Facilities at CICRA

CICRA's campus occupies a high terrace above the Madre de Dios River. Originally constructed as a mining camp in the 1980s, the camp was renovated and expanded by ACCA in 2000. Today, the 24 buildings at CICRA are distributed across a 2-ha lawn shaded by fruit trees, criss-crossed by Brazil nut and bamboo trails, and visited by monkey troops. Water comes from a stream-fed reservoir behind camp. Electricity is provided by solar-powered battery banks and a 3-kW generator.

 

Labs and researcher offices

Researchers arriving at the station are assigned bench space in one of the three 50-m2 labs, as well as a desk in the office on the second floor of the lab building. The second floor also houses the station's >500-volume scientific library (click here for a list), as well as a well-stocked reader's library. Wi-fi internet access is available in the labs for 15 hours each day.

Course center

Next to the lab, the course center houses a 30-seat lecture hall on the first floor and office space for instructors on the second floor. The lecture hall is the site of the station's Tuesday night lecture series, where researchers give talks with a light projector.

Lodging

CICRA sleeps 60 visitors in nine thatched-roof private cabins and two large dormitories. Most rooms are furnished with beds, closets, a desk and chair, and private bathrooms with running water, showers, and flush toilets. Accomodations are cleaned daily by the station's cleaning staff. Sheets, towels, pillows, and mosquito netting are provided.

Dining

The 40-seat dining hall is the heart of the research station -- the place where researchers and staff come together for meals, relaxation and chats on the porch. Cuisine is a mix of Andean and international dishes. Meals typically include soup, a main course of rice, chicken, beef, or fish, and vegetables. Vegetarian options are available on request. Snacks are available in the dining hall throughout the day.

Useful plants garden

In June 2006, Antonio Montero, a leading medicinal plant expert from Iquitos, installed a 400-m2 useful plants garden adjacent to the station. The garden showcases >100 labeled species of medicinal, edible, and ornamental plants. A small shelter in the garden serves as an open air classroom.

The stairs

The bad news about CICRA's impressive facilities is that they perch on a 40-m terrace overlooking the Madre de Dios River. Visitors arriving by boat are greeted with an invigorating climb up more than 250 steps. The stunning views from the camp's cliffside vantage offer ample compensation for that climb.

Other infrastructure

On the trails around CICRA are a 60-m radio tower, a landing strip, a canopy walkway, several permanent tree plots, and other attractions.