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We are a conservation project working on the care of sea turtles, coastal monitoring, bird monitoring, and permaculture. We are located in Playa Ganadito, in Drake Bay, and our accommodation is a five-minute walk from the beach.
The work with sea turtles begins at night with night patrols; during the day, nursery checks, exhumations, and releases of baby turtles are carried out.
15 hours of help per week
Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens
Animal Care: Help look after and take care of animals.
Social Work: Help with volunteer work in local projects and communities.
Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.
Amount: US$ 30 Per day
Fee pays for: Benefits for travelers, Materials for volunteer activities, and Donation to project
Description: Volunteers will contribute $30 per night for meals, maintenance, cleaning, and the electric generator.
2 days off per week
Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.
Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Discounts on Tours: Get discounts for tours and excursions around town.
Free Hiking Tours: We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!
Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.
Permaculture Course: Take part in our Permaculture course for free.
Certificate: Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.
Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely
Dedicated Workspace: Specific space for you to work remotely
Intermediate English or Intermediate Spanish
Over 18 years old
Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
Our volunteer program is based on four fundamental pillars for environmental conservation: sea turtles, birdwatching, coastal monitoring, and permaculture. Activities vary slightly depending on the time of year you wish to visit us. However, during both seasons, we offer two theoretical training sessions: one on birdwatching and another on sea turtle biology. We also offer workshops such as coconut cheese making, seed bomb making, and tropical fruit tasting.
Activities change slightly depending on the time of year; the dry season runs from December to June and the rainy season from July to November.
Regarding the activity schedule, during the dry season, we work Monday through Friday mornings. On bird monitoring days, we start at 6:00 a.m. and take a break from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. for breakfast, after which we carry out one of the other activities mentioned. During the rainy season, we work Monday through Friday, but the schedule sometimes changes due to night patrols.
During the dry season, the number of turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs decreases considerably, dropping to just one or two turtles per month. Therefore, we no longer conduct night patrols. During December and January, hatchlings can still be observed emerging. The rest of the year, volunteers assist us with daytime walks on weekdays to look for turtle tracks or activity. If a turtle is found, we go together to relocate the nest to another area of the beach. As the season approaches, in May and June, designated areas are established on the beach, signs about the nesting season are posted, and volunteers sometimes help change the sand in the hatchery. The bird program involves observing and learning about bird behavior, identifying birds, collecting and studying data, and planting native plants that birds use for food or shelter. Coastal monitoring consists of weekly beach cleanups, during which the debris found is analyzed, and sea level rise and sand erosion are studied. Regarding the fourth pillar, permaculture, compost is produced and organic waste is managed, natural fertilizers and eco-friendly repellents are made, and soil care and basic garden maintenance are carried out.
During the rainy season:
Turtle program: Two weekly night patrols are conducted throughout the season. The patrols usually take place between 8:00 p.m. and midnight. The turtle hatchling release and exhumation season begins in September. Bird program: During this season, the number of bird monitoring sessions per week is reduced as we focus on night patrols, and the river's opening sometimes hinders this activity. However, we continue to conduct them. The permaculture work and coastal monitoring remain unchanged; they are the same in both seasons.
During the dry season, binoculars are essential for volunteering.
During the rainy season, a headlamp with a red light is essential for working with turtles.
Write to us for more information or visit our website: www.naturavivaproject.com
