – if it’s feasible and fits in with our goals …. we may just have a new expedition ! 

1. Mini-Dive Expedition (just to warm up)

About 20 km south of Pucusana port and about 2 km off the coast of Leon Dormido is a rock reef or shallow. Such places are usually full of fish. When passing by during our dolphin research trips we rarely see fishermen diving there. So there is a good chance of encountering a great new diving spot. Definitely we don’t know of any recreational scuba diver ever having dived there (and we know most of the divers in Lima). So this would most likely be a new found scuba diving location. Here is the deal: We provide the boat (our Ocean Spirit, 27 feet yacht) and you (and your friends) cover the gasoline costs (about 560 Nuevos Soles) – and off we go. We can help you with renting your diving equipment and tanks.  Interested? CLICK HERE to write to us.

2. Diving at Pachacamac Island

Same deal as above. This time we are interested in the small rocky outcrops south of Pachacamac Island. Most likely we are talking about rock-towers coming up from the sea floor and lots of boulders in-between. Most likely there is a great kelp forest down there and lots of morays. Put in 560 Soles for the gasoline and down we dive. We can help you with  renting your diving equipment and tanks.  CLICK HERE to write to us.

3. Islas “Las Hormigas”

This one is a tough one. Islas Hormigas are some rocky outcrops located about 25 miles north of Lima and about 40 miles off-shore. They are so small they are not really worth being called “islands” and definitely you can’t land on them. They are located on the continental shelf break. People tell us about big sharks seen under water. Whales should pass by frequently and others talk about Manta rays having been observed jumping out of the water. We will definitely see lots of dolphins on the way and most likely have some excellent encounters with albatrosses. 

This expedition will last at least 4 days and you can’t expect any luxury. In order to get there we would use the Ocean Spirit, our 27 feet Yacht. There is a toilet on board, but no beds. The small cabin (where the toilet is located) offers space for two people to sleep and the deck offers space for upto four more people sleeping on the floor. We will take water with us, diving equipment and we will live off canned food because there are no cooking  facilities on board. We would need a minimum of two additional expedition members in order to set this up. Expedition cost: 600 $US per person to cover gasoline and food costs.  Interested? CLICK HERE to write to us.

4. Amazon River Dolphin Expedition: July 2012 

There are two species of dolphins in the Peruvian Amazon: the Amazon river dolphin or boto (Inia geoffrensis) and the Sotalia or Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis).

The Amazon River dolphin is the largest of all river dolphins, weighing up to 180 kg (400 lb) with a length up to 2.6 m (8.5′). Most adult Amazon river dolphins are pink, although some have a darker back or are partially gray.

The appearance of the tucuxi resembles that of a smaller bottlenose dolphin. The tucuxi is light grey to bluish-grey, on the back and pinkish to light grey on the belly, with a distinct boundary between the mouth gape and the flipper’s leading edge. On the sides, there is a lighter area between the flippers and the dorsal fin. The dorsal fin is triangular and may be slightly hooked at the tip. The beak is moderately slender and long. Body size reaches 152 cm in riverine species.

Both species are vulnerable to human-induced habitat changes and suffer some incidental mortality in fisheries. Other threats are: hydroelectric development; deforestation; and pollution from agriculture, industry and mining. In Peru there are several reports of Amazon River dolphins being poisoned by fishermen, who see them as competitors for fish. Another important problem for the Amazon River dolphins and tucuxis survival is the increasing overfishing of rainforest rivers. Consequently the river dolphin population is most dense where little fishing occurs (inside the Pacaya Samiria Reserve) and much lower in rivers which are heavily fished (outside the reserve).

There are no current population estimates for the Amazon River dolphins in Peru. The latest counts in some rivers within the protected area are from the mid-nineties and might not be valid anymore. Only when we know the actual population and their trends in different rivers can we design specific conservation strategies and initiate programs with the local people. Therefore we would like to make an expedition to the area with two objectives:

1. Get an initial estimate of how many dolphins are in the area

2. Check out the available infrastructure with a view to setting up a volunteer based, long-term population study.

The first rainforest expedition is planned for July 2012.

If you are interested in this expedition and want more information please contact us.

5. Puma and Condor Survey: April 2012

Take part in this exciting two-weeks wildlife research expedition in the Central Peruvian Andes and help us to establish a new protected area. This expedition is perfect for people who enjoy mountain trekking and for birders who can apply their skills by supporting the biodiversity assessment of the local bird fauna. In fact – this expedition offers something for everybody: trekking in the Andes, archeological sites from pre-Inca cultures, condors, hummingbirds, birds of prey, pumas, deer, amazing landscapes and an unforgettable outdoor experience far off the beaten path. And the best of all: you don’t need to be a scientist – everything you need in order to support the program you will learn from our dedicated biologists in the field.

Our goal is to implement a biodiversity assesment and investigate local condor and puma populations as first steps towards the declaration of a new protected area. 

As a Mundo Azul expedition member you will have the unique opportunity to take part in an effort to conserve pumas, condors and an entire habitat. While being in the survey area you also have the opportunity to visit the amazing archeological sites of Rupak and Chiprak being two former cities of the pre-inca culture the Atavillos. You will find entire cities with many intact two story buildings overlooking the valley from an altitude of 3,400 meters. You will be able to spot a huge number of birds of prey, humming birds and other species as well as vicuñas, deer and other wildlife.

If you are interested in this expeditions and want more information please CLICK HERE