The Tiputini Biodiversity Station was established in 1995 by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito , in collaboration with Boston University , to accommodate the academic community and discerning naturalists. The station and nearby areas include a variety of habitats ranging from upland forest, seasonally-flooded lowland forest, palm swamps, and other wetlands, such as small oxbow lakes and streams. As local species lists grow, we can expect to catalog over 500 species of birds, over 230 species of mammals, several hundred species of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles, and thousands of fungi, plant, and insect species. The lab is equipped with computers, microscopes, centrifuges, drying ovens, and standard cases for voucher specimens. In addition to the panoramic view of the rainforest, visitors and researchers can observe rarely seen plants and animals found only in the canopy.
Accommodations are rustic but comfortable, and include private bathrooms and electricity.
Housing is available for up to 32 students and 14 scientists or ecotourists. An open-air dining lodge offers complete meal service. Buildings are generously spaced so that you are always just a step away from an extensive network of trails. A solar-powered weather station provides continuous recording of air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and solar radiation. A motorized canoe is available for local river transportation.